Abstract
This paper clarifies political trends of the Echizen clan before and after the restoration of the Imperial rule. Research on the Echizen clan during the relevant period has focused on the discussion of the political situation that required the central government to pay attention to the political process of overthrow of the government, and to movements seeking restoration of Tosa clan administration. For that reason, there has been a blurring between the research objects and the political analysis, and intermittent political analysis has left many ambiguities and blank areas. Through use of a continuous political analysis of the relevant period, this paper clarifies the background circumstances regarding Shungaku's decision to return home and to once again go to Kyoto, and also the information gathering, the sense of disappointment, and his consciousness of being a daimyo related to the Tokugawas that became factors prescribing later actions. Moreover, regarding the evaluation of previous research work in "Bokansya", it is possible to express an opinion regarding the later transition to political participation in the central government and to assess its importance.
