The "Kaigi" and the Political Structure of Hagi-han, 1858 : Rethinking Bakumatsu Political History

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the various meetings held in the decision-making process (kaigi 会議) within the political structure of Hagi-han (present-day Yamaguchi-ken), and to suggest a new method for reconsidering some problems in the political history of last yers of the Tokugawa era.In the first section, the author investigates kaigi convened by the Edo-toyaku (senior retainer in charge of han political affairs), when Yoshichika, the daimyo was residing in Edo. She then foc