The Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa were four important generals of the Tokugawa shogunate during the late Edo period in Japan. They were Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasukura, Matsudaira Sadaiyin, and Ishii Tadatsu. These four generals were the important pillars of the Tokugawa shogunate, who excelled in war and were known as the "World's Greatest Warriors". So, what is their ranking?
Firstly, we need to understand the historical background of the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa. In the late Edo period, Japan was in a turbulent era with frequent wars among various daimyo. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate, adopted a series of political and military means in the process of unifying Japan and ultimately successfully established a powerful central government. To consolidate his power, he needed a group of loyal and reliable generals to help him manage the country.
Secondly, we need to understand the individual abilities and contributions of the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa. Among Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasukura, Matsudaira Sadaiyin, and Ishii Tadatsu, each one had exceptional abilities, displaying remarkable military talents and political wisdom. Honda Tadakatsu gained fame for his illustrious achievements in the Sekigahara Campaign, earning the title of "The First Warrior of Sekigahara". Sakakibara Yasukura was an outstanding diplomat who successfully negotiated the Treaty of Peace between Japan and the Netherlands, making significant contributions to the shogunate's diplomatic affairs. Matsudaira Sadaiyin was a charming individual, elegant in his demeanor and speech, deeply loved by the people. Ishii Tadatsu was a very upright and loyal person, whose courage and determination deeply inspired his soldiers and the people.
Finally, we can rank the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa based on historical records and later generations' evaluations. According to later generations' viewpoints, Honda Tadakatsu should be considered the strongest among the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa due to his excellent performance in war and his outstanding military talents and leadership abilities. Next is Sakakibara Yasukura, who was an outstanding diplomat capable of making significant contributions to the shogunate's diplomatic affairs. Matsudaira Sadaiyin, though charming, had relatively weaker military talents and political wisdom. Lastly, Ishii Tadatsu, while highly praised for his loyalty and courage, also had relatively weaker military talents and leadership abilities. Therefore, according to later generations' viewpoints, the ranking of the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa is Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasukura, Matsudaira Sadaiyin, and Ishii Tadatsu.
Of course, this ranking is not absolute as everyone's abilities, contributions, and influence vary. Moreover, the status and role of the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa changed over time in history. Nevertheless, they are all significant historical figures whose deeds and contributions have had profound impacts on the development of Japanese history.
Disclaimer: The above content is sourced from the internet and the copyright belongs to the original author. If there is any infringement of your original copyright, please inform us and we will delete the relevant content as soon as possible.
