安政の大獄始まる
安政五年（1858）四月二十三日、彦根藩主井伊直弼が大老となった。同年六月十九日、日米修好通商条約に調印し、二十一日朝廷に奏上し二十二日諸大名に通告した。このことがきっかけとなって尊皇攘夷論が大いに高まり、遂に九月七日梅田雲浜が、その後鵜飼吉左衛門父子、頼三樹三郎、橋本左内等が捕えられ、いわゆる「安政の大獄」となり、その災いは遂に萩にあった松陰にまで及んだ。
The start of The Ansei Great Purge.
On April 23rd, 1858 (the 5th year of Ansei era), Ii Naosuke, the feudal lord of Hikone, became the Tairō (chief minister) of Japan. On June 19th of the same year, Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States, and on the 21st, it was presented to the Imperial Court. On 22nd, it was announced to various daimyo.
As a result of these events, the Sonnō jōi movement (the Movement advocating reverence for the Emperor and the expulsion of foreigners) gained significant momentum. On September 7th, Umeda Unbin was arrested, followed by others like Ukai Kichizaemon and his son, Raimi Kisaburō, and Hashimoto Sanai, leading to what is known as the 'Ansei Great Purge.' The repercussions of this purge eventually reached Yoshida Shoin in Hagi.