and frugality ordinances, but he died suddenly at the age of 31 in May 1735. The 5th daimyō Munetoki was a son of Muratoshi, and undertook a long-term revival during his 60-year tenure. In 1743, he issued a thrift ordinance and embarked on a reform of domain administration. He encouraged learning and martial arts, and in 1748, he opened the Naitokukan (later Meirinkan), han school open to both samurai and commoners. He also made wax an important product of the domain and established a monopoly on wax and on paper. In addition, he carried out large-scale agricultural policy reforms, prohibited gambling, conducted a review of duties of offices, and tax reform. These reforms were successful, but the Great Tenmei famine affected the domain seriously, leading to a succession of uprisings and peasant riots. In the midst of this, Munetoki died and was succeeded by Date Munenaga who continued his father's reforms centering on the appointment of capable samurai, frugality and expenditure restraint, expansion of revenue through the cultivation of commercial crops and sericulture, and relief for disaster victims. However, during this period, there were eight storms and floods, and one drought. In 1812, an revolt called the "Hagimori Incident" occurred due to a conflict of opinions among senior vassals over financial reconstruction. In 1817, due to illness, Munenaga retired and his heir, Munetada, took over the administration of the domain, officially becoming seventh daimyō in 1824. He retired in 1844, and Date Munenari became eighth daimyō. Munenari promoted westernization, especially for the domain's the military, and employed Ōmura Masujirō among others, as advisors. He was also involved in the administration of the shogunate, and was later called one of the four wise leaders of the Bakumatsu period, along with Matsudaira Shungaku of Fukui Domain, Yamauchi Yōdō of Tosa Domain, and Shimazu Nariakira of Satsuma Domain. He was forced to retire during the Ansei Purge by Ii Naosuke, and his son Mune'e was appointed daimyō. However, Munenari continued to rule from behind-the-scenes and Mune'e was little more than a figurehead. Munenari returned to the forefront after the assassination of Ii Naosuke in 1860, had an audience with Emperor Kōmei and played an important role as a "go between" between the shogunate and the imperial court. During the Boshin War, he attempted to keep the domain as neutral and as far away from the fighting as possible, and devoted considerable energy to