It is said that he respected Tsunayoshi TOKUGAWA, the fifth shogun, because he was enthusiastic with regard to the reformation of the shogunate like Ieyasu TOKUGAWA, the founder of the Tokugawa bakufu, but he criticized Ienobu TOKUGAWA, the sixth shogun, because he abolished the 'Shorui-Awaremi-no-rei' (ordinances of animal protection) that was an ordinance established by Tsunayoshi, on the same day that he assumed the post of shogun.
一方で幕府創設者である徳川家康と並んで幕政改革に熱心であった第5代将軍・徳川綱吉を尊敬し、綱吉が定めた「生類憐れみの令」を即日廃止した第6代将軍・徳川家宣を批判したと言われる。