The eighth family head, Shigekata HOSOKAWA carried out the reformation of domain duties called the Horeki Reform, which included the foundation of han school Jishukan and the encouragement of new industries, and he was called 'a phoenix of Higo.'
8代細川重賢は、藩校時習館の創設や殖産興業など宝暦の改革と呼ばれる藩政改革を行い「肥後の鳳凰」と称された。