Timeline of the Matsura Family:
| Gene rati on | Name | Year | Matsura family related events | Events in Japan | Events abroad |
| 1 | Toru | 18th son of Emperor Saga. Last name is Minamoto. Is bestowed with the family crest of the three stars. | |||
| 2 | Noboru | 894: Envoys to Tang China stopped | |||
| 3 | Tsukau | 935:Silla Kingdom falls in Korea | |||
| 936:Goryeo Kingdom unifies Korean peninsula | |||||
| 4 | Mitsuru | ||||
| 5 | Tsuna | ||||
| 6 | Sazuku | 1019 | Toi Invasion (Jurchen pirates). Sazuku defends Hizen area with Minamoto Tomo. | ||
| 7 | Yasushi | ||||
| 8 | Hisashi | 1069 | In this year Hisashi is thought to have arrived in Imafuku, Matsuura area. | ||
| Hisashi changes his last name to Matsura | |||||
| 9 | Naoshi | 1151 | Naoshi receives rule over the area | ||
| 1183 | The place name “Hirado” is first used with its current Japanese spelling | 1181:Taira no Kiyomori dies | |||
| 1185 | Matsura Naval Faction participates in the battle of Dan-no-ura on the Heike side. | 1185: Heike clan defeated at Dannoura | |||
| 1191 | The zen monk Eisai stays in Ashigaura, Hirado, on his way back from China. | 1187:Eisai visits China for a second time | |||
| 10 | Hiraku | 1192 | Hiraku expands his rule over Hirado, Ojika, Takashima, Imari, Saza, etc. | 1192: Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Shogun | |
| 11 | Tamotsu | 1229 | Tamotsu inherits rule over Hirado, Ojika, and Takashima | 1202: Eisai founds Kennin-ji Temple | 1226: Wokou pirates attack Goryeo |
| 12 | Tsunagu | ||||
| 1235 | Monks Eison, Enni and others stay in Hirado on their way to China | ||||
| 13 | Tatou | 1271 | Tatou extends his rule over Kawachi, Ojika and others places. | 1260: Kublai Khan ruler of Mongol Empire | |
| 14 | Kotou | 1271: Yuan dynasty proclaimed by Kublai | |||
| 1274 | First Mongol invasion. Attack on Tsushima and Iki and they reach the Hirado coast. | ||||
| 1281 | Second Mongol invasion. Yuan troops gather around Hirado. | 1279: Yuan defeat the Song | |||
| 1287 | The Matsura’s demand rewards from the shogunate for defending the country | 1333: Fall of the Kamakura shogunate | |||
| 15 | Sadamu | 1336 | Sadamu aligns with the southern court | 1336: Muromachi shogunate established, Split of Northern and Southern Court | |
| 16 | Suguru | 1338: Ashikaga Takauji becomes Shogun | |||
| 1339 | The Matsura’s complain due to a lack of rewards | 1339: Emperor Go-daigo dies | |||
| 1343 | Sadamu aligns with Shogunate. Rule over area is recognized. | 1350: Large increase of Wokou pirates | |||
| 1384 | Matsura clan relatives sign an alliance (with Matsura Tatou) | 1368: Yuan dynasty falls, Ming rises | |||
| 1388 | Matsura clan relatives sign an alliance (with Hirado lord Tatou, Iwami lord Takeo, Wakasa lord Hirou) | ||||
| 1392 | Matsura clan relatives sign an alliance (with Wakasa lord Hirou) | 1392: Northern and Southern Court merge | 1392: In Korea Goryeo falls, Joseon rises | ||
| 17 | Osamu | ||||
| 18 | Naoshi | ||||
| 19 | Suguru | ||||
| 20 | Yoshi | Suguru and Yoshi die in battle with other invading Matsura relatives. | |||
| 21 | Yoroshi | 1436 | Treaty signed with neighboring Matsura relatives | 1441:Shogun Yoshinori assassinated | |
| 1456 | Yoroshi sends trading envoy to Korea | ||||
| 1458 | In Kyoto Yoroshi donates money to burial temple of Shogun Yoshinori. | ||||
| Permission granted to send trade envoys to Ming China | 1467: Onin War starts | ||||
| 22 | Toyohisa | 1471 | Toyohisa sends trade envoy to Korea | ||
| 23 | Hirosada | 1479: Spanish Kingdom founded | |||
| 1491 | Arima and Omura clans invade, Hirosada goes to Hakata to ask Ouchi clan for help. | 1498: Vasco de Gama reaches India | |||
| 1492 | Hirosada returns to Hirado | 1510: Portuguese colonise Goa | |||
| 24 | Okinobu | 1517: Protestant reformation | |||
| 25 | Takanobu | 1541 | Takanobu appointed head of the family at age 13 | 1534: Jesuit order established | |
| Ochoku, Chinese trader and head of Wokou pirates, establishes base in Hirado | 1543:Portuguese land in Tanegashima, introduce firearms to Japan | ||||
| 1550 | Start of Portuguese trade in Hirado. Fransisco Xavier travels from Kagoshima. | 1549: Xavier arrives in Kagoshima | |||
| 1555 | Takanobu sends letter to the vice head of the Jesuits in India, Fr. Melchi | ||||
| 1557 | Ochoku is captured by Ming forces and executed. | 1557:Portugal gain rights over Macau | |||
| 1561 | At the Miyanomae incident in Hirado 14 Portuguese are killed in a dispute | ||||
| 1562 | Portuguese ships avoid Hirado port and trade in the Omura domain | 1558(～1568): Wokou raid coast of China and SE Asia | |||
| 1564 | Tenmonji (Santa Maria) Church is built in Hirado. Portuguese ships arrives in Hirado. | ||||
| 1565 | Portuguese ship sails on Fukuda port near Nagasaki. Hirado naval ship and Sakai trade ship attack. End of Portuguese trade in Hirado. | 1569: Oda Nobunaga permits missionary work | 1571: Spanish establish Manila | ||
| 1571 | Takanobu extends domain to Iki islands | 1573:Fall of Muromachi Shogunate | 1581: Holland proclaims independence | ||
| 26 | Shigenobu | 1587 | Shigenobu partakes in Hideyoshi’s Kyushu campaign. Receives letter confirming domain area. | 1582:Oda Nobubaga commits suicide | 1588: England defeats the Spanish armada |
| Missionaries gather in Ikitsuki to discuss ban on Christianity | 1587:Hideyoshi bans Christianity | ||||
| 1592 | Shigenobu, Hisanobu and Konishi Yukinaga are part of the first regiment during the Japanese invasion of Korea. | 1592: Start of Japanese invasion of Korea (Imjin War) | |||
| 1593 | Governor of the Spanish Phillipines visits Hirado. Hizen-Nagoya Castle constructed by Hideyoshi. | 1596: San Felipe incident | |||
| 1597: Crucifixion of the 26 martyrs of Nagasaki | |||||
| 1597:Second Japanese invasion of Korea | |||||
| 1598 | Shigenobu and Hisanobu return from Korea | 1598:Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies | |||
| 27 | Hisanobu | 1599 | Takanobu (Doka) dies. Powerful Christian retainer Koteda flees Hirado to Nagasaki | ||
| 1600 | Battle of Sekigahara | 1600: Dutch ship De Liefde strands in Oita | 1600: English East India Company founded | ||
| 28 | Takanobu | 1603 | Takanobu (Soyo) comes of age. Visits Ieyasu in Shizuoka with grandfather Shigenobu. | 1603: Edo Shogunate established | 1602: United Dutch East India Company (VOC) founded |
| 1604 | Shigenobu (Hoin) receives permission to trade overseas. | ||||
| 1605 | Stranded Dutchmen from the De Liefde are sent back with a trading ship of the Matsura family | ||||
| 1609 | 2 Dutch ships arrive in Hirado, William Adams arrives in Hirado | 1609:Agreement between Japan and Korea | |||
| Dutch Trading Post founded in Hirado | (Normal relations with Korea restored) | ||||
| 1613 | English Ship arrives in Hirado. English Trading Post founded. | ||||
| Shigenobu (Hoin) purposefully burns down his own castle in Hirado. | |||||
| Shigenobu (Hoin) sends letter to the English King. | |||||
| 1616 | Dutch and English trade are restricted to Nagasaki and Hirado. | 1614: Siege of Osaka winter campaign | |||
| 1619 | Dutch-Anglo Alliance in Hirado signed | 1615: Siege of Osaka
summer campaign |
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| 1620 | William Adams dies in Hirado | ||||
| 1623 | English Trading Post is closed | 1622:Massacre of Nagasaki (Christians) | |||
| 1624 | Zheng Chenggong is born in Hirado | 1624:Spanish ships are banned from Japan | 1624:Dutch gain control over Taiwan | ||
| 1634:Dejima is constructed in Nagasaki | |||||
| 1635:Chinese trade is limited to Nagasaki | |||||
| 1636: Dejima completed. Portuguese confined on it. | |||||
| 29 | Shigenobu | 1637 | Shigenobu (Tensho) becomes lord of Hirado | 1637:Shimabara rebellion | |
| 1640 | Demolition of Hirado Dutch Trading Post is ordered by shogunate | 1639:Portuguese banned from Japan | |||
| 1641 | Hirado Dutch Trading Post is closed and moved to Dejima | 1644:Fall of Ming Dynasty | |||
| 1646:Zheng Chenggong raises an army against the Qing dynasty | |||||
| 1648 | Zheng Chenggong requests shogunate assistance for re-establishment of the Ming dynasty | ||||
| 1655 | Heima, the younger brother of military strategist Yamaga Soko, becomes retainer of the Matsura clan | 1665: Yamaga Soko is confined at the Ako domain | 1662: Zheng Chenggong expels Dutch from Taiwan. Dies next year. | ||
| 1689:Chinese settlement in Nagasaki constructed | |||||
| 30 | Takashi | 1691 | Takashi becomes national commissioner for temples and shrines in the shogunate. | 1702: 47 Ronin of Ako domain revenge master | |
| 1704 | Start of construction of Hirado castle, finished in 1718 | 1707: Unified kingdom of Great Britain | |||
| 31 | Atsunobu | 1713 | Atsunobu becomes lord of Hirado domain | 1715: Chikamatsu Monzaemon writes play about Zheng Chenggong | |
| 32 | Arinobu | 1727 | Arinobu becomes lord of the Hirado domain | ||
| 33 | Sanenobu | 1728 | Sanenobu becomes lord of the Hirado domain | ||
| 1745 | Takamichi, grandson of Yamaga Soko, becomes retainer of the Matsura clan | ||||
| 34 | Kiyoshi | 1775 | Kiyoshi (Seizan) becomes lord of the Hirado domain | 1772:Tanuma Okitsugu becomes senior counselor | 1776: USA independence declaration |
| 1779 | Establishment of Ishinkan School and Rakusaido library. | 1774:New Book on Anatomy published | |||
| 1782 | Anchor of a Dutch ship found and lifted from the seabed | ||||
| 1788 | Painter and scientist Shiba Kokan visits Hirado | 1787: Matsudaira Sadanobu becomes senior counselor | |||
| 1789:French revolution | |||||
| 1800 | Confucian scholar Sato Issai lectures at Ishinkan School in Hirado | 1799:Dutch VOC bankrupt | |||
| 1802 | Sakamoto Tenzan invited to Hirado to teach artillery to Hirado samurai. | 1803:American and British ships arrive in Nagasaki | |||
| 35 | Hiromu | 1806 | Hiromu becomes lord of Hirado domain | ||
| 1813 | Surveyor Ino Tadataka comes to Hirado on his eight expedition | 1808: HMS Phaeton intrudes Nagasaki port | |||
| 1821 | Kiyoshi (Seizan) starts writing the Kasshi Yawa collection of essays | ||||
| 1835 | Seizan’s 11th daughter Aiko marries with Nakayama Tadayasu and gives birth to Yoshiko, mother of Emperor Meiji | 1840: Opium wars | |||
| 36 | Terasu | 1841 | Kiyoshi (Seizan) dies | 1837:Oshio rebellion in Osaka | 1841:England captures Hong Kong |
| 1849 | Foreign ships appear off the coast of Iki island (part of Hirado domain) | 1844:Dutch King advises to open Japan | |||
| 1850 | Scholar Yoshida Shoin studies in Hirado | 1853: Black ships of Perry arrive at Uraga | |||
| 1852 | Yoshiko gives birth to Emperor Meiji | ||||
| 1854 | Foreign warships appear in various ports | ||||
| 37 | Akira | 1858 | Akira becomes lord of the Hirado domain | 1858: Ansei Purge starts | |
| 1859 | Katsu Kaishu visits Hirado with Dutch doctor Pompe van Meerdervoort | 1859:Nagasaki, Hakodate, Yokohama ports open | |||
| 1860 | British ships map Hirado coastal seas. Installment of cannons after foreign ships pass through Hirado Strait. | 1860: Sakuradamon incident | |||
| 1868 | Hirado domain warriors in Kyoto partake in the Battle of Toba-Fushimi and others are send to Akita in the Boshin War. | 1864: Shimonoseki campaign | 1861-65: American Civil War | ||
| 1871 | Hirado domain is abolished and merged into Nagasaki prefecture. | 1867:Emperor reinstated | |||
| 1880 | Yukokan School is founded | 1871:Feudal domains abolished, prefectures established. | |||
| 1893 | Tsurugamine Mansion (current Matsura Historical Museum building) constructed. | 1873: End of Christianity prohibition | 1897:Korean Empire (～1910) | ||
| 38 | Atsushi | 1925 | 300th Japanese-Dutch anniversary memorial constructed in Hirado by Japan-Netherlands Association (headed by Matsura Atsushi) | 1914: World War 1 (～18) | |
| 1927 | Memorial for the English Trading Post in Hirado founded. | 1939: World War 2 (～45) | |||
| 39 | Susumu | 1955 | Merger into Hirado city government. Establishment of Matsura Historical Museum Foundation | 1949:People’s Republic of China | |
| Land, buildings and collection donated by Matsura family to the Matsura Historical Museum Foundation. | 1950:Korean War | ||||
| 40 | Motomu | 1969 | Emperor Showa visits Hirado | ||
| 1977 | Hirado Bridge is constructed | ||||
| 41 | Akira | 1990 | Dutch Crown Prince visits Hirado | 1978:Pope John Paul II elected as Pope | 1998:Hong Kong handover to china |
| 1999 | Memorial mass commemorating Francis Xavier’s missionary work in Hirado | Pope visits Nagasaki | 1999: Portuguese Macao transfers to China | ||
| 2000 | 400th anniversary of Japanese-Dutch relations celebrated throughout Nagasaki prefecture | ||||
| 2002 | Emperor Heisei visits Hirado and Matsura Historical Museum |