Changes

In [[1603]] the emperor granted Ieyasu the title of shôgun, an honor helped along by his 'Minamoto' genealogy. He held this post for only two years before officially retiring in favor of his third son, Hidetada.<ref>Ieyasu's two older sons were [[Matsudaira Nobuyasu]] and [[Yuki Hideyasu|Yûki Hideyasu]].</ref> This was done chiefly in order to further cement the pattern of succession, as well as to increase Tokugawa power by doubling the number of ruling figures in similar fashion to the ''[[insei]]'' (Retired Emperor) system of centuries earlier. Further, Ieyasu was at this time already older than Imagawa Yoshimoto, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, [[Maeda Toshiie]] or half a dozen other similarly prominent Sengoku warlords had been at the times of their respective deaths. At age 63, there were no guarantees he would last much longer, and so it was logical to put his successor in place.<ref>Pitelka, 92.</ref>

In [[1603]] the emperor granted Ieyasu the title of shôgun, an honor helped along by his 'Minamoto' genealogy. He held this post for only two years before officially retiring in favor of his third son, Hidetada.<ref>Ieyasu's two older sons were [[Matsudaira Nobuyasu]] and [[Yuki Hideyasu|Yûki Hideyasu]].</ref> This was done chiefly in order to further cement the pattern of succession, as well as to increase Tokugawa power by doubling the number of ruling figures in similar fashion to the ''[[insei]]'' (Retired Emperor) system of centuries earlier. Further, Ieyasu was at this time already older than Imagawa Yoshimoto, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, [[Maeda Toshiie]] or half a dozen other similarly prominent Sengoku warlords had been at the times of their respective deaths. At age 63, there were no guarantees he would last much longer, and so it was logical to put his successor in place.<ref>Pitelka, 92.</ref>

He then spent the next several years in Kyoto and Edo, supervising the expansion of Chiyoda (Edo) Castle and of the surrounding city, and conducting diplomatic business with the Dutch ([[1609]]) and Spanish, from whom he distanced Japan. Ieyasu also sent diplomatic communications to a number of Southeast Asian polities; forty-eight letters from Ieyasu and 28 from the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' in [[1601]]-[[1614]] alone constituted a greater diplomatic engagement with the world beyond Japan's closest neighbors (i.e. China, Korea, Ryûkyû) than ever before in history. Forty-one of Ieyasu's 48 letters were directed to Southeast Asian polities, including [[Tonkin]], [[Quang Nam]], [[Ayutthaya]], Cambodia, Patani, and the Philippines, while the few remaining letters including missives to China, Korea, Ryûkyû, England, and the Dutch Republic.<ref>Adam Clulow, “Like Lambs in Japan and Devils outside Their Land: Diplomacy, Violence, and Japanese Merchants in Southeast Asia,” ''Journal of World History'' 24:2 (2013), 339.</ref>

 

Ieyasu then spent the next several years alternating between Kyoto and Edo, supervising the expansion of Chiyoda (Edo) Castle and of the surrounding city, and conducting diplomatic business with the Dutch ([[1609]]) and Spanish, from whom he distanced Japan. Ieyasu also sent diplomatic communications to a number of Southeast Asian polities; forty-eight letters from Ieyasu and 28 from the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' in [[1601]]-[[1614]] alone constituted a greater diplomatic engagement with the world beyond Japan's closest neighbors (i.e. China, Korea, Ryûkyû) than ever before in history. Forty-one of Ieyasu's 48 letters were directed to Southeast Asian polities, including [[Tonkin]], [[Quang Nam]], [[Ayutthaya]], Cambodia, Patani, and the Philippines, while the few remaining letters including missives to China, Korea, Ryûkyû, England, and the Dutch Republic.<ref>Adam Clulow, “Like Lambs in Japan and Devils outside Their Land: Diplomacy, Violence, and Japanese Merchants in Southeast Asia,” ''Journal of World History'' 24:2 (2013), 339.</ref>

Before long, however, Ieyasu retired to Sunpu, which would remain his chief residence and base of operations for the remainder of his life.

Before long, however, Ieyasu retired to Sunpu, which would remain his chief residence and base of operations for the remainder of his life.

==Death==

==Death==

[[File:Yomeimon.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The famous Yômeimon gate at [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]]]]

[[File:Yomeimon.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The famous Yômeimon gate at [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]]]]

The following year, Ieyasu fell ill and died in bed. Unlike Hideyoshi, he could pass away secure in the future of his house. Over the course of his life, he had had 11 sons and four daughters.<ref name=arai110/>

In [[1616]], the year after his final victory over the Toyotomi, Ieyasu fell ill and died in bed. Unlike Hideyoshi, he could pass away secure in the future of his house. Over the course of his life, he had had 11 sons and four daughters.<ref name=arai110/>

The dynasty Ieyasu had created was exceedingly solid, with three sub-branches (the [[Kishu Tokugawa clan|Kii]], [[Owari Tokugawa clan|Owari]], and [[Mito Tokugawa clan|Mito]]) maintained for the sole purpose of providing an heir should the main branch fail to produce one. The daimyo were weary of war, and more or less content to enjoy the fruits of their labors. There would be disputes and grievances, but with the exception of the short and bloody [[Shimabara Rebellion]], Japan would enjoy peace for over two hundred years. At the same time, Tokugawa Ieyasu had another legacy - never before had Japan been as socially rigid, nor had the common man and woman had so little control over their own lives. The daimyo - especially those tagged as [[tozama]] - would also suffer the brunt of the fledgling Tokugawa's heavy-handedness, with relief coming only after the death of the third shogun Iemitsu in [[1651]].  

The dynasty Ieyasu had created was exceedingly solid, with three sub-branches (the [[Kishu Tokugawa clan|Kii]], [[Owari Tokugawa clan|Owari]], and [[Mito Tokugawa clan|Mito]]) maintained for the sole purpose of providing an heir should the main branch fail to produce one. The daimyo were weary of war, and more or less content to enjoy the fruits of their labors. There would be disputes and grievances, but with the exception of the short and bloody [[Shimabara Rebellion]], Japan would enjoy peace for over two hundred years. At the same time, Tokugawa Ieyasu had another legacy - never before had Japan been as socially rigid, nor had the common man and woman had so little control over their own lives. The daimyo - especially those tagged as [[tozama]] - would also suffer the brunt of the fledgling Tokugawa's heavy-handedness, with relief coming only after the death of the third shogun Iemitsu in [[1651]].  

Upon his death, Ieyasu left a massive collection of heirlooms, including more than 1,000 swords, and numerous ceramics, paintings, works of calligraphy, and tea instruments. The collection was divided between the Kii, Mito, Owari, and shogunal houses, with some objects being interned with Ieyasu in his grave.<ref>Morgan Pitelka. "Art, Agency, and Networks in the Career of Tokugawa Ieyasu." in ''A Companion to Asian Art and Architecture''. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, 460-461.</ref>

Upon his death, Ieyasu left a massive collection of heirlooms, including more than 1,000 swords, and numerous ceramics, paintings, works of calligraphy, and tea instruments. The collection was divided between the Kii, Mito, Owari, and shogunal houses, with some objects being interned with Ieyasu in his grave.<ref>Morgan Pitelka. "Art, Agency, and Networks in the Career of Tokugawa Ieyasu." in ''A Companion to Asian Art and Architecture''. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, 460-461.</ref>

Ieyasu was originally buried at [[Sunpu Castle]], and enshrined as a [[Shinto]] deity, Tôshô Daigongen, at a shrine established nearby and called [[Kunozan Toshogu|Kunôzan Tôshôgû]]. However, within the same year of his death, his body and spirit were moved again, to a new site at [[Nikko|Nikkô]]. The Buddhist priest and shogunal advisor [[Tenkai]] managed to push [[Bonshun]] (head Buddhist priest associated with Kunôzan Tôshôgû) and [[Ishin Suden|Ishin Sûden]] (another prominent Buddhist monk & shogunal advisor) aside as he arranged for himself to oversee mourning ceremonies at the Tokugawa clan temple of [[Zojo-ji|Zôjô-ji]] in Edo; and Tenkai then also arranged for Ieyasu to be installed as the chief deity at a new shrine at Nikkô on [[1617]]/4/17, the anniversary of his death.<ref name=pitelka147>Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', 147.</ref> This deification of Ieyasu followed a pattern, or precedent, set by Toyotomi Hideyoshi before him, and emulated, or repeated, by both [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] and [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] after him. The shogunate then began in the 1630s-1660s to take efforts to discourage, prevent, or even outlaw others from being deified similarly, something the shogunate perceived as a threat to Tokugawa power and supremacy. At least fifteen ''daimyô'' nevertheless received Shinto burials and ''[[kami]]'' names/titles from priests of the [[Yoshida Shinto]] sect, despite the shogunate's efforts to maintain Tokugawa deification as unique.<ref>Evelyn Rawski, ''Early Modern China and Northeast Asia: Cross-Border Perspectives'', Cambridge University Press (2015), 121.</ref>

In accordance with his own instructions, Ieyasu was originally buried at [[Sunpu Castle]], and enshrined as a [[Shinto]] deity, Tôshô Daigongen, at a [[Yoshida Shinto]] shrine established nearby and called [[Kunozan Toshogu|Kunôzan Tôshôgû]]. His image was installed there as well, facing west, so as to pacify and protect the western provinces. He also ordered that a small hall be built at [[Nikko|Nikkô]] (in the mountains near Edo) a year later, so that he could act as protector deity of the eight [[provinces]] of [[Kanto|Kantô]].<ref name=nakai177>Kate Wildman Nakai, ''Shogunal Politics'', Harvard University Press (1988), 177.</ref>

 

However, within the same year of his death, the Buddhist priest and shogunal advisor [[Tenkai]] managed to push [[Bonshun]] (head Buddhist priest associated with Kunôzan Tôshôgû) and [[Ishin Suden|Ishin Sûden]] (another prominent Buddhist monk & shogunal advisor) aside as he arranged for himself to oversee mourning ceremonies at the Tokugawa clan temple of [[Zojo-ji|Zôjô-ji]] in Edo. Tenkai then also arranged for Ieyasu to be deified not as a ''myôjin'' ("bright deity") in the Yoshida Shinto tradition as Ishin Sûden had supported, but rather as a ''daigongen'' ("great avatar") in the [[Tendai]] Buddhism-associated [[Sanno Ichijitsu|Sannô Ichijitsu]] school of Shinto. An envoy from the Imperial court visited Kunôzan and formally bestowed the title of ''daigongen'' upon Ieyasu in [[1617]], in conjunction with the first anniversary of his death.<ref name=nakai177/>

 

Ieyasu's body was then moved to Nikkô, and his spirit was then installed as the chief deity at a new shrine there on [[1617]]/4/17, the anniversary of his death.<ref name=pitelka147>Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', 147.</ref><ref name=nakai177/> This deification of Ieyasu followed a pattern, or precedent, set by Toyotomi Hideyoshi before him, and emulated, or repeated, by both [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] and [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] after him. The shogunate then began in the 1630s-1660s to take efforts to discourage, prevent, or even outlaw others from being deified similarly, something the shogunate perceived as a threat to Tokugawa power and supremacy. At least fifteen ''daimyô'' nevertheless received Shinto burials and ''[[kami]]'' names/titles from priests of the [[Yoshida Shinto]] sect, despite the shogunate's efforts to maintain Tokugawa deification as unique.<ref>Evelyn Rawski, ''Early Modern China and Northeast Asia: Cross-Border Perspectives'', Cambridge University Press (2015), 121.</ref>

Construction continued at Nikkô, and shoguns paid formal visits in [[1619]] and [[1622]],<ref name=pitelka147/> but it was under [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]], Ieyasu's grandson, that [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]] is said to have been formally established in [[1636]]. This then became the chief shrine dedicated to the deified Ieyasu.

Construction continued at Nikkô, and shoguns paid formal visits in [[1619]] and [[1622]],<ref name=pitelka147/> but it was under [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]], Ieyasu's grandson, that [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]] is said to have been formally established in [[1636]]. This then became the chief shrine dedicated to the deified Ieyasu. The shrine was officially elevated from a ''jinja'' to a ''jingû'' (a higher level of shrine) in [[1645]].<ref>Nakai, 178.</ref>

==Legacy==

==Legacy==