Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third Tokugawa shogun. His reign (1623-1651?) saw many of the key features of Tokugawa rule develop into their mature forms, as sankin kôtai was made regular and mandatory for all daimyô, and the various policies of maritime restrictions were put into place. He also oversaw a notable expansion and solidification of Tokugawa authority, through acts such as the expansion of Nijô castle and Nikkô Tôshôgû.
Born in 1604, Iemitsu was the son of Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada and Lady Oeyo (aka Gô). His wet nurse, Kasuga no Tsubone, is said to have played an influential role in ensuring he, and not his brother Tokugawa Tadanaga, was named shogun.[1]
He was named shogun on 1623/9/27 as his father retired in his favor. Though said to have been "sickly and withdrawn" as a child, as shogun Iemitsu is described as a rather able and active administrator.[2]
Following his renovation of Nijô castle, Iemitsu had a grand mausoleum erected for his father in 1632. This mausoleum, called the Taitokuin Mausoleum, stood within the grounds of the Tokugawa clan temple of Zôjô-ji in Edo, and served a similar purpose to Nijô - as a demonstration of Tokugawa power, wealth, and prestige. Iemitsu's expansion of Nikkô Tôshôgû in 1634-1636 continued this discursive project. He also commissioned or otherwise was involved in expansion or renovation efforts at Tôji, Ninna-ji, Chion-in, and a number of other notable temples.
Iemitsu also visited Kyoto in 1634, for the occasion of the accession of his niece to the Imperial throne as Empress Meishô. This would be the last time a shogun would visit the Imperial capital until Tokugawa Iemochi in 1863, nearly 230 years later. While there, he enjoyed audiences with Empress Meishô and Retired Emperor Go-Mizunoo, and received ambassadors from the Ryûkyû Kingdom. Sometime later, Iemitsu dispersed many of the secondary buildings of the Nijô castle complex as gifts to Buddhist temples across the realm, reducing the impression of shogunal presence in the city.
Iemitsu had three sons. He was succeeded by the eldest, Tokugawa Ietsuna, who was succeeded in turn by the next son, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (born to the Ôoku concubine Keishôin). The third son, Tokugawa Tsunashige, ruled as lord of Fuchû han in Kai province. Iemitsu's daughters included Chiyohime (by his concubine Ofuri-no-kata), who went on to marry the second lord of Owari han.[3]
| Preceded by: Tokugawa Hidetada |
Tokugawa Shogun 1623-1651 |
Succeeded by: Tokugawa Ietsuna |
References
- Morgan Pitelka, Spectacular Accumulation, University of Hawaii Press (2016), 148-
- ↑ Dykstra, Yoshiko. The Shôgun's Woman: Lady Kasuga University of Hawaii, Center for Japanese Studies lecture. Honolulu, Hawaii. 9 November, 2006.
- ↑ Pitelka, 148.
- ↑ Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum pamphlet.; Plaques on-site at Jishô-in Mausoleum at Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum.