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Adopting the daughter of a branch house or a high-ranking retainer for use in marriage politics was not an unusual practice in Japan; it was much used by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], among others. In Atsu's case, Nariakira intended to marry her to the shogun Tokugawa Iesada. However, Nariakira's purpose was not to become the grandfather of the future shogun. Iesada had already buried two wives and was still childless. His successor had to be chosen from among the heads of several Tokugawa branch houses. The most natural one was his cousin, the young lord of [[Wakayama han|Kii]] [[Tokugawa Iemochi|Iemochi]] (aka Yoshitomi, [[1846]]-[[1866]]). However, [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu|Yoshinobu]] ([[1837]]-1913), originally of the [[Mito Tokugawa clan]], but adopted into the [[Hitotsubashi Tokugawa clan|Hitotsubashi branch]], was also a strong candidate. The latter was supported by those, including Nariakira, who believed the shogunate needed a strong leader who could make necessary reforms, especially in view of the foreign threat typified by the visit of [[Matthew Perry]] in 1853. It was hoped that Atsu could be influential in getting Yoshinobu to be named as successor. The "outer lords" (''[[tozama]] daimyô''), including the Shimazu, had been shut out of the shogunate administration since the beginning, but from the shogunate's perspective it was hoped that this marriage would strengthen the weakening shogunate by allying it to this powerful clan.

Adopting the daughter of a branch house or a high-ranking retainer for use in marriage politics was not an unusual practice in Japan; it was much used by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], among others. In Atsu's case, Nariakira intended to marry her to the shogun Tokugawa Iesada. However, Nariakira's purpose was not to become the grandfather of the future shogun. Iesada had already buried two wives and was still childless. His successor had to be chosen from among the heads of several Tokugawa branch houses. The most natural one was his cousin, the young lord of [[Wakayama han|Kii]] [[Tokugawa Iemochi|Iemochi]] (aka Yoshitomi, [[1846]]-[[1866]]). However, [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu|Yoshinobu]] ([[1837]]-1913), originally of the [[Mito Tokugawa clan]], but adopted into the [[Hitotsubashi Tokugawa clan|Hitotsubashi branch]], was also a strong candidate. The latter was supported by those, including Nariakira, who believed the shogunate needed a strong leader who could make necessary reforms, especially in view of the foreign threat typified by the visit of [[Matthew Perry]] in 1853. It was hoped that Atsu could be influential in getting Yoshinobu to be named as successor. The "outer lords" (''[[tozama]] daimyô''), including the Shimazu, had been shut out of the shogunate administration since the beginning, but from the shogunate's perspective it was hoped that this marriage would strengthen the weakening shogunate by allying it to this powerful clan.

   

   

As the wife of the shogun was supposed to be from the imperial family or from a high-ranking imperial noble (''[[kuge]]'') family, Atsu was adopted by the [[Minister of the Right]], [[Konoe Tadahiro]].<ref>A similar route had been chosen when a woman from the Shimazu family ([[Kodai-in (1773-1844)|Kôdai-in]]) married the 11th shogun [[Tokugawa Ienari]]. In that case, they had been engaged before he was chosen as shogun. Kôdai-in was coincidentally also known as Atsu-hime.</ref> Her wedding [[palanquin]], today in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, bore the Tokugawa and Konoe [[kamon|family crests]] as part of elaborate [[gold leaf]] decorations on a black lacquered exterior; painted panels on the inside depicted scenes from the [[Genji monogatari|Tale of Genji]].<ref>"[http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=26995&int_modo=1 The Princess Atsuhime's Wedding Palanquin Revealed in the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery]. ArtDaily.org. 3 November 2008.</ref> In the 11th month of [[1856]], she entered [[Edo castle]] as the wife of the shogun. The next year she was formally given the title of ''Midaidokoro'', the wife of the shogun.   

As the wife of the shogun was supposed to be from the imperial family or from a high-ranking imperial noble (''[[kuge]]'') family, Atsu was adopted by the [[Minister of the Right]], [[Konoe Tadahiro]].<ref>A similar route had been chosen when a woman from the Shimazu family ([[Kodai-in (1773-1844)|Kôdai-in]]) married the 11th shogun [[Tokugawa Ienari]]. In that case, they had been engaged before he was chosen as shogun. Kôdai-in was coincidentally also known as Atsu-hime.</ref> Her wedding [[palanquin]], today in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, bore the Tokugawa and Konoe [[kamon|family crests]] as part of elaborate [[gold leaf]] decorations on a black lacquered exterior; painted panels on the inside depicted scenes from the [[Genji monogatari|Tale of Genji]].<ref>"[http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=26995&int_modo=1 The Princess Atsuhime's Wedding Palanquin Revealed in the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery]. ArtDaily.org. 3 November 2008.</ref> In the 11th month of [[1856]], she entered [[Edo castle]] as the wife of the shogun. The wedding ceremony took place the following month, on 12/18.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 277, 282.</ref> The next year she was formally given the title of ''Midaidokoro'', the wife of the shogun.   

[[Image:Atsuhime portrait.jpg|left|thumb|Atsuhime]]

[[Image:Atsuhime portrait.jpg|left|thumb|Atsuhime]]

However, Atsu was not able to exercise the influence that had been hoped. Iesada died on [[1858]]/7/4, naming as his heir the young lord of Kii; Nariakira died less than two weeks later, on 7/16. Two months after her husband's death, Atsu-hime retired and took the name Tenshô-in, and at the end of the year she was given Third Degree rank. With both Iesada and Nariakira gone, Atsu-hime was freed from obligations, or expectations, to support Tokugawa Yoshinobu as the choice for shogunal heir. Iemochi became shogun instead; Atsushime continued living in Edo castle throughout Iemochi's reign, and that of Yoshinobu, who succeeded him as shogun in [[1866]]. She continued to advise these successive shoguns, and worked to manage the [[Ooku|Ôoku]].

However, Atsu was not able to exercise the influence that had been hoped. Iesada died on [[1858]]/7/4, naming as his heir the young lord of Kii; Nariakira died less than two weeks later, on 7/16. Two months after her husband's death, Atsu-hime retired and took the name Tenshô-in, and at the end of the year she was granted the Junior Third Rank. With both Iesada and Nariakira gone, Atsu-hime was freed from obligations, or expectations, to support Tokugawa Yoshinobu as the choice for shogunal heir. Iemochi became shogun instead; Atsushime continued living in Edo castle throughout Iemochi's reign, and that of Yoshinobu, who succeeded him as shogun in [[1866]]. She continued to advise these successive shoguns, and worked to manage the [[Ooku|Ôoku]].

During this time, the Shimazu clan joined forces with the [[Mori clan|Môri]] of [[Choshu han|Chôshû]] in support of the imperial restoration against the shogunate, and events eventually erupted into the [[Boshin War]] ([[1868]]), ending with the overthrow of the shogunate. At the end of the war, Tenshô-in (Atsuhime) and Kazu-no-Miya (now known as Seikan-in-no-miya, 静寛院宮), successfully interceded with both sides for the bloodless surrender of Edo, and the continuance of the Tokugawa family. After the fall of Edo castle, Tenshô-in and the rest of the Tokugawa family were deprived of their rank. After vacating Edo castle at the age of 34 on [[1868]]/10/4, she moved into the Hitotsubashi mansion and stayed there until 7/28 the following year, when she then relocated to the mansion of the Kii Tokugawa in the Akasaka district of the city, now renamed Tokyo. She then moved to Ushigometoyama (牛込戸山) in Tokyo on [[1870]]/8/11. Yet in [[1872]], to better help supervise the raising and education of Yoshinobu's heir Yasuda Kamenosuke ([[Tokugawa Iesato]]), Atsuhime moved back to Akasaka, settling in Fukuyoshi-chô, where she remained until Iesato went to study abroad in England in [[1877]]. After that, she moved into the main Tokugawa residence in Sendagaya, in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Tenshôin suffered from Parkinson’s disease, which eventually took her life at the age of 49 in [[1883]]. Upon her death her rank was restored.  

During this time, the Shimazu clan joined forces with the [[Mori clan|Môri]] of [[Choshu han|Chôshû]] in support of the imperial restoration against the shogunate, and events eventually erupted into the [[Boshin War]] ([[1868]]), ending with the overthrow of the shogunate. At the end of the war, Tenshô-in (Atsuhime) and Kazu-no-Miya (now known as Seikan-in-no-miya, 静寛院宮), successfully interceded with both sides for the bloodless surrender of Edo, and the continuance of the Tokugawa family. After the fall of Edo castle, Tenshô-in and the rest of the Tokugawa family were deprived of their rank. After vacating Edo castle at the age of 34 on [[1868]]/10/4, she moved into the Hitotsubashi mansion and stayed there until 7/28 the following year, when she then relocated to the mansion of the Kii Tokugawa in the Akasaka district of the city, now renamed Tokyo. She then moved to Ushigometoyama (牛込戸山) in Tokyo on [[1870]]/8/11. Yet in [[1872]], to better help supervise the raising and education of Yoshinobu's heir Yasuda Kamenosuke ([[Tokugawa Iesato]]), Atsuhime moved back to Akasaka, settling in Fukuyoshi-chô, where she remained until Iesato went to study abroad in England in [[1877]]. After that, she moved into the main Tokugawa residence in Sendagaya, in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Tenshôin suffered from Parkinson’s disease, which eventually took her life at the age of 49 in [[1883]]. Upon her death her rank was restored.