Changes

*''Japanese:'' 和宮 ''Kazu-no-Miya (Princess Kazu)''

*''Born: [[1846]]''

*''Died: [[1877]]''

*''Personal name:'' 親子 ''Chikako''

*''Personal name:'' 親子 ''Chikako''

*''Buddhist name:'' 静寛院宮 ''Seikan-in-no-miya''

*''Buddhist name:'' 静寛院宮 ''Seikan-in-no-miya''

*''Born: 1846

*''Japanese:'' 和宮 ''Kazu-no-Miya (Princess Kazu)''

*Died: 1877''

 

*Distinction: Sister of [[Emperor Komei|Emperor Kômei]], wife of Shogun [[Tokugawa Iemochi]]''

Kazu-no-Miya was the eighth daughter of [[Emperor Ninko|Emperor Ninkô]] (r. [[1817]]-[[1846]]). Her mother was [[Hashimoto Tsuneko]] (Kangyôin). Kazu-no-miya is known chiefly as the wife of Shogun [[Tokugawa Iemochi]], and for the large and impressive entourage which accompanied her on her formal journey to [[Edo]] in [[1861]] for that marriage.

[[Image:和宮親子内親王.jpg|right|thumb|Kazu-no-Miya]]

She was at one time engaged to Imperial Prince [[Arisugawa Taruhito]], but later (in [[1860]]) her marriage with the young shogun Iemochi was decided upon as part of the "[[Kobu Gattai|Kôbu Gattai]] ("Union of Emperor and Shogunate") policy. The imperial court was opposed to this marriage for some time, rejecting numerous requests from the shogunate. Once the court finally agreed to the marriage in [[1860]]/8, Kazu-no-miya herself then expressed her firm opposition.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 3 (1937), 334.</ref>

Kazu-no-Miya was the daughter of [[Emperor Ninko|Emperor Ninkô]] (1800-1846). She was engaged to Prince Arisugawa-no-Miya Naruhito, but later her marriage with the young shogun Iemochi was decided upon as part of the "[[Kobu Gattai|Kôbu Gattai]] ("Union of Emperor and Shogunate") policy. In [[1861]] she went to Edo via the [[Nakasendo|Nakasendô]] in a huge procession<ref>For the logistical problems involved, see "The Story of Princess Kazunomiya" http://hkuhist2.hku.hk/nakasendo/kazunomy.htm</ref> and married Iemochi the [[1862|next year]]. This was perhaps the largest procession to ever march down the Nakasendô, and it included some 20,000 samurai, ''[[kuge]]'', and others. All along the route, commoners watching from the sides of the road were obliged to prostrate themselves when the princess' palanquin passed; men sitting on the earthen floor (''[[doma]]'') outside of their homes, and women and children from atop the floor within their homes, or from viewing boxes set up for the occasion.<ref>Gallery labels, "Edo-zu-byôbu to gyôretsu" exhibition, National Museum of Japanese History, Sept 2014.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15434468333/sizes/h/]</ref>

 

In the end, however, in 1861 she went to Edo via the [[Nakasendo|Nakasendô]] in a huge procession<ref>For the logistical problems involved, see "The Story of Princess Kazunomiya" http://hkuhist2.hku.hk/nakasendo/kazunomy.htm</ref> and married Iemochi the [[1862|next year]]. This was perhaps the largest procession to ever march down the Nakasendô, and it included some 20,000 samurai, ''[[kuge]]'', and others. All along the route, commoners watching from the sides of the road were obliged to prostrate themselves when the princess' palanquin passed; men sitting on the earthen floor (''[[doma]]'') outside of their homes, and women and children from atop the floor within their homes, or from viewing boxes set up for the occasion.<ref>Gallery labels, "Edo-zu-byôbu to gyôretsu" exhibition, National Museum of Japanese History, Sept 2014.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15434468333/sizes/h/]</ref>

However, Iemochi died in [[1866]], and Kazu-no-Miya became a nun, taking the name Seikan-in. At the end of the [[Boshin War]] she, the aunt of [[Emperor Meiji]], appealed to the victors for the continuance of the Tokugawa family.

However, Iemochi died in [[1866]], and Kazu-no-Miya became a nun, taking the name Seikan-in. At the end of the [[Boshin War]] she, the aunt of [[Emperor Meiji]], appealed to the victors for the continuance of the [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa family]].

She died of beriberi in [[1877]] and was given a splendid state funeral procession.<ref> Described in detail in Clara A. N. Whitney, ''Clara's Diary: An American Girl in Meiji Japan,'' Kodansha, 1979.</ref>

She died of beriberi in [[1877]] and was given a splendid state funeral procession.<ref>Described in detail in Clara A. N. Whitney, ''Clara's Diary: An American Girl in Meiji Japan,'' Kodansha, 1979.</ref>

==Historical materials==

==Historical materials==