Mito branch
Encyclopedia
The are a branch of the Tokugawa clan
based in Mito, Ibaraki
.
in 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu
appointed his eleventh son, Tokugawa Yorifusa
, as daimyo in 1608. With his appointment, Yorifusa became the founding member of the Mito branch of the Tokugawa clan. Along with the Tokugawa branches in Kii and Owari, the Mito branch represented one of three Tokugawa houses known as the Gosanke
("three honourable houses of the Tokugawa").
Although the Mito branch held less land and wealth than either of the other two branches, they maintained considerable influence throughout the Edo period
. Mito Domain
's promiximity to the de facto capital in Edo was a contributing factor to this power as well as the fact that many people unofficially considered the Mito daimyo to be "vice-shogun". The Mito branch however, as the lowest of the gosanke, was not eligible for the shogun rank.
Tokugawa Mitsukuni
, the third son of Tokugawa Yorifusa, became the second daimyo of Mito in 1661. Mitsukuni further established Mito's status as a respected han by sponsoring the Dai Nihonshi
in 1657. The endeavor would launch Mito's reputation as a center for intellectual thought.
The treasures of the Mito branch are kept in the The Tokugawa Museum (彰考館徳川博物館) in Mito.
The 15th head of the Mito House is (born in 1958). From July 2009 he is also the director of Mito's Tokugawa Museum. He presently works for Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. A Tokyo resident, he commutes to Mito during weekends.
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
based in Mito, Ibaraki
Mito, Ibaraki
is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location, moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture. As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 263,748 and a total area is 217.45 km², giving a population density of 1,212.91 persons per km²...
.
History
Following the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunateTokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
in 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
appointed his eleventh son, Tokugawa Yorifusa
Tokugawa Yorifusa
, also known as Mito Yorifusa, was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period.- Biography :Known in his childhood as Tsuruchiyomaru, he was the eleventh son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun...
, as daimyo in 1608. With his appointment, Yorifusa became the founding member of the Mito branch of the Tokugawa clan. Along with the Tokugawa branches in Kii and Owari, the Mito branch represented one of three Tokugawa houses known as the Gosanke
Gosanke
The , also called simply Gosanke or even Sanke, were three branches of the Tokugawa clan of Japan descended from clan founder Tokugawa Ieyasu's three youngest sons, Yoshinao, Yorinobu and Yorifusa and allowed to provide a shogun in case of need. The three houses were called Owari House of Tokugawa,...
("three honourable houses of the Tokugawa").
Although the Mito branch held less land and wealth than either of the other two branches, they maintained considerable influence throughout the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. Mito Domain
Mito Domain
was a prominent feudal domain in Japan during the Edo period. Its capital was the city of Mito, and it covered much of present-day Ibaraki Prefecture. Beginning with the appointment of Tokugawa Yorifusa by his father, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, in 1608, the Mito branch of the Tokugawa clan...
's promiximity to the de facto capital in Edo was a contributing factor to this power as well as the fact that many people unofficially considered the Mito daimyo to be "vice-shogun". The Mito branch however, as the lowest of the gosanke, was not eligible for the shogun rank.
Tokugawa Mitsukuni
Tokugawa Mitsukuni
or was a prominent daimyo who was known for his influence in the politics of the early Edo period. He was the third son of Tokugawa Yorifusa and succeeded him, becoming the second daimyo of the Mito domain....
, the third son of Tokugawa Yorifusa, became the second daimyo of Mito in 1661. Mitsukuni further established Mito's status as a respected han by sponsoring the Dai Nihonshi
Dai Nihonshi
The Dai Nihonshi , literally "Great History of Japan," is a book on the history of Japan. It was begun in 17th century, during the Edo period, by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the head of the Mito branch of the Tokugawa family. After his death, work was continued by the Mito branch until its completion in...
in 1657. The endeavor would launch Mito's reputation as a center for intellectual thought.
The treasures of the Mito branch are kept in the The Tokugawa Museum (彰考館徳川博物館) in Mito.
The 15th head of the Mito House is (born in 1958). From July 2009 he is also the director of Mito's Tokugawa Museum. He presently works for Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. A Tokyo resident, he commutes to Mito during weekends.
Heads
- Tokugawa YorifusaTokugawa Yorifusa, also known as Mito Yorifusa, was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period.- Biography :Known in his childhood as Tsuruchiyomaru, he was the eleventh son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun...
(1603-1661) - Tokugawa MitsukuniTokugawa Mitsukunior was a prominent daimyo who was known for his influence in the politics of the early Edo period. He was the third son of Tokugawa Yorifusa and succeeded him, becoming the second daimyo of the Mito domain....
(1628-1701) - Tokugawa Tsunaeda (1656-1718)
- Tokugawa MunetakaTokugawa Munetakawas a Japanese daimyo of the mid-Edo period, who ruled the Mito Domain. He was the son of Matsudaira Yoritoyo, the lord of the Takamatsu Domain....
(1705-1730) - Tokugawa MunemotoTokugawa Munemotowas a Japanese daimyo of the mid-Edo period who ruled the Mito Domain.-References:...
(1728-1766) - Tokugawa Harumori (1751-1805)
- Tokugawa HarutoshiTokugawa Harutoshiwas a Japanese daimyo of the Edo period, who ruled the Mito Domain....
(1773-1816) - Tokugawa Narinobu (1797-1829)
- Tokugawa NariakiTokugawa NariakiTokugawa Nariaki was a prominent Japanese daimyo who ruled the Mito domain and contributed to the rise of nationalism and the Meiji restoration.- Clan leader :...
(1800-1860) - Tokugawa Yoshiatsu (1832-1868)
- Tokugawa AkitakeTokugawa Akitakewas a younger brother of the Japanese Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu. He was born in Komagome, Tokyo, as the 18th son of Tokugawa Nariaki. Initially lord of Aizu, he became lord of Shimizu before his departure for France.-Biography:...
(1853-1910) - Tokugawa Atsuyoshi (1855-1898)
- Tokugawa Kuniyuki (1868-1969)
- Tokugawa Kuninari (1912-1986)
- Tokugawa NarimasaTokugawa Narimasawas a Japanese samurai of the Edo period. The son of Tokugawa Harusada, he succeeded Tokugawa Haruaki as head of the Tayasu branch of the Tokugawa house, which had been without a ruler for some time....
(b. 1958)