I Have a Huge Announcement!
There’s a new service specializing in tourism for Japanese History. It may include beer! Help me spread the word, guys! Continue reading I Have a Huge Announcement!
Category: Tokugawa Shogun Graves
A 16 part series on the graves, mostly destroyed, of the 15 Tokugawa Shōguns.
The Grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu
The shogunate is finished… that’s not sad to me. The sad thing is closing out this chapter on a subject that is so personal to me. I also love Yoshinobu because after a hundred years of 微妙 shoguns, we got a guy who represented his era and his pedigree exceptionally. Until the bitter end, Yoshinobu was an aristocrat, but in a time of crisis he took the challenge and helped to save the shogun family line persist until the present day. Continue reading The Grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Shomyo-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Iemochi
We’re at the twilight of Tokugawa power in Japan – the 14th shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi. Continue reading Shomyo-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Iemochi
Onkyo-in
Onkyo-in is the grave of the 14th shogun Tokugawa Iesada and his wife Atsu-hime. He was incapable when foreigners knocked on Japan’s door. Continue reading Onkyo-in
Shintoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieyoshi
Tokugawa Ieyoshi was a pretty much a brown paper bag shogun. There is nothing notable about his rule… until the last year. In the last year, Commodore Perry arrived in Japan with his “Black Ships” and demanded that Japan end its isolationist policy. That’s when the shit hit the proverbial fan. Continue reading Shintoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieyoshi
Bunkyo-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari is my favorite shogun. Dude as a straight up player. Watch and learn, children. Continue reading Bunkyo-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ienari
Shunmei-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieharu
Tokugawa Ieharu, the lovable but forgettable 10th shogun. Continue reading Shunmei-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieharu
Junshin-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieshige
Today we’ll look at the grave of the 9th shogun, Tokugawa Ieshige — which is basically the grave of the 7th shogun, Ietsugu. Continue reading Junshin-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieshige
Yutoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Yoshimune
Tokugawa Yoshimune is considered one of the greatest shoguns of Edo Bakufu. He initiated financial reforms that most likely made writing the rest of this series on Tokugawa shogun graves infinitely easier. Just as they re-used existing sites, I can re-use existing blogs. Awwwww yeah. Continue reading Yutoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Yoshimune
Yusho-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ietsugu
We’ve come to the 7th shogun. His funerary temple was one of the architectural gems of Edo-Tokyo. Sadly, it was the last of these fine structures. From here on out we will only have group enshrinements. It’s the end of an era. Continue reading Yusho-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ietsugu
Bunsho-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ienobu
The second greatest funerary complex at Zojo-ji was Bunshoin, the mortuary temple of the 6th shogun, Tokugawa Ienobu.
Almost nothing remains of the site, but I hope to walk you through it today as best as I can. Continue reading Bunsho-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ienobu
Joken-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Last time, I wrote about the 4th shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna. Today let’s look at the grave of his younger brother, the much more famous Tokugawa Tsunayoshi – the so-called Dog Shogun. If you’ve been to Ueno Park, you may have seen the gate to his tomb. It’s much better preserved that Ietsuna’s and a little more centrally located… kinda. Continue reading Joken-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Gen’yu-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ietsuna
Most people think that all that remains of Tokugawa Ietsuna’s grave is a small gate in Ueno Park.
They are wrong.
And I’ve got the pictures to prove it. Continue reading Gen’yu-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ietsuna
Taiyu-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Iemitsu
Taiyu-in is the funerary temple of Tokugawa Iemitsu. It’s located in Nikko next to Tosho-gu. It became the standard for all shogun graves. Continue reading Taiyu-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Iemitsu
Daitoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Hidetada
Are you ready for this article? Maybe not.
Tokugawa Iemitsu is famous for building Tōshōgū in Nikkō, but he built another masterpiece in Edo for his father. Daitokuin was considered the most beautiful funerary complex at Zōjō-ji. Unfortunately, almost none of it is standing today. So, I’ll attempt to resurrect Daitokuin today. Continue reading Daitoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Hidetada
Tosho-gu・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Not much to say on the topic of Toshogu (and to some degree, Taiyuin) because so much has already been said. The real meat of this series will be in the shrines that we can’t see today. Continue reading Tosho-gu・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Funerary Temples
Today I’m starting a 16 part series describing the graves of all 15 Tokugawa shoguns. If you’re planning to travel to Japan, and Tokyo in particular, you might want to consider visiting these spots. Unfortunately, there isn’t much left to see in Tokyo, but what is remaining is intriguing! Continue reading Tokugawa Funerary Temples
