Tōshō-gū
Tōshō-gū (東照宮) is any Shinto shrine in which Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) is enshrined.[1]
Ieyasu was the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868), which is the third and last of the shogunal governments in Japanese history. He was deified with the name Tōshō Daigongen (東照大権現), the "Great Gongen, Light of the East"[2] (A Gongen is believed to be a buddha who has appeared on Earth in the form of a kami to save sentient beings), and this is what gives Tōshō-gū shrines their name.
Tōshō-gū shrines are found throughout Japan. The most famous Tōshō-gū is located in Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture.[3] It is one of Japan's most popular destinations for tourists and is part of Shrines and Temples of Nikkō UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4] Ieyasu's son, the second shōgun Hidetada, ordered the construction of the Nikkō Tōshō-gū.[5] Later, the third shōgun Iemitsu had the shrine greatly enlarged and lavishly decorated.[6]
Ueno Tōshō-gū at Ueno Park in Tokyo is also widely known.[7][8] The Kunōzan Tōshō-gū is in Shizuoka prefecture and rivals Nikkō's for decorative splendor.[9][10] Another one is the Nagoya Tōshō-gū, constructed in 1619. A Tōshō-gū can also be found at Miyanochō, in Sendai.
During the Edo period these shrines reached 500 in number, but after the Meiji Restoration many were abandoned,[11] and others united with shrines in the area. Presently, it is estimated that there are about 130 Tōshō-gū.[12] The National Tōshō-gū association lists a total of 48 shrines.[13]
Gallery of Tōshō-gū shrines[]
Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Nikkō, TochigiKunōzan Tōshō-gū
Shizuoka, ShizuokaUeno Tōshō-gū
Tokyo, Tokyo
Sendai Tōshō-gū
Sendai, MiyagiNagasaki Tōshō-gū
Nagasaki, NagasakiShiba Tōshō-gū
Tokyo, TokyoReikyū Shrine
Shimabara, NagasakiHōraisan Tōshō-gū
Shinshiro, Aichi
See also[]
- List of Tōshō-gū
- List of World Heritage Sites in Japan
- Testament of Ieyasu
References[]
- ^ "Tōshō-gū Shrine". GetHiroshima. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Toshogu Shrine". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Tōshō-gū Shrine". GetHiroshima. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Shrines and Temples of Nikko". UNESCO. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the mausoleum of a shogun". Japan Experience. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Toshogu Shrine". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Ueno Park". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Ueno Toshogu". Ueno Toshogu. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Kunouzan Toshogu, Welcome". Kunōzan Tōshō-gū Official Website. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Kunozan Toshogu Shrine". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Tosho-gu Shrine, Ueno Park, Tokyo". Old Tokyo. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "Toshogu". Japan This. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ "全国東照宮連合会 加盟神社 (in japanese)". National Tōshō-gū association. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
External links[]
- Toshogu.net (in Japanese)
- National Archives of Japan: Illustrations of Road to Nikko, Tempo 14 (1843)
- Tōshō-gū
- Shinto shrines in Japan
- Shinto stubs