Tōshō-gū

Yomeimon at Nikkō Tōshō-gū

A Tōshō-gū (東照宮) is a Shinto shrine in which Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, is enshrined.[1] Tōshō-gūs are found throughout Japan.

The most well-known Tōshō-gū is the Nikkō Tōshō-gū located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture.[2] It is one of Japan's most popular destinations for tourists and is part of "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō" World Heritage Site.[3]

Ueno Tōshō-gū at Ueno Park in Tokyo is also widely known.[4][5] The Kunōzan Tōshō-gū is in Shizuoka Prefecture and rivals Nikkō's for decorative splendor.[6][7] 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,[8] and others united with shrines in the area. Presently, it is estimated that there are about 130 Tōshō-gū.[9] The National Tōshō-gū Association lists a total of 48 shrines.[10]

Ieyasu was deified with the name Tōshō Daigongen (東照大権現), meaning "Great Gongen, Light of the East"[11] (a gongen is 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tōshō-gū Shrine". GetHiroshima. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  2. ^ "Tōshō-gū Shrine". GetHiroshima. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  3. ^ "Shrines and Temples of Nikko". UNESCO. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  4. ^ "Ueno Park". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  5. ^ "Ueno Toshogu". Ueno Toshogu. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  6. ^ "Kunouzan Toshogu, Welcome". Kunōzan Tōshō-gū Official Website. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  7. ^ "Kunozan Toshogu Shrine". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  8. ^ "Tosho-gu Shrine, Ueno Park, Tokyo". Old Tokyo. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  9. ^ "Toshogu". Japan This. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  10. ^ "全国東照宮連合会 加盟神社 (in japanese)". National Tōshō-gū association. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  11. ^ "Toshogu Shrine". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2017-12-28.


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