The ''midaidokoro'' (御台所) was the official wife of the ''
shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
''. During the Edo period, she resided in the ''
Ōoku
The refers to the women's quarters of Edo Castle, the section where the women connected to the reigning resided. Similar areas in the castles of powerful , such as the Satsuma Domain, were also referred to by this term.
History
The ''Ōok ...
'' of
Edo Castle and sometimes wielded considerable political power behind the scenes.
Heian period
* Miyoshi Takako, wife of
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
was a court noble, general and ''shōgun'' of the early Heian period of Japan. He served as Dainagon, Minister of War and ''Ukon'e no Taisho'' (Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards). He held the '' kabane'' of Ōsukune ...
and daughter of Miyoshi Kiyotsugu
*
Tomoe Gozen, wife of
Minamoto no Yoshinaka
, , or Lord Kiso was a general from the late Heian period of Japanese history. A member of the Minamoto clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo was his cousin and rival during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and the Taira clans. Yoshinaka was born in Musas ...
and daughter of Nakahara Kaneto
Kamakura period
*
Hōjō Masako
was a Japanese politician who exercised significant power in the early years of the Kamakura period, which was reflected by her contemporary sobriquet of the "nun shogun". She was the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, and mother of Minamoto no Yori ...
, daughter of
Hōjō Tokimasa
was a Japanese samurai lord who was the first ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate and head of the Hōjō clan. He was ''shikken'' from 1203 until his abdication in 1205, and Protector of Kyoto from 1185 to 1186.
Background
The Hōj ...
, wife of
Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1192 until 1199.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako who acted as regent ('' shikken'') after h ...
and mother of
Minamoto no Yoriie
was the second ''shōgun'' (1202–1203) of Japan's Kamakura shogunate, and the first son of first shōgun Yoritomo. His Dharma name was Hokke-in-dono Kingo Da'i Zengo (法華院殿金吾大禅閤).
Life
Minamoto no Yoriie was born to Hōj� ...
and
Minamoto no Sanetomo
was the third ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate. He was the second son of the Kamakura shogunate founder, Minamoto no Yoritomo. His mother was Hōjō Masako and his older brother was second Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Yoriie.
His childhood n ...
* Wakasa no Tsubone (d.1203), daughter of
Hiki Yoshikazu
was a Japanese samurai lord and a powerful ''gokenin'' of the Kamakura Shogunate during the Kamakura period. He was related to the ruling Minamoto clan through his daughter's marriage. He, and much of the Hiki clan, were killed for allegedly cons ...
and wife of
Minamoto no Yoriie
was the second ''shōgun'' (1202–1203) of Japan's Kamakura shogunate, and the first son of first shōgun Yoritomo. His Dharma name was Hokke-in-dono Kingo Da'i Zengo (法華院殿金吾大禅閤).
Life
Minamoto no Yoriie was born to Hōj� ...
also mother of Take no Gosho (wife of
Kujo Yoritsune
Kujo is an American outdoor footwear company specializing in shoes made for yard work. The company is based out of Cleveland, Ohio.
History
Kujo successfully launched on Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation bas ...
)
* Bomon Nobuko (1193-1274), daughter of
Bomon Nobukiyo and wife of
Minamoto no Sanetomo
was the third ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate. He was the second son of the Kamakura shogunate founder, Minamoto no Yoritomo. His mother was Hōjō Masako and his older brother was second Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Yoriie.
His childhood n ...
* Minamoto no Yoshiko or Take no Gosho (1202–1234), daughter of second ''shōgun''
Minamoto no Yoriie
was the second ''shōgun'' (1202–1203) of Japan's Kamakura shogunate, and the first son of first shōgun Yoritomo. His Dharma name was Hokke-in-dono Kingo Da'i Zengo (法華院殿金吾大禅閤).
Life
Minamoto no Yoriie was born to Hōj� ...
with Wakasa no Tsubone and wife of
Kujo Yoritsune
Kujo is an American outdoor footwear company specializing in shoes made for yard work. The company is based out of Cleveland, Ohio.
History
Kujo successfully launched on Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation bas ...
* Hiwadahime (1230–1247), daughter of
Hojo Tokiuji
Hojo or Hōjō may refer to:
Hojo or HoJo:
* Howard Johnson's, a U.S. chain of restaurants and hotels
*A nickname for Howard Johnson
*A nickname for Howard Jones
*A nickname for Howard Jones
* MGR-1 Honest John, the first nuclear-capable missi ...
and wife of
Kujo Yoritsugu
* Konoe Saiko (b. 1241), daughter of
Konoe Kanetsune
, son of Iezane, was a ''Kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the early Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first '' shōgun' ...
, wife of
Prince Munetaka and mother of
Prince Koreyasu
* daughter of
Prince Koreyasu, wife of
Prince Hisaaki and mother of
Prince Morikuni
was the ninth ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan.
He was a son of the eighth ''shōgun'' Prince Hisaaki and was a grandson of the Emperor Go-Fukakusa. He was also a puppet ruler controlled by Hōjō Takatoki, who was the Kamakura sh ...
died in 1306.
Nanbokucho period
* daughter of Kitabatake Moronaga and wife of
Prince Moriyoshi
Muromachi period
* Akahashi Toshi (1306–1365), wife of
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate."Ashikaga Takauji" in '' The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromac ...
and mother of
Ashikaga Yoshiakira
* Shibukawa Koshi (1332–1392), daughter of
Shibukawa Yoshisue and wife of
Ashikaga Yoshiakira
* Hino Nariko (1351–1405), wife of
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
was the third ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate, ruling from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was Ashikaga Yoshiakira's third son but the oldest son to survive, his childhood name being Haruō (). Yoshimitsu was ...
and daughter of
Hino Tokimitsu
* Hino Eiko (1390–1431), wife of
Ashikaga Yoshimochi
was the fourth ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1394 to 1423 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimochi was the son of the third ''shōgun'' Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834).
Succession and rule
In 1394, ...
, daughter of Hino Motoyasu and mother of
Ashikaga Yoshikazu
* Hino Muneko (d. 1447), wife of
Ashikaga Yoshinori
was the sixth ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1429 to 1441 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshinori was the son of the third ''shōgun'' Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). His childhood name was Haruto ...
and daughter of Hino Shigemitsu
*
Hino Tomiko, wife of
Ashikaga Yoshimasa Ashikaga (足利) may refer to:
* Ashikaga clan (足利氏 ''Ashikaga-shi''), a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Minamoto clan; and that formed the basis of the eponymous shogunate
** Ashikaga shogunate (足利幕府 ''Ashikaga bakufu''), a ...
, daughter of Hino Shigemasa and mother of
Ashikaga Yoshihisa
was the 9th ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1473 to 1489 during the Muromachi period of Japan.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982) ''Lessons from History: The Tokushi Yoron'', p. 331. Yoshihisa was the son of the eighth ''shōgun'' Ash ...
* Shōun'in, wife of
Ashikaga Yoshihisa
was the 9th ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1473 to 1489 during the Muromachi period of Japan.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982) ''Lessons from History: The Tokushi Yoron'', p. 331. Yoshihisa was the son of the eighth ''shōgun'' Ash ...
and daughter of Hino Katsumitsu
* Seiyun'in, daughter of
Hosokawa Shigeyuki and wife of
Ashikaga Yoshitane
, also known as , was the 10th ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who headed the shogunate first from 1490 to 1493 and then again from 1508 to 1521 during the Muromachi period of Japan.
Yoshitane was the son of Ashikaga Yoshimi and grandson ...
* Hino Akiko, daughter of Hino Nagatoshi, wife of
Ashikaga Yoshizumi and mother of
Ashikaga Yoshiharu
was the twelfth ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate from 1521 through 1546 during the late Muromachi period of Japan.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982). ''Lessons from History: The Tokushi Yoron'', p. 332. He was the son of the eleventh ''shōgun'' As ...
* Keijuin (1514–1565), daughter of
Konoe Hisamichi, wife of
Ashikaga Yoshiharu
was the twelfth ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate from 1521 through 1546 during the late Muromachi period of Japan.Ackroyd, Joyce. (1982). ''Lessons from History: The Tokushi Yoron'', p. 332. He was the son of the eleventh ''shōgun'' As ...
and mother of
Ashikaga Yoshiteru
, also known as Yoshifushi or Yoshifuji, was the 13th ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1546 to 1565 during the late Muromachi period of Japan. He was the eldest son of the 12th ''shōgun'', Ashikaga Yoshiharu, and his moth ...
and
Ashikaga Yoshiaki
"Ashikaga Yoshiaki" in '' The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 625. was the 15th and final '' shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan who reigned from 1568 to 1573.Ackroyd, ...
* daughter of
Konoe Taneie and wife of
Ashikaga Yoshiteru
, also known as Yoshifushi or Yoshifuji, was the 13th ''shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1546 to 1565 during the late Muromachi period of Japan. He was the eldest son of the 12th ''shōgun'', Ashikaga Yoshiharu, and his moth ...
* Yuki no Tsubone, wife of
Ashikaga Yoshihide
Edo period
*
Oeyo
, , or : 1573 – September 15, 1626) was a prominently-placed female figure in the Azuchi–Momoyama period and early Edo period. She was daughter of Oichi and the sister of Yodo-dono and Ohatsu. When she rose to higher political status during ...
, daughter of
Azai Nagamasa
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period known as the brother-in-law and enemy of Oda Nobunaga. Nagamasa was head of the Azai clan seated at Odani Castle in northern Ōmi Province and married Nobunaga's sister Oichi in 1564, fathering ...
, wife of
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Early life (1579–1593)
Tokugawa Hidetada was bo ...
and mother of
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu (徳川 家光, August 12, 1604 – June 8, 1651) was the third '' shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada with Oeyo, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Lady Kasuga was his wet nurse, ...
* Takatsukasa Takako (1622–1683) later Honriin, wife of
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu (徳川 家光, August 12, 1604 – June 8, 1651) was the third '' shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada with Oeyo, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Lady Kasuga was his wet nurse, ...
and daughter of
Takatsukasa Nobufusa
was a court noble (''kuge'') of the early Edo period. Born to Nijō Haruyoshi and adopted by Takatsukasa Tadafuyu, he revived the lineage of the Takatsukasa family. In 1606 he was appointed Kampaku, a regent position which he left two years la ...
* Asa no Miya Akiko (1640–1676) later Koke'in, wife of
Tokugawa Ietsuna
was the fourth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan who was in office from 1651 to 1680. He is considered the eldest son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, which makes him the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
...
and daughter of
Fushimi no Miya Sadakiyo
* Takatsukasa Nobuko (1651–1709) later Tenjoin, wife of
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
was the fifth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the younger brother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, as well as the son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.Nussbaum, Louis-F ...
and daughter of
Takatsukasa Norihira
* Konoe Hiroko (1666–1741) later Ten-ei'in, wife of
Tokugawa Ienobu
(June 11, 1662 – November 12, 1712) was the sixth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Tsunashige, thus making him the nephew of Tokugawa Ietsuna and Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the grandson of Tokugawa Iem ...
and daughter of
Konoe Motohiro
* Yasonomiya Yoshiko Naishinno later Jorin'in-no-Miya (1714-1758), wife of
Tokugawa Ietsugu
Tokugawa Ietsugu; 徳川 家継 (August 8, 1709 – June 19, 1716) was the seventh ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1713 until his death in 1716. He was the son of Tokugawa Ienobu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Tsu ...
and daughter of
Emperor Reigen
* Iso no Miya Tomoko later Haisen'in (1738–1771), wife of
Tokugawa Ieharu
Tokugawa Ieharu (徳川家治) (June 20, 1737 – September 17, 1786) was the tenth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1760 to 1786.
His childhood name was Takechiyo (竹千代).
Ieharu died in 1786 and given ...
and daughter of Kan'in no Miya Naohito Shinno
* Shimazu no Shigehime or Tadakohime (1773–1844) later Kodai-in, wife of
Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari ( ja, 徳川 家斉, November 18, 1773 – March 22, 1841) was the eleventh and longest-serving ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan who held office from 1787 to 1837.Hall, John Whitney ''et al.'' (1991) ''Early Modern ...
and daughter of Shimazu Shigehide of
Satsuma Domain
The , briefly known as the , was a domain (''han'') of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1602 to 1871.
The Satsuma Domain was based at Kagoshima Castle in Satsuma Province, the core of the modern city of Kagoshim ...
* Arisugawa Takako (1795–1840) later Jokan-in, wife of
Tokugawa Ieyoshi
was the 12th ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.Hall, John Whitney ''et al.'' (1991) ''Early Modern Japan',' p. 21./ref>
Biography
Ieyoshi was born as the second son of the 11th ''shōgun'', Tokugawa Ienari and named Toshijirō (� ...
and daughter of Prince Arisugawa Orihito
* Shimazu Atsuhime or Fujiwara no Sumiko, later
Tenshoin, wife of
Tokugawa Iesada
was the 13th ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He held office for five years from 1853 to 1858. He was physically weak and was therefore considered by later historians to have been unfit to be ''shōgun''. His reign marks the begi ...
and daughter of Shimazu Tadatake (1806-1854), adopted daughter of
Shimazu Nariakira
was a Japanese feudal lord (''daimyō'') of the Edo period, the 28th in the line of Shimazu clan lords of Satsuma Domain. He was renowned as an intelligent and wise lord, and was greatly interested in Western learning and technology. He was en ...
and
Konoe Tadahiro
Prince Senior first rank , son of Motosaki, was a ''kugyō'' or Japanese court noble of the late Edo period (1603–1868). He held a regent position kampaku from 1862 to 1863. His consort was Shimazu Kyoko, an adopted daughter of Shimazu Nariok ...
*
Chikako, Princess Kazu
(''Kazunomiya'') was the wife of 14th '' shōgun'' Tokugawa Iemochi. She was renamed Lady Seikan'in-no-miya after she took the tonsure as a widow. She was the great-great-great aunt of Emperor Akihito, who reigned from 1989 to 2019.
Biogra ...
, later Seikan'in-no-miya, wife of
Tokugawa Iemochi
(July 17, 1846 – August 29, 1866) was the 14th ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1858 to 1866.
During his reign there was much internal turmoil as a result of the "re-opening" of Japan to western nations. ...
and daughter of
Emperor Ninkō
was the 120th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 仁孝天皇 (120)/ref> Ninkō's reign spanned the years from 1817 until his death in 1846, and saw further deteriorat ...
The first Midaidokoro in this period was wife of the second ''shōgun'',
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Early life (1579–1593)
Tokugawa Hidetada was bo ...
, because when the
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fel ...
became ''shōgun'' his wives had already died so there was no Midaidokoro at that time. When
Tokugawa Yoshimune
was the eighth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Lineage
Yoshimune ...
's time came he didn't have Midaidokoro either because his wife had died before he became ''shōgun''. Also when
Tokugawa Ieshige
Tokugawa Ieshige; 徳川 家重 (January 28, 1712 – July 13, 1761) was the ninth '' shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.
The first son of Tokugawa Yoshimune, his mother was the daughter of Ōkubo Tadanao, known as Osuma no kata ...
's time, his wife already died. At
Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Prince was the 15th and last ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was part of a movement which aimed to reform the aging shogunate, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He resigned of his position as shogun in late 1867, while aiming ...
's time he and his wife doesn't enter
Edo castle but they entered
Nijo castle so his wife was called "Gorenju".
See also
* ''
Ōmidaidokoro''
* ''
Mandokoro
was the chief governing body of an important family or monastic complex in ancient Japan. This name was borrowed for the administrative department of the Shogunate in feudal times.
History
The earliest usage of the term was found in the Hei ...
''
* ''
seishitsu''
References
Marriage, unions and partnerships in Japan
Japanese historical terms
Feudal Japan
Japanese words and phrases
Wives of national leaders
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