A memorial shrine dedicated to Tsukiyama Gozen, the tragic first wife of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was forced to commit suicide along with her son in 1579. The shrine serves as a place of remembrance for this notable figure from the late Sengoku period.
- Religion
- shinto
- Kami enshrined
- Tsukiyama Gozen
- Founding
- Edo period
- Coordinates
- 34.9540361, 137.187084
Visitor tip
This is a somber memorial site that offers insight into the harsh political realities of the Sengoku period.
Cultural notes
The shrine represents the complex relationship between personal loyalty and political necessity during Japan's warring states period. Tsukiyama Gozen's story illustrates the tragic consequences that befell even family members when political alliances shifted during this turbulent era.
Historical note
Tsukiyama Gozen was the daughter of Seki Chikamasa and first wife of Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1579, she and her son Matsudaira Nobuyasu were accused of conspiring against Oda Nobunaga. Under pressure from Nobunaga, Ieyasu was forced to order the death of his wife and eldest son. Tsukiyama Gozen was compelled to commit suicide, and this shrine was established to commemorate her tragic fate.