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Empress consort of Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tokugawa Masako (徳川 和子, November 23, 1607 – August 2, 1678), also known as Kazu-ko,[1] was empress consort of Japan as the wife of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Through collaboration with her parents, Oeyo and Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, she was a prominent and influential figure within the politics and culture of the Edo Period.
| Tokugawa Masako | |
|---|---|
| |
| Empress consort of Japan | |
| Tenure | 1624–1629 |
| Born | November 23, 1607 |
| Died | August 2, 1678 (aged 70) |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Tokugawa Clan (by birth) Imperial House of Japan (by marriage) |
| Father | Tokugawa Hidetada |
| Mother | Oeyo |
In a rare break with tradition, Masako's daughter, Imperial Princess Onna-Ichi-no-miya Okiko, succeeded her father in her own right as Empress Meishō, albeit at the age of five.[4] After Meishō abdicated at 19, the throne would be successively held by two of her half-brothers, who would reign as Emperor Go-Kōmyō and Emperor Go-Sai respectively. Both had been brought up by Masako as if they were her own sons.[5]
Masako had two younger daughters; Princess Teruko (1625-1651) who married Konoe Hisatsugu, and Princess Akiko (1629-1675), also known as the Third Princess.
Masako used her wealth to bring together the two capitals of Edo and Kyoto, as well as helping to maintain the high standards of the court. Her money was also used to restore significant buildings that had been damaged in the preceding civil wars. Many of these restorations were originally credited to her brother Iemitsu, or her husband, but have recently been properly credited to her. Masako also presented herself as a representative of the Tokugawa clan, although the high standards expected from this position may have got her into trouble. According to tradition, Masako and Lady Kasuga broke a taboo by visiting the Imperial court dressed as commoners. The event is said to have highly embarrassed Go-Mizunoo, who promptly abdicated and named Meisho as empress. It is perhaps more likely, though, that Go-Mizunoo abdicated due to the fallout over the "Purple Robe Incident", which had caused a serious political conflict between him and Tokugawa Iemitsu, the new Shogun. Whatever the actual reasons, Meishō's elevation made Iemitsu, as Masako's brother, the uncle of the sitting monarch.
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