Tokugawa Ieyasu

founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan (1543–1616)

Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川 家康, January 31, 1543–June 1, 1616) was a Japanese shogun of the Edo period. His rule started in 1603 and ended in 1605. He is one of the most famous military commanders in Japan.[1]

Tokugawa Ieyasu
In this Japanese name, the family name is Tokugawa.

Early life

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At birth, his name was Matsudaira Takechiyo.[1]

In 1562, he changed his name to Matsudaira Motoyasu. The second syllable -- -yasu -- comes from the name of his grandfather Kiyoyasu.[2] A few months later, he changed his first name to the one by which he is known today. The first syllable -- Ie- -- comes from the last part of the name of Minamoto Yoshile, who was a famous ancestor.[3] He received permission from the emperor to change his family name from Matsudaira to Tokugawa.[4]

Shogun

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Ieyasu was the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.[1]

References

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The hollyhock symbol of the Tokugawa family.
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tokugawa Ieyasu" in Japan Encyclopedia, pp. 977-978.
  2. Sadler, Arthur Lindsay. (2010). The Maker of Modern Japan: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, p. 51.
  3. Sadler, p. 70.
  4. Janse, Marius B. (2002). The Making of Modern Japan, p. 29.

Other websites

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