The were a

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese ''

daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji era, Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and n ...

'' clan which rose to prominence during the

Sengoku The was a period in Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga shogunate. Various s ...

and Edo periods. The clan descend from the Uda Genji through the

Sasaki clan are a historical Japanese clan. Overview After World War II the clans of Sasaki-rokkaku were combined, the clans were spread out between South Eastern Asian islands and the head of the clan left Japan and eventually moved to the United State ...

.Papinot, Jacques. (2003)
''Nobiliare du Japon'', pp. 27–28.
/ref> The name derives from the Kyōgoku quarter of

Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...

during the

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...

.Iwao, Seiichi ''et al.'' (2002)
''Dictionnaire historique du Japon'', p. 1704.
/ref> The Kyōgoku acted as ''

shugo , commonly translated as “(military) governor,” “protector,” or “constable,” was a title given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the ''shōgun'' to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan. The pos ...

'' (governors) of Ōmi, Hida,

Izumo Izumo (出雲) may refer to: Locations * Izumo Province, an old province of Japan * Izumo, Shimane, a city located in Shimane Prefecture ** Izumo Airport * Izumo-taisha, one of Japan's most ancient and important Shinto shrines Ships * ''Izumo ...

and

Oki Province was a province of Japan consisted of the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan, located off the coast of the provinces of Izumo and Hōki. The area is now Oki District in modern Shimane Prefecture. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Awa no Kuni' ...

s in the period before the

Ōnin War The , also known as the Upheaval of Ōnin and Ōnin-Bunmei war, was a civil war that lasted from 1467 to 1477, during the Muromachi period in Japan. ''Ōnin'' refers to the Japanese era during which the war started; the war ended during the Bunmei ...

. A period of decline in clan fortunes was mitigated with the rise of the

Tokugawa clan The is a Japanese dynasty that was formerly a powerful ''daimyō'' family. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa (850–880) and were a branch of the Minamoto clan (Seiwa Genji) through the Matsudaira clan. The early history of this clan r ...

. Members of the clan were ''

s'' of territories on the islands of

Kyūshū is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...

and

Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...

during the

Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...

. Under the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate (, Japanese 徳川幕府 ''Tokugawa bakufu''), also known as the , was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Tokugawa-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia ...

, the Kyōgoku were identified as '' tozama'' or outsiders, in contrast with the '' fudai'' or insider ''daimyō'' clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa.Appert, Georges ''et al.'' (1888)
''Ancien Japon,'' p. 76.
/ref> At the fall of the

, the Kyōgoku had been

enfeoffed In the Middle Ages, especially under the European feudal system, feoffment or enfeoffment was the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a pledge of service. This mechanism was later used to avoid restrictions on the passage of ti ...

Marugame is a city located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 108,541 in 46101 households and a population density of 970 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Marugame is located in north-ce ...

and

Tadotsu 270px, Shorinji Kempo head dōjō is a town located in Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 22,124 in 10365 households and a population density of 270 persons per km². The total area of the ...

in Sanuki, Toyooka in Tajima, and

Mineyama Domain Mineyama Domain may refer to: * Mineyama Domain (Tango) (峯山藩), in Tango Province of Edo period Japan * Mineyama Domain (Echigo) Mineyama Domain may refer to: * Mineyama Domain (Tango) file:京極家墓所（常立寺：京都府京丹� ...

Tango Province was a province of Japan in the area of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Tango bordered on Tanba to the south, Tajima to the west, and Wakasa to the east. Its abbreviated form name was . It was also referred to as or . In terms of the Gokishichi ...

. A branch of the Kyōgoku was ranked among the '' kōke''.

Genealogy

The ''tozama'' Kyōgoku are descended directly from

Emperor Uda was the 59th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 宇多天皇 (59)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Uda's reign spanned the years from 887 through 897. Traditional narrative Name and legacy Befo ...

(868–897) through his grandson

Minamoto no Masanobu (920–993), third son of Imperial Prince Atsumi (son of Emperor Uda), a ''Kugyō'' (Japanese noble) of the Heian period.山本信吉『摂関政治史論考』（吉川弘文館、2003年）ISBN 978-4-642-02394-8 His mother was a daughter of ...

(920-993). They represent a branch of the

who were adopted by the

Seiwa Genji The is a line of the Japanese Minamoto clan that is descended from Emperor Seiwa, which is the most successful and powerful line of the clan. Many of the most famous Minamoto warriors, including Minamoto no Yoshiie, Minamoto no Yoritomo, the foun ...

. The branches of the ''tozama'' Kyōgoku clan include the following: * The senior branch of this clan are descendants of

Kyōgoku Takatsugu was a ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of Ōmi Province was a province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. Its nickname is . Under the ''Engishiki'' classification syst ...

(1560–1609). He allied himself with

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...

, who arranged for his marriage to his niece,

Ohatsu or (1570 – September 30, 1633) was a prominently placed figure in the late Sengoku period. She was daughter of Oichi and Nagamasa Azai, and the sister of Yodo-dono and Oeyo. Alongside her sisters, she was active in the political intrigues ...

. This marriage to the 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 h ...

made

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Cour ...

his brother-in-law. Hideyoshi awarded him

Ōtsu Castle 270px, Ōtsu City Hall is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 343,991 in 153458 households and a population density of 740 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Ōtsu is ...

(60,000 koku) in

Ōmi Province was a province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. Its nickname is . Under the ''Engishiki'' classification system, Ōmi was ranked as one of the 13 "great countrie ...

. In 1600, he sided with the Tokugawa at the

Siege of Ōtsu The took place in 1600, concurrent with the battle of Sekigahara. Kyōgoku Takatsugu held Ōtsu castle for the Tokugawa, and commanded the garrison. Mōri Terumoto and Tachibana Muneshige laid siege. The sides negotiated and Takatsugu surrend ...

; and he received in the same year the fief of

Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

(92,000 ''koku'') in

Wakasa Province was a province of Japan in the area that is today the southwestern portion of Fukui Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Wakasa''" in . Wakasa bordered on Echizen, Ōmi, Tanba, Tango, and Yamash ...

. :Takatsugu's son,

Kyōgoku Tadataka was a Japanese noble and the ''daimyō'' and head of the of Japan during the Tokugawan power grab of the early 17th century. Life His Childhood name was Kumamaro (熊麿). Kyōgoku Tadataka was a member and head of the powerful Kyōgoku cla ...

(1593–1637), married the fourth daughter of 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 ...

in 1607. Tadataka's revenues were increased gradually over time. In 1634, he was granted

Matsue Domain was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was associated with Izumo Province in modern-day Shimane Prefecture.

(260,000 ''koku'') in

Izumo Province was an old province of Japan which today consists of the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province is in the Chūgoku region. History During the early Kofun period (3rd century) this region was independent an ...

; but he died three years later without leaving any heirs. His holdings reverted to the shogunate. Kyogoku Takakazu

: The bakufu designated Kyōgoku Takakazu, the son of Tadataka's brother Takamasa, to continue the line. Tadakazu was

at Tatsuno (50,000 ''koku'') in

Harima Province or Banshū (播州) was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture. Harima bordered on Tajima, Tanba, Settsu, Bizen, and Mimasaka Provinces. Its capital was Himeji. During the ...

. In 1658, the family was transferred to

Sanuki Province was a province of Japan in the area of northeastern Shikoku. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Sanuki''" in . Sanuki bordered on Awa to the south, and Iyo to the west. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of the Gokishichidō system, ...

, where they remained ''daimyō'' until the

abolition of the han system The in the Empire of Japan and its replacement by a system of prefectures in 1871 was the culmination of the Meiji Restoration begun in 1868, the starting year of the Meiji period. Under the reform, all daimyos (, ''daimyō'', feudal lords) ...

in 1871. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a viscount in the Meiji period. * An offshoot of the senior branch was established in 1694 at

(10,000 ''koku'') in

, where they remained through the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ...

. The head of this clan line was given the title of viscount in the Meiji period. * A cadet branch was created in 1592 when Hideyoshi awarded Kyōgoku Takatomo (1571–1621) the domain at Iida (80,000 ''koku'') in

Shinano Province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered on Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...

. Takatomo took sides with the Tokugawa; and he was entrusted with the defense of

Gifu Castle is a Japanese castle located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Along with Mount Kinka and the Nagara River, it is one of the main symbols of the city. The castle is also known as . It was designated a National Historic Site in 2011 ...

Gifu is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku ...

Mino Province was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today southern Gifu Prefecture. Mino was bordered by Ōmi to the west, Echizen and Hida to the north, and Shinano to the east, and Ise, Mikawa, and Owari to the south. Its abbreviat ...

. After the

Battle of Sekigahara The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu prefecture, Japan, at the end of ...

, he was transferred to Tanabe Castle (125,000 ''koku'') in

. Shortly afterwards, Takatomo built a castle at Miyazu (78,000 ''koku'') in

Tanba Province was a province of Japan in the area of central Kyoto and east-central Hyōgo Prefectures. Tanba bordered on Harima, Ōmi, Settsu, Tajima, Wakasa, and Yamashiro Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of the Gokishichidō system ...

; and he established himself there. : Kyōgoku Takahiro (1599–1677) was the adopted son and heir of Takatomo. When the administration of Miyazu became his responsibility after 1621, the revenues of the domain were reduced to 75,000 ''koku.'' The poor stewardship of Takahiro was exacerbated by that of his son

Kyōgoku Takakuni Kyogoku may refer to: * Kyōgoku, Hokkaidō, a town on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō * Kyōgoku clan, a Japanese clan * Aya Kyōgoku, a video game developer currently working at Nintendo {{Disambig ...

(1616–1675). Shōgun

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. E ...

dispossessed the Kyōgoku of Miyazu in 1666, banishing both Takakuni and his son, Kyōgoku Takayori. In 1687, Takayori was permitted to return from banishment; and he was granted a pension of 2,000 ''koku'' and a position amongst the ''kōke.'' This Edo period bureaucratic position was responsible for official rituals and ceremonies. Kyogoku residence01st3200

* An offshoot of the cadet branch was created in 1604 when Kyōgoku Takatomo transferred his seat of authority to Miyasu Castle. This clan sub-branching comprised those descendants of the Kyōgoku who continued to hold Tanabe Castle in Tango Province. In 1668, this clan branch was transferred to

Toyooka Domain was a Han (Japan), feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Tajima Province in what is now the northern portion of modern-day Hyōgo Prefecture. It was centered initially around Toyooka Castle, and later at T ...

(15,000 ''koku'') in

Tajima Province was a province of Japan in the area of northern Hyōgo Prefecture. Tajima bordered on Tango and Tanba to the east, Harima to the south, and Inaba to the west. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of the Gokishichidō system, Tajimao was ...

. The head of this clan line was created a viscount in the Meiji period. * Another offshoot of the cadet branch was established in 1620 when Kyōgoku Takamichi (1603–1665) was enfeoffed at

(10,000 ''koku'') in Tango Province. Takamichi, who was the son of Kuchiki Tanetsuna, had been adopted by Takatomo. The descendants of Takamichi were ''daimyōs'' in this ''han'' until 1871. The head of this clan line was recognized as a viscount in the Meiji period.

Modern times

The fall of the Tokugawa shogunate created ripple of unanticipated consequences amongst the daimyo closely associated with the bafuku. One results of these economic changes was that the residence in Edo belonging to the Kyōgoku daimyo of Tadotsu was sold. The clan's house and garden fell into the hands of

Inoue Kaoru Marquess Inoue Kaoru (井上馨, January 16, 1836 – September 1, 1915) was a Japanese politician and a prominent member of the Meiji oligarchy during the Meiji period of the Empire of Japan. As one of the senior statesmen (''Genrō'') in Jap ...

, the first foreign minister in the Meiji government.Pearson, Clifford
"Glimpses of Contemporary Japan: Or Octopus Balls for Breakfast"
Japan Society (New York). The home became a venue for entertaining foreign dignitaries and introducing them to the esthetics of Japanese gardens. After World War II, the former Kyōgoku property was acquired by the

International House of Japan International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

. A new residence hall and cultural center was built on the site, but the garden was preserved as the unanticipated yet enduring legacy of the Kyōgoku clan. The garden survives and the clan continues, albeit with less public visibly.

Head Family

Ancestor

# Imperial Prince Atsumi (敦実親王) (893–967) #

# Minamoto no Sukenori (951–998) # Sasaki Nariyori # Sasaki no Yoshitsune (1000–1058) # Sasaki no Tsunekata # Sasaki Tametoshi #

Sasaki Hideyoshi was a samurai member of the Minamoto clan, who fought in the Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions and in the Genpei War. He was the adopted son of Minamoto no Tameyoshi since age thirteen. Overview Sasaki fought under Minamoto no Yoshitomo in the Hō ...

# Sasaki Sadatsuna (1142–1205) # Sasaki Nobutsuna (1181–1242)

Head Family

# Sasaki Ujinobu (1220–1295) # Sasaki Munetsuna (1248–1297) # Sasaki Sadamune (1287–1305) #

Sasaki Takauji , also known by his religious name Sasaki Dōyō, was a Japanese poet, warrior, and bureaucrat of the Muromachi period. Born in Ōmi Province, Sasaki Takauji served the regent Hōjō Takatoki briefly, before aiding the ''shōgun'' Ashikaga Takauj ...

# Sasaki Takahide (1328–1391) # Kyōgoku Takanori (1352–1401) # Kyōgoku Takamitsu (1375–1413) # Kyōgoku Mochitaka (1401–1439) # Kyōgoku Mochikiyo (1407–1470) # Kyōgoku Masatsune (1453–1502/1508) # Kyōgoku Takakiyo (1460–1538) # Kyōgoku Takanobu # Kyōgoku Takayoshi #

# Kyōgoku Takakazu (1619–1662) # Kyōgoku Takatoyo (1655–1694) # Kyōgoku Takamochi (1692–1724) # Kyōgoku Takanori (1718–1763) # Kyōgoku Takanaka (1754–1811) # Kyōgoku Takaakira (1798–1874) # Kyōgoku Akiyuki (1828–1882) # Kyōgoku Takanori (1858–1928) # Kyōgoku Takaosa (1891–1967) #

Takaharu Kyōgoku is a Japanese businessman and prominent Shinto priest. Takaharu is the 15th head of the Kyōgoku clan (the former Tajima Toyooka clan) which held power in Toyooka before and during the Edo period. He is among descendants of the Meiji period ''k ...

Notable clan members

Ōishi Riku, wife of

Ōishi Kuranosuke Oishi may refer to: * Ōishi (surname), a Japanese surname * Oishi (Philippine brand), a snack company from the Philippines * Oishi Group, a Thai food-and-drink company * Ōishi Station is a railway station on the Hanshin Electric Railway Mai ...

, leader of the Forty-seven ''rōnin'', was a daughter of Ishizuka Tsuneyoshi, principal house elder of Toyooka domain. She later returned to Toyooka, and lived with her father at the time of the revenge of the ronin. In 1925, the first election of the members of the House of Peers representing the Meiji-created nobility ( the ''

kazoku The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan, which existed between 1869 and 1947. They succeeded the feudal lords () and court nobles (), but were abolished with the 1947 constitution. Kazoku ( 華族) should not be confused with ' ...

'') was held. As a result, Viscount Takanori Kyōgoku of Sanuki was amongst those who were seated in the upper house of the Imperial Diet. In 2009,

became the chief priest (''kannushi'') of the

Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Empire of Japan, Japan, from the Boshin War of 1868–1869, to the two Sino-Japanese Wars, First Sino-Japane ...

. He is the 15th head of the Kyogoku family that held power in Toyooka until the

. "New Yasukuni chief priest picked"
''Japan Times.'' June 13, 2009.

Clan heads

*1.

*2.

*3. Kyōgoku Takakazu 24 April 1619 – 24 October 1662 *4. *5. Kyōgoku Takashige *6. Kyōgoku Takanori "House of Peers (''Kizokuin''), 1909" at Unterstein.net, p. 14
retrieved 2013-4-9. *7. Kyōgoku Takanaga *8. Kyōgoku Takakazu *9. Kyōgoku Takaari *10. Kyōgoku Takayuki *11. Kyōgoku Takaatsu *12. *13. Kyōgoku Takayoshi *14. Kyōgoku Takamitsu *15.

Genealogy

Modern times

Head Family

Ancestor

Head Family

Notable clan members

Clan heads

See also

Notes

References

External links