The was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the

Minamoto clan was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the nobility from 1192 to 1333. The practice was most prevalent during the ...

. It originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in

Mikawa Province was an old province in the area that today forms the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Mikawa''" in . Its abbreviated form name was . Mikawa bordered on Owari, Mino, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Provinces. Mik ...

(modern-day

Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefectur ...

). During the

Sengoku period The was a period in History of Japan, 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 Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...

, the chieftain of the main line of the Matsudaira clan, Matsudaira Motoyasu became a powerful regional

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

under

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 ...

and

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 ...

and changed his name to

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 fellow ...

. He subsequently seized power as the first

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 ...

of 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 ...

which ruled Japan 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 ...

until 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 ...

of 1868. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, many cadet branches of the clan retained the Matsudaira surname, and numerous new branches were formed in the decades after Ieyasu. Some of those branches were also of ''

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 ...

'' status. After 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 ...

and the abolition of the ''han'' system, the Tokugawa and Matsudaira clans became part of the new nobility.

Origins

The Matsudaira clan originated in

. Its origins are uncertain, but in the Sengoku era, the clan claimed descent from the medieval

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 ...

branch of the

. According to this claim, the founder of the Matsudaira line was Matsudaira Chikauji, who lived in the 14th century and established himself in Mikawa Province, at Matsudaira village.

National historic sites

The location of Matsudaira village is within the borders of the modern city of

Toyota, Aichi , formerly known as Koromo, is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 426,162 and a population density of 464 people per km2. The total area was . It is located about 35 minutes from Nagoya by way of the Meite ...

. A number of locations associated with the early history of the clan were collectively designated a National Historic Site of Japan in the year 2000. These include: # The ruins of a Sengoku period fortified residence on the eastern bank of the Tomoe River (Asuke River) which was the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The site is now part of a

Shinto Shrine A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion. Overview Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings. The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...

, the

Matsudaira Tosho-gu The was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the Minamoto clan. It originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture). During the Sengoku period, the chieftain of the main line of th ...

, which was built in 1615, after Tokugawa Ieyasu's death and deification. #

Matsudaira Castle The was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the Minamoto clan. It originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture). During the Sengoku period, the chieftain of the main line of t ...

, from which the Matsudaira clan ruled over a portion of

during the Sengoku period. # Ōgyū Castle, built around 1507 and used by the clan to 1575 # Kōgetsu-in, a Buddhist temple and ''

bodaiji A in Japanese Buddhism is a temple which, generation after generation, takes care of a family's dead, giving them burial and performing ceremonies in their soul's favor.Iwanami kojien The name is derived from the term , which originally meant jus ...

'' for the Matsudaira clan file:Matsudaira Toshogu.jpg, Matsudaira Tosho-gu file:Matsudairago3.jpg, Kogetsu-in

Sengoku period

Minor power between major neighbors

In its territory in Mikawa Province, the Matsudaira clan was surrounded by much more powerful neighbors. To the west was the territory of the Oda clan of

Owari Province was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces were ...

; to the east, the

Imagawa clan was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji by way of the Kawachi Genji. It was a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Ashikaga clan. Origins Ashikaga Kuniuji, grandson of Ashikaga Yoshiuji, established himself in the ...

of Suruga. Each generation of Matsudaira family head had to carefully negotiate his relationship with these neighbors.

Branches of the Matsudaira clan

Before the Edo period, there were 19 major branches of the Matsudaira clan: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Each of these branches (with the exception of the Kaga-Matsudaira, which relocated to Kaga Province) took its name from the area in Mikawa where it resided. Also, many of the branches often fought with each other.

Matsudaira of Okazaki

It was the main Matsudaira line residing in

Okazaki Castle is a Japanese castle located in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Okazaki Castle was home to the Honda clan, ''daimyō'' of Okazaki Domain, but the castle is better known for its association with Tokugawa Ieyasu and ...

which rose the highest during the Sengoku period. During the headship of

Matsudaira Hirotada was the lord of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa province, Japan during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. He is best known for being the father of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Biography Hirotada was the son of Matsudaira K ...

, it was threatened by the Oda and Imagawa clans, and for a time was forcibly brought into Imagawa service. After the death of

Imagawa Yoshimoto was a pre-eminent ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) in the Sengoku period Japan. Based in Suruga Province, he was known as . he was one of the three ''daimyōs'' that dominated the Tōkaidō region. He died in 1560 while marching to Kyoto to become ...

and the fall from power of the Imagawa clan, Hirotada's son Matsudaira Motoyasu was successful in forming an alliance with

, the hegemon of

. Motoyasu is better known as

, who became the first Tokugawa shōgun in 1603.

Matsudaira branches and the use of the surname

Pre-Edo branches

Several of the pre-Edo branch families survived into the Edo period; some of them became ''

s''. The Takiwaki-Matsudaira family became ''daimyōs'' of the Ojima Domain, and from 1868 to 1871, ruled the

Sakurai Domain Sakurai may refer to: __NOTOC__ Places * Sakurai, Nara, a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan ** Sakurai Line, a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company in Nara Prefecture ** Sakurai Station (Nara), a railway station in Sakurai, Nar ...

. The Nagasawa-Matsudaira, also known as the Ōkōchi-Matsudaira, had several branches, one of them ruled the Yoshida Domain of

. A prominent Nagasawa-Matsudaira is the early

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 characterize ...

politician

Matsudaira Nobutsuna was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period, who ruled the Kawagoe Domain. First serving Tokugawa Iemitsu as a page, Nobutsuna was renowned for his sagacity. He was named a rōjū in 1633. Nobutsuna led the shogunal forces to their final vi ...

. The Fukōzu-Matsudaira ruled the

Shimabara Domain The was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It is associated with Hizen Province in modern-day Saga Prefecture.DF__...,_who_were_''Kirishitan">DF_6-7_of_80/nowiki>">DF__...,_who_were_''Kirishitan_daimyō.html" ;"title="Kirishitan.html" ;"title= ...

. The Sakurai-Matsudaira ruled the Amagasaki Domain. The Ogyū-Matsudaira had many branches, one of which ruled the

Okutono Domain , also known as Okudono, Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Matsudaira (Ōgyū)" at ''Nobiliare du Japon'', pp. 30-32 retrieved 2013-7-9. was a feudal domain under the ...

Nagai Naoyuki , also known as or , was a Japanese hatamoto under the Tokugawa of Bakumatsu period Japan. His great-great-grandchild was Yukio Mishima. Naoyuki's adopted son, Iwanojō Nagai, was the father of Natsu, who was Mishima's grandmother. Iwanojō's r ...

was a prominent

Bakumatsu was the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate ended. Between 1853 and 1867, Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy known as and changed from a feudal Tokugawa shogunate to the modern empire of the Meiji government ...

-era descendant of the Ogyū-Matsudaira of Okutono. Other pre-Edo branches of the family became

hatamoto A was a high ranking samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as ''gokenin.'' However ...

Tokugawa branches and the Matsudaira surname

The Tokugawa surname was not granted to all of the sons of the shōgun or the heads of the six main Tokugawa branches. Only the inheritor received the Tokugawa name, while all of his siblings would receive the Matsudaira surname. For example, the last shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu was not the firstborn heir of his father (

Tokugawa Nariaki Tokugawa Nariaki (徳川斉昭, April 4, 1800 – September 29, 1860) was a prominent Japanese ''daimyō'' who ruled the Mito Domain (now Ibaraki Prefecture) and contributed to the rise of nationalism and the Meiji Restoration. Biography C ...

Mito Mito may refer to: Places *Mito, Ibaraki, capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan *Mito, Aichi, a Japanese town *Mito, Shimane, a Japanese town * Mitō, Yamaguchi, a Japanese town * Mito District, a district in the province of Concepción, Per ...

). Consequently, Yoshinobu was known as Matsudaira Shichirōma during his minority. Some of these sons, particularly of the 3 main Tokugawa branches (the ''

Gosanke The , also called simply , or even , were the most noble three branches of the Tokugawa clan of Japan: Owari, Kii, and Mito, all of which were descended from clan founder Tokugawa Ieyasu's three youngest sons, Yoshinao, Yorinobu, and Yorifusa ...

''), formed their own families, and received their own fiefs. These included

Takamatsu 270px, Takamatsu City Hall 270px, Aerial view of Takamatsu city center 270px, View from Yashima to Takashima port is a city located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 414,134 in 190120 households and a popul ...

, Shishido, Fuchū, and

Moriyama 270px, Lake Biwa from Moriyama is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 85,485 in 34366 households and a population density of 1533.63 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Mo ...

(branches of the Mito Tokugawa); Saijō (a branch of the Kii Tokugawa); and Takasu (a branch of the Owari Tokugawa). Notable Matsudaira of these branches include

Matsudaira Yoritoshi (September 6, 1834 – October 17, 1903) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Edo period, who ruled the Takamatsu Domain. Yoritoshi was the son-in-law of Ii Naosuke. His court title was '' Sanuki no kami''. Yoritoshi was adopted as heir to Mat ...

of Takamatsu, and

Matsudaira Yoritaka Viscount was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Edo period who served as daimyō of Shishido han. Retiring early, he was succeeded by his son Matsudaira Yorinori, but Yoritaka returned to headship following Yorinori's death in 1864. Though the ...

of Fuchū.

Yoritsune Matsudaira was a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music. Matsudaira was descended, on his father's side of the family, from the Matsudaira clan, related to the Tokugawa clan who ruled Japan as ''shōgun'' during the Edo period (specifically ...

and his son Yoriaki Matsudaira, who were 20th-century composers, were descendants of the Matsudaira of Fuchū.

Yūki-Matsudaira clan (Echizen)

The Yūki-Matsudaira clan was founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu's son

Yūki Hideyasu was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods. He was the ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain in Echizen. Early life Hideyasu was born as in 1574, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, by Lady Oman (also known as L ...

. Several branches of the Yūki-Matsudaira came into existence during the Edo period. Though the Yūki-Matsudaira retained control of Kitanoshō (later renamed Fukui), the main Yūki line was not there, but in

Tsuyama is a city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 102,294 and a population density of 200 persons per km². The total area was 185.73 km². The area increased in 2005 as the result of a merger with adjacent to ...

instead. Branches of the family ruled the

Fukui is a Japanese name meaning "fortunate" or sometimes "one who is from the Fukui prefecture". It may refer to: Places * Fukui Domain, a part of the Japanese han system during the Edo period * Fukui Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan located in ...

, Hirose, Mori,

Matsue is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, Japan, located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 202,008 (February 1, 2021) following the merger with Higashiizumo from Yatsuka District. Matsue is located at ...

, Tsuyama,

Akashi Akashi may refer to: People *Akashi (surname) Places *Akashi, Hyōgo *Akashi Station, a Japanese railroad station on the Sanyō Main Line *Akashi Strait *Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, crossing the former *Akashi Castle *Akashi Domain * Akashi, the name ...

, Itoigawa, and

Maebashi is the capital city of Gunma Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 335,352 in 151,171 households, and a population density of 1100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . It wa ...

domains. Famous Yūki-Matsudaira include

Matsudaira Naritami was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Edo period who ruled the Tsuyama Domain of Mimasaka Province. Born Tokugawa Ginnosuke (銀之助), the 16th son of the ''shōgun'' Tokugawa Ienari, Naritami was adopted by Matsudaira Naritaka of Tsuyama. ...

and

Matsudaira Yoshinaga , also known as Matsudaira Keiei,Beasley, William G. (1955). ''Select Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy, 1853–1868'', p. 335. or better known as Matsudaira Shungaku (春嶽) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period. He was head of the ...

, two ''daimyōs'' of the late Edo period. Matsudaira Yoshinaga in particular was very important to Japanese politics of the early Meiji period, and his leadership put the Fukui Domain on the side of the victors in the

Boshin War The , sometimes known as the Japanese Revolution or Japanese Civil War, was a civil war in Japan fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and a clique seeking to seize political power in the name of the Imperi ...

(1868–69).

Hisamatsu-Matsudaira clan

The Hisamatsu-Matsudaira clan was founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu's half-brother

Hisamatsu Sadakatsu was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period, who served the Tokugawa clan. He was the half-brother of Tokugawa Ieyasu. His father was Hisamatsu Toshikatsu and his mother was Odai no Kata, Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and fir ...

. Due to his close relation to Ieyasu, Sadakatsu was allowed the use of the Matsudaira surname. Eventually, some of the branches of the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira were also allowed the use of the Tokugawa family crest, as well as being formally recognized as Tokugawa relatives (''

shinpan was a class of ''daimyō'' in the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan who were certain relatives of the ''Shōgun''. While all ''shinpan'' were relatives of the ''shōgun'', not all relatives of the shōgun were ''shinpan''; an example of this is the ...

''), rather than simply being a '' fudai'' family. Branches of the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira ruled the

Kuwana is a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 141,045 in 60,301 households and a population density of 1000 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kuwana is located in northern Mie Pr ...

Imabari 270px, Imabari City Hall 270px, Aerial view of Imabari city center is a city in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in Ehime Prefecture. , the city had an estimated population of 152,111 in 75947 households and a population ...

, and Iyo-Matsuyama domains. Famous Hisamatsu-Matsudaira include the political reformer

Matsudaira Sadanobu was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the mid-Edo period, famous for his financial reforms which saved the Shirakawa Domain, and the similar reforms he undertook during his tenure as chief of the Tokugawa shogunate, from 1787 to 1793. Early life Mats ...

, the final

Kyoto Shoshidai The was an important administrative and political office in the Tokugawa shogunate. The office was the personal representative of the military dictators Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Kyoto, the seat of the Japanese Emperor, and was adop ...

Matsudaira Sadaaki was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Bakumatsu period, who was the last ruler of the Kuwana Domain. Sadaaki was the adopted heir of Matsudaira Sadamichi, the descendant of Sadatsuna, the third son of Hisamatsu Sadakatsu (1569–1623), who was Tok ...

, and shogunate politician

Itakura Katsukiyo was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Edo period. Famed for his tenure as rōjū, Itakura later became a Shinto priest. Biography Itakura, born to the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira of the Kuwana Domain, was adopted by Itakura Katsutsune, the lord of ...

. In the Meiji era, the heads of all the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira branches received titles in the new nobility.List of Meiji-era Japanese nobility
(accessed 15 August 2008)

Ochi-Matsudaira clan

The Ochi-Matsudaira clan was founded by Matsudaira Kiyotake, the younger brother of the 6th shōgun Tokugawa Ienobu. The Ochi-Matsudaira ruled the

Hamada Domain The was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was associated with Iwami Province in modern-day Shimane Prefecture.Chōshū Domain The , also known as the , was a domain (''han'') of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1600 to 1871.Deal, William E. (2005) ''Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan,'' p. 81 The Chōshū Domain was base ...

forces under

Ōmura Masujirō was a Japanese military leader and theorist in Bakumatsu period Japan. He was the "Father" of the Imperial Japanese Army, launching a modern military force closely patterned after the French system of the day. Early life and education Ōmura ...

during the Chōshū War. Matsudaira Takeakira, the last ''daimyō'', escaped Hamada and went to Tsuruta, one of the domain's non-contiguous territories; there he set up the Tsuruta Domain, which existed until the abolition of the domains in 1871. In the Meiji era, Takeakira's son Matsudaira (Ochi) Takenaga received the title of

viscount A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...

Hoshina-Matsudaira clan (Aizu)

The Hoshina-Matsudaira clan was founded by

Hoshina Masayuki was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period, who was the founder of what became the Matsudaira house of Aizu. He was an important figure in the politics and philosophy of the early Tokugawa shogunate. Biography Hoshina Masayuki was born ...

. Masayuki, a son of the second shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada, was adopted by

Hoshina Masamitsu was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period, who served the Tokugawa clan. Masamitsu was the son of Hoshina Masanao, and after having lent his support to Tokugawa Ieyasu at the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, he was given the Takatō fief in 1600. ...

, the lord of the

Takatō Domain was a domain of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1600 to 1871. The Takatō Domain was based at Takatō Castle in Shinano Province, in the modern city of Ina, located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshu. The T ...

. Masayuki was recognized as a relative of the Tokugawa family by his half-brother

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, who a ...

; after Iemitsu's death, Masayuki served as a regent for his nephew, the underaged 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 ...

, thus effectively running the shogunate. It was at this time that Masayuki received rulership of the fief of

Aizu is the westernmost of the three regions of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, the other two regions being Nakadōri in the central area of the prefecture and Hamadōri in the east. As of October 1, 2010, it had a population of 291,838. The princip ...

(with an income of 230,000 ''

koku The is a Chinese-based Japanese unit of volume. 1 koku is equivalent to 10 or approximately , or about . It converts, in turn, to 100 shō and 1000 gō. One ''gō'' is the volume of the "rice cup", the plastic measuring cup that is supplied ...

''). Two generations later, during the reign of the 3rd lord Masakata, the family was allowed the use of the Matsudaira surname and crest. The family remained prominent in shogunate affairs and in security duty in Ezo (

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

). It also sponsored several schools of martial arts, as well as working to develop and spread the production of local crafts. In the

Bakumatsu period was the final years of the Edo period when the Tokugawa shogunate ended. Between 1853 and 1867, Japan ended its isolationist foreign policy known as and changed from a feudal Tokugawa shogunate to the modern empire of the Meiji govern ...

, the 8th lord

Matsudaira Katataka was the 8th ''daimyō'' of Aizu Domain in Mutsu Province, Japan (modern-day Fukushima Prefecture). His courtesy title was '' Sakonoe-gon-chūshō'' and ''Jijū'', and his Court rank was Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade. Biography Matsudaira ...

assisted with security duties during and after the arrival of the

Perry Expedition The Perry Expedition ( ja, 黒船来航, , "Arrival of the Black Ships") was a diplomatic and military expedition during 1853–1854 to the Tokugawa Shogunate involving two separate voyages by warships of the United States Navy. The goals of thi ...

; Katataka's successor, 9th lord

Matsudaira Katamori Matsudaira Katamori after the Meiji restoration was a samurai who lived in Bakumatsu period and the early to mid Meiji period Japan. He was the 9th ''daimyō'' of the Aizu Domain and the Kyoto Shugoshoku (Military Commissioner of Kyoto). He in ...

served as ''

Kyoto Shugoshoku The was a Japanese bureaucratic office of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1862 through 1868.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Kyōto-shugoshoku''" in ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ''see'Deutsche Nationalbibl ...

'', but his clan was later defeated in the

. The Aizu-Matsudaira survived the Meiji Restoration, and were ennobled with the title of

. Katamori's son

Morio Matsudaira Viscount was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Biography Morio Matsudaira was the son of Matsudaira Katamori, the former ''daimyō'' of Aizu-Wakamatsu domain in what is now Fukushima prefecture. He was born at the Matsudaira's Tokyo resi ...

served as an admiral in the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

. The family survives to the present day. Isao Matsudaira, who was governor of

Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture (; ja, 福島県, Fukushima-ken, ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 1,810,286 () and has a geographic area of . Fukushima Prefecture borders Miya ...

in the 1980s, was a descendant of this family.

Princess Chichibu was a member of the Imperial House of Japan, Japanese Imperial Family and the wife of Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, Prince Chichibu, the second son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei. Setsuko was a sister-in-law of Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa and a ...

Setsuko, the wife of Emperor

Hirohito Emperor , commonly known in English-speaking countries by his personal name , was the 124th emperor of Japan, ruling from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito and his wife, Empress Kōjun, had two sons and five daughters; he was ...

's brother

Prince Chichibu , was the second son of Emperor Taishō (Yoshihito) and Empress Teimei (Sadako), a younger brother of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) and a general in the Imperial Japanese Army. As a member of the Imperial House of Japan, he was the patron of several ...

Yasuhito, was another.

Matsudaira as an honorific

Over the course of the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate granted the use of the Matsudaira surname to certain families as an honorific. These families included both '' fudai'' and '' tozama daimyō'' families. The

Date clan The is a Japanese samurai kin group. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Date", ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 5 retrieved 2013-5-5. History The Date family was founded ...

Sendai is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,091,407 in 525,828 households, and is one of Japan's 20 Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, desig ...

, the

Shimazu clan The were the ''daimyō'' of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan. The Shimazu were identified as one of the '' tozama'' or outsider ''daimyō'' familiesAppert, Georges ''et al.'' (1888). in contrast ...

Satsuma Satsuma may refer to: * Satsuma (fruit), a citrus fruit * ''Satsuma'' (gastropod), a genus of land snails Places Japan * Satsuma, Kagoshima, a Japanese town * Satsuma District, Kagoshima, a district in Kagoshima Prefecture * Satsuma Domain, a sout ...

, the

Mōri clan The Mōri clan (毛利氏 ''Mōri-shi'') was a Japanese samurai clan descended from Ōe no Hiromoto. Ōe no Hiromoto was descended from the Fujiwara clan. The family's most illustrious member, Mōri Motonari, greatly expanded the clan's power ...

of Choshu, the

Maeda clan was a Japanese samurai clan who occupied most of the Hokuriku region of central Honshū from the end of the Sengoku period through the Meiji restoration of 1868. The Maeda claimed descent from the Sugawara clan of Sugawara no Kiyotomo and Suga ...

of Kaga (and its branches at Daishōji and Toyama), the Yamanouchi clan of Tosa, the Kuroda clan of Fukuoka, the Asano clan of Hiroshima (and its branch at Hiroshima-shinden), the Nabeshima of Saga, the Ikeda of Tottori (as well as its branches of Okayama, Shikano, Wakazakura, Hirafuku, as well as hatamoto-level Ikeda), and the Hachisuka of Tokushima were all ''tozama'' families that had the use of the Matsudaira surname. The Yanagisawa clan of Yamato"Tokugawa shogun-ke to Matsudaira ichizoku", p. 183. and Honjō clan of

Miyazu 270px, Miyazu City Hall is a city located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 16,988 in 8348 households and a population density of 98 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Miyazu is loca ...

were two ''fudai'' families among those who had the right to use the Matsudaira surname. In addition, if a Tokugawa princess married into another family, her husband had the right to use the Matsudaira surname and the Tokugawa crest for one generation.

Present day

Prominent Matsudaira in the present day include Ryūmon Matsudaira (actor), and

Iyo-Matsuyama Domain 270px, Matsudaira Katsushige, 13th daimyō of Iyo-Matsuyama Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, in what is now central Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It was centered around Matsuyama Castl ...

Matsudaira Hisamatsu family of branch family bannermen hits the descendants Sadatomo Matsudaira (ja; former anchor for

NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestri ...

), among others.

Key genealogies

Main line (Tokugawa shōgun)

* Serata Arichika * Matsudaira Chikauji * Matsudaira Yasuuji * Matsudaira Nobumitsu * Matsudaira Chikatada (1431–1501) * Matsudaira Nagachika (1473–1544) * Matsudaira Nobutada (1486–1531) *

Matsudaira Kiyoyasu was the 7th lord over the Matsudaira clan during the Sengoku period (16th century) of Japan. Kiyoyasu was the grandfather of the third "great unifier of Japan", Tokugawa Ieyasu. Biography Kiyoyasu gained control of the whole of northern Mikawa ...

(1511–1535) *

(1526–1549) *

(1543–1616) *

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 ...

(1579–1632) *

(1604–1651) *

(1641–1680) *

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-Fr ...

(1646–1709) *

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 Iemi ...

(1662–1712) *

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 Tsuna ...

(1709–1716) *

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 ...

(1684–1751) *

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. ...

(1712–1761) *

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 t ...

(1737–1786) *

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 J ...

(1773–1841) *

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 (敏 ...

(1793–1853) *

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 begin ...

(1824–1858) *

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. ...

(1846–1866) *

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 ...

(1837–1913) *

Tokugawa Iesato Prince was the first head of the Tokugawa clan after the overthrow of the Tokugawa bakufu, and a significant figure in Japanese politics and diplomacy during the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan. When Prince Tokugawa travelled to ...

(1863–1940) *

Iemasa Tokugawa Prince also known as Iyemasa, was a Japanese political figure of the Taishō and early Shōwa periods. He was the 17th hereditary head of the former shogunal branch of the Tokugawa clan and the final President of the House of Peers in the ...

(1884–1963) *

Tsunenari Tokugawa is the present (18th generation) head of the main Tokugawa house. He is the son of Ichirō Matsudaira and Toyoko Tokugawa. His great-grandfather was the famed Matsudaira Katamori of Aizu and his paternal great-grandfather was Tokugawa Iesato. ...

(born 1940)

Hoshina-Matsudaira clan (Aizu)

(1611–1673) * Hoshina Masatsune (1647–1681) * Matsudaira Masakata (1669–1731) * Matsudaira Katasada (1724–1750) * Matsudaira Katanobu (1744–1805) * Matsudaira Kataoki (1779–1806) *

Matsudaira Katahiro was the 7th ''daimyō'' of Aizu Domain in Mutsu Province, Japan (modern-day Fukushima Prefecture). His courtesy title was ''Higo-no-kami'' and ''Jijū'', and subsequently raised to '' Sakonoe-gon-shōshō'' and his Court rank was Junior Fourth ...

(1803–1822) *

(1806–1852) *

(1836–1893) *

Matsudaira Nobunori Viscount was a Japanese samurai of the Bakumatsu period and the 10th (and final) ''daimyō'' of Aizu Domain. Biography Nobunori was the 19th son of Tokugawa Nariaki of Mito Domain. he was initially named Akinori (昭則), bout received a ' ...

(1855–1891) *

Matsudaira Kataharu Viscount was a Japanese man who served as the daimyō of Tonami han (the former Aizu han) in the early Meiji Era. Born the eldest son of Matsudaira Katamori, he succeeded Katamori's adopted son Nobunori in 1869. As the Meiji government had gra ...

(1869–1910) *

(1878–1944) *

Morisada Matsudaira was a Japanese banker who was active in historical preservation. He was the grandson of Matsudaira Katamori, and spent a fair amount of time in Aizu. After graduating from university, he worked for the Norinchukin Bank for 29 years. Morisada was ...

(1926–2011) * Morihisa Matsudaira

Yūki-Matsudaira clan (Echizen)

(1574–1607) *

Matsudaira Tadanao was a Sengoku to early Edo period Japanese samurai, and the 2nd ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"Matsudaira Tadanao"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 617] Biography Tadanao was born in Settsu Prov ...

(1595–1650) *

Matsudaira Tadamasa was an early to mid-Edo period Japanese samurai, and ''daimyō''. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Matsudaira" at ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 30 retrieved 2013-4-9. ...

(1598–1645) *

Matsudaira Mitsumichi was an early to mid-Edo period Japanese samurai, and the 4th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain.Foulk, T. Griffin. "The Forgotten history of Daian-zenji, a Tokugawa-period Zen Monastery," ''The Japan Foundation Newsletter'' (''Kokusai Kōryū Kikin''), ...

(1636–1674) *

Matsudaira Masachika was an early to mid-Edo period Japanese samurai, and both the 5th and 7th ''daimyō'' of Fukui DomainDiCenzo, John. (1978) ''Daimyo, domain and retainer band in the seventeenth century: a study of institutional development in Echizen, Tottori an ...

(1640–1711) *

Matsudaira Tsunamasa was an early to mid-Edo period Japanese samurai, and the 6th ''daimyō'' of Fukui DomainDiCenzo, John. (1978) ''Daimyo, domain and retainer band in the seventeenth century: a study of institutional development in Echizen, Tottori and Matsue'', p ...

(1661–1699) * Yoshinori (the former Masachika) * Matsudaira Yoshikuni (1681–1722) *

Matsudaira Munemasa was an mid-Edo period Japanese people, Japanese samurai, and the final ''daimyō'' of Echizen-Matsuoka Domain and the 9th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province of JapanBurks, Ardath W. (1985) ''The Modernizers: overseas students, foreig ...

(1675–1724) *

Matsudaira Munenori was the 10th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate in Echizen Province. Biography Munenori was the younger son of Matsudaira Chikakiyo, who was the fourth son of Matsudaira Naonori of Shirakawa Domain. Naonori w ...

(1715–1749) *

Matsudaira Shigemasa was the 11th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. in Echizen Province.Burks, Ardath W. (1985) ''The Modernizers: overseas students, foreign employees, and Meiji Japan'', p. 47 Shigemasa was born in Edo Castle as ...

(1743–1758) *

Matsudaira Shigetomi was the 12th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate in Echizen Province.Burks, Ardath W. (1985) ''The Modernizers: overseas students, foreign employees, and Meiji Japan'', p. 47 He ruled Fukui for 41 years, the long ...

(1748–1809) *

Matsudaira Haruyoshi was the 13th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate in Echizen Province.Burks, Ardath W. (1985) ''The Modernizers: overseas students, foreign employees, and Meiji Japan'', p. 47 Haruyoshi was born in Edo as the eld ...

(1768–1826) *

Matsudaira Naritsugu was the 14th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate in Echizen Province.Burks, Ardath W. (1985) ''The Modernizers: overseas students, foreign employees, and Meiji Japan'', p. 47 Naritsugu was born in Fukui as the t ...

(1811–1835) *

Matsudaira Narisawa was the 15th ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate in Echizen Province.Burks, Ardath W. (1985) ''The Modernizers: overseas students, foreign employees, and Meiji Japan'', p. 47 Narisawa was born in Edo as the 22nd ...

(1820–1838) *

(1828–1890) *

Matsudaira Mochiaki was a Bakumatsu period ''daimyō'' under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was the 7th ''daimyō'' of Itoigawa Domain in Echigo Province and later the 17th (and final) ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province.Burks, Ardath ...

(1836–1890)

Ochi-Matsudaira clan (Hamada)

* Matsudaira Kiyotake (1663–1724) * Matsudaira Takemasa (1702–1728) * Matsudaira Takemoto (1714–1779) * Matsudaira Takehiro (1754–1789) * Matsudaira Nariatsu (1783–1839) * Matsudaira Takeoki (1827–1842) * Matsudaira Takeshige (1825–1847) * Matsudaira Takeakira (1842–1882) * Matsudaira Takenaga

Hisamatsu-Matsudaira clan (Kuwana)

* Matsudaira Sadatsuna (1592–1652) * Matsudaira Sadayoshi (1632–1657) * Matsudaira Sadashige (1644–1717) * Matsudaira Sadamichi (1677–1718) * Matsudaira Sadateru (1704–1725) * Matsudaira Sadanori (1680–1727) * Matsudaira Sadayoshi (1709–1770) * Matsudaira Sadakuni (1720–1790) *

(1759–1829) * Matsudaira Sadanaga (1791–1838) * Matsudaira Sadakazu (1812–1841) * Matsudaira Sadamichi (1831–1859) *

(1847–1908) * Matsudaira Sadanori (1857–1899)

Ogyū-Matsudaira clan (Okutono)

* Matsudaira Sanetsugu * Matsudaira Noritsugu (1632–1687) * Matsudaira Norinari (1658–1703) * Matsudaira Norizane (1686–1716) * Matsudaira Mitsunori (1716–1742) * Matsudaira Noriyasu (1739–1783) * Matsudaira Noritomo (1760–1824) * Matsudaira Noritada (1777–1818) * Matsudaira Noriyoshi (1791–1827) * Matsudaira Noritoshi (1811–1854) *

Matsudaira Norikata Count was the 8th and final ''daimyō'' of Okutono in Mikawa Province, and 1st (and final) ''daimyō'' of Tanoguchi Domain in Shinano Province. He served in the Tokugawa shogunate in the positions of ''Rōjū'' and ''Wakadoshiyori'', and became ...

(1839–1910) * Matsudaira Noritake

Gallery

Image: Yoshinobu Tokugawa 5.jpg, Matsudaira Shichirōma, the future Tokugawa Yoshinobu Image:Matsudaira Mochiaki.jpg, Matsudaira Mochiaki, last lord of Fukui Image:Matudaira Sadayasu.jpg, Matsudaira Sadayasu, last lord of Matsue Image:Matsudaira Fumai.JPG, Matsudaira Harusato (Fumai), lord of Matsue, tea master Image: Matudaira Yoritoshi.jpg, Matsudaira Yoritoshi, last lord of Takamatsu Image:Princess Chichibu Setsuko.jpg, Princess Chichibu (Matsudaira) Setsuko Image:Matudaira Tadanari.jpg, Matsudaira Tadanari, last lord of Ueda Image:Nagai naoyuki.jpg, Nagai Naoyuki, the son of Okutono lord Matsudaira Noritada

Notes

{{reflist

References

English * Thornton, Sybil A. (1999). ''Charisma and Community Formation in Medieval Japan''. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. * Totman, Conrad (1967). ''Politics in the Tokugawa bakufu''. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. German
List of Meiji-era Japanese nobility
(accessed 15 August 2008). Japanese

(accessed 24 August 2008).

(accessed 24 August 2008).

(accessed 24 August 2008). * "Tokugawa Shōgun-ke to Matsudaira Ichizoku", ''Rekishi Dokuhon'' magazine, January 2006.

Origins

National historic sites

Sengoku period

Minor power between major neighbors

Branches of the Matsudaira clan

Matsudaira of Okazaki

Matsudaira branches and the use of the surname

Pre-Edo branches

Tokugawa branches and the Matsudaira surname

Yūki-Matsudaira clan (Echizen)

Hisamatsu-Matsudaira clan

Ochi-Matsudaira clan

Hoshina-Matsudaira clan (Aizu)

Matsudaira as an honorific

Present day

Key genealogies

Main line (Tokugawa shōgun)

Hoshina-Matsudaira clan (Aizu)

Yūki-Matsudaira clan (Echizen)

Ochi-Matsudaira clan (Hamada)

Hisamatsu-Matsudaira clan (Kuwana)

Ogyū-Matsudaira clan (Okutono)

Gallery

Notes

References

See also