Keishoin Temple

She was a concubine of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu, and the mother of the fifth Shogun, Tsunayoshi. She was the second daughter of Kyoto greengrocer Niemon, and the adopted daughter of Honjo Munetoshi, the head of the Imperial Household Agency of Nijo Kohei. She was called Akino or Otama no Kata. She went to Edo through her relationship with Oume no Kata, the daughter of Iemitsu's concubine, Rokujo Arizumi, and was favored by Iemitsu. In 1646 (Shoho 3), she gave birth to Tokumatsu (Tsunayoshi). When Tsunayoshi became Shogun in 1680 (Enpo 8), she lived in the Sannomaru area of ​​Edo Castle and was called Sannomarudono. She was deeply filial and respectful of Tsunayoshi, and in 1702 (Genroku 15), she was awarded the rank of Juichii. Many members of her family, including her younger brother Munesuke (Kasama Domain, 50,000 koku), rose to prosperity as vassals of the shogunate. She was a devoted Buddhist and trusted the monks Ryoken and Ryuko, which is said to have been the cause of the problems caused by the excessive promotion of the Law for Compassion for Living Things.

[Tatsuya Tsuji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

徳川3代将軍家光(いえみつ)の側室、5代綱吉(つなよし)の生母。京の八百屋仁右衛門(にえもん)の次女、関白二条光平の家司(けいし)本庄宗利(むねとし)の養女宗子。秋野、お玉の方と称す。家光の側室六条有純の女(むすめ)お梅の方の縁で江戸へ下り、家光の寵(ちょう)を受け、1646年（正保3）徳松(とくまつ)（綱吉）を生む。80年（延宝8）綱吉が将軍となると江戸城三の丸に住み、三の丸殿と称された。綱吉の厚い孝敬を受け、1702年（元禄15）には従(じゅ)一位を授けられた。また弟宗資(むねすけ)（笠間(かさま)藩5万石）をはじめ、その一族は幕臣として栄進する者も多かった。彼女は深く仏教に帰依(きえ)し、僧亮賢(りょうけん)、隆光(りゅうこう)らを厚く信任し、それが生類憐(しょうるいあわれ)みの令を極端に助長するなどの弊害の因となったといわれている。

［辻　達也］

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