Looking up at the gate of Rokusho Shrine, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s family shrine where only a few were allowed to enter in pre-modern times.
This was a very special place back in the day. This was the family shrine of the Matsudaira family* when Ieyasu was born, and because of that it was considered sacred and was protected and funded by the Tokugawa bakufu during the Edo Era. Only the most powerful daimyo† were allowed to climb those steps and enter the main shrine.
Specifically, only daimyo who controlled more than 50,000 koku were allowed to climb the steps to the shrine and enter the main area. A koku was considered the amount of rice needed to feed one person for a year, about five bushels. 50,000 koku was not a huge amount, but it did mean some of the lesser daimyo weren't allowed in, as well as no one else (certainly not commoners).
These days the shrine is popular with expecting mothers. They come here and pray for their children to grow up and be as successful as Ieyasu was.
*: Ieyasu was born a Matsudaira, but he later changed his family name to the now-famous Tokugawa.
†: Regional lords.
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I post one photo everyday, as well as some misc posts such as haiku, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.
David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time.