Kamimap Shrines & Kami of Japan

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Illustration of Tokugawa Ieyasu

The shogun who became a god

Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康公

Also known as: Tōshō Daigongen

Element: Metal (金)

The myth

Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) was the warlord who ended the long era of civil war and founded the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan from Edo for over two and a half centuries.

After his death he was deified as Tōshō Daigongen. Tōshōgū shrines, the grandest of which is in Nikkō, were built in his honor.

What people pray to Tokugawa Ieyasu for

  • Work and career
  • Victory in competition
  • Good fortune

Why: Known for enduring hardship until he finally ruled the country, he is prayed to for career success and getting ahead.

Where to meet Tokugawa Ieyasu

More shrines in our database (3, Japanese names)
  • 上野東照宮 (Tokyo) · map
  • 葛西神社 (Tokyo) · map
  • 久能山東照宮 (Shizuoka) · map

The element shown is the one used by Kamimap's fun guardian-kami quiz, based on traditional five-element associations. It is not a religious teaching.

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