Tōshōin

Tōshōin (東照院) is a Buddhist temple name, commonly used as the kaimyō (posthumous name) for individuals, particularly those associated with the Tokugawa clan. It is especially well-known as the posthumous name of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. While other individuals might receive the name Tōshōin, its strongest association remains with Ieyasu. The name is derived from Tōshō-gū (東照宮), the shrines dedicated to the deification of Tokugawa Ieyasu as the deity Tōshō Daigongen (東照大権現). As a kaimyō, Tōshōin signifies a connection to Ieyasu's legacy and the spiritual protection afforded by Tōshō Daigongen. The adoption of such a kaimyō often reflects high status or close affiliation with the Tokugawa family and the ideals they represented.