Ikeda Family Mausoleum of Tottori Domain

Overview

The Ikeda Family Mausoleum of Tottori Domain is the burial place of the Ikeda clan, the rulers of Tottori Domain, located in Okuya, Kokufu-cho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. It began when the first lord, Ikeda Mitsunaka, passed away in 1693 (Genroku 6). He was buried in Okuya Village, Inaba Province, next to the Ube Shrine, the most important shrine in Inaba Province. The mausoleum contains the graves of lords from Mitsunaka to the eleventh lord, Yoshihiro, as well as some of the lords of the branch domains, Kanushi (Higashi-kan) and Wakasa (Nishi-kan). The most striking feature is the lords' tombstones. They are known as "Kifu-enzu Bohi," unique, flat-topped tombstones set on tortoise-shaped bases, approximately 4.6 meters tall. This style is unique to the Ikeda family among the tombs of various feudal lords. However, the second lord, Tsunenari's tombstone, lacks the tortoise base out of consideration for Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's "Act to Protect Animals." Similarly, the tombstones of Harushige, the deceased heir of the fifth lord Shigehiro, and Naishu, the twelfth son of the eleventh shogun Ienari, who was adopted by the eighth lord Narimasa but died young, also feature the Kifu-enzu Bohi style. The back of Mitsunaka's tombstone is inscribed with his achievements in classical Chinese. Subsequent lords' achievements were inscribed on copper plates and buried beneath their tombstones. Senga-an was established to manage the mausoleum. It was later renamed Seigen-ji Temple, becoming a branch temple of Kosendo-ji, the Ikeda family temple. It was abandoned in the early Meiji period and is now a grassy square. A distinctive feature of the Tottori Ikeda family is that the tombstones of the principal wives bear the family crests of their birth families. The tombstone of Naishu, the deceased adopted son of the eighth lord Narimasa, bears the Tokugawa family crest (the three-leafed mallow). As a precious historical record of the burial practices of feudal lords in the Edo period, the site was designated a national historic site on October 13, 1981. That year, three other daimyo mausoleums received this designation: the Tokugawa Family Mausoleum at Choho-ji Temple in Hainan City, Wakayama Prefecture; the Mori Family Mausoleum at Toko-ji Temple in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture; and the Matsumae Family Mausoleum at Hoto-ji Temple in Matsumae-cho, Hokkaido. These were the first daimyo mausoleums to be designated as national historic sites. The tranquil and spacious grounds are lush with greenery, offering beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage. Volunteer guides offer free tours. It's a valuable place to experience the history of Tottori Domain; we encourage you to visit.