Toki clan

The Nihongo|Toki clan|土岐氏|"Toki-shi" was a powerful clan that ruled in Japan from the Kamakura period to the Edo period. It descended from Emperor Seiwa by Minamoto no Yorimitsu from the Minamoto clan (Seiwa genji) [http://www.museum.pref.gifu.jp/exhibition/arts_01/arts_01_19_dat.html Jinbun Tenji-shitsu] . ja icon Gifu Prefectural Museum. Accessed May 8, 2008.] and used Toki in Mino Province as their hometown. [http://www.city.toki.lg.jp/wcore/english/mino/historical.html Toki City The Historical and Geographical Background of Mino Ware] . Toki City Hall. Accessed July 4, 2007.] The family adhered to Zen Buddhist beliefs and founded many temples, including Shōhō-ji, which contains the Gifu Great Buddha, and Sōfuku-ji in the city of Gifu.

History

Minamoto no Mitsunobu, a fourth generation descendant of Yorimitsu, was the first to settle in Toki. It was he who named and started the Toki clan. Toki Yorisada, whose maternal grandfather was Hōjō Sadatoki, "shikken" of the Kamakura shogunate, fought against the Southern Dynasty with Ashikaga Takauji.

From the Muromachi period to the Sengoku period, the Toki clan ruled Mino Province. Toki Yasuyuki was "shugo" (governor) of three provinces: Mino, Owari and Ise. [http://www.sengoku-expo.net/person/E/053.html Toki clan] . Sengoku Expo. Accessed July 4, 2007.] When the "shogun" had tried to take Owari from him, Yasuyuki refused and fought for two years (1389-1391).

Toki Shigeyori sided with the Yamana clan during the Ōnin War and, in 1487, invaded the southern part of Ōmi Province. The principal line of the Toki lost their possessions in 1542 during the civil wars that decimated Mino Province, when Toki Yoshiyori (then governor of Mino) was defeated by Saitō Dōsan. Toki Sadamasa (1551-1597) lost his father at the age of two and was carried to Mikawa Province. At the age of 14 he entered in Tokugawa Ieyasu's army. In 1590, he was named "daimyo" of Sōma (Shimōsa Province) and revived the former glory of the Toki. In 1868, at the end of the Tokugawa period, his descendants were "daimyo" of Numata (Kōzuke Province).

The Toki are also famous for their cadet branches: the Asano, Akechi and Takenaka clans.

Clan rulers

Below is a list of rulers of the Toki clan. The first seven rulers were just heads of the clan; however, starting with Toki Yorisada, the rulers also served as the "shugo" of Mino Province.

Initial rulers

# Minamoto no Kunifusa (源国房)
# Minamoto no Mitsukuni (源光国)
# Minamoto no Mitsunobu (源光信)
# Minamoto no Mitsuki (源光基)
# Toki Mitsuhira (土岐光衡)
# Toki Mitsuyuki (土岐光行)
# Toki Mitsusada (土岐光定)

"Shugo" of Mino Province

# Toki Yorisada (土岐頼貞) (1271–1339)
# Toki Yoritō (土岐頼遠) (died December 29, 1342)
# Toki Yoriyasu (土岐頼康) (1318–February 3, 1388)
# Toki Yasuyuki (土岐康行) (died November 8, 1404)
# Toki Yoritada (土岐頼忠) (died 1397)
# Toki Yorimasu (土岐頼益) (1351–1414)
# Toki Mochimasu (土岐持益) (1406–1474)
# Toki Shigeyori (土岐成頼) (1442–1497)
# Toki Masafusa (土岐政房) (1457–September 12, 1519)
# Toki Yoritake (土岐頼武) (1488–1536)
# Toki Yorinari (土岐頼芸) (1502–December 28, 1582)
# Toki Yorizumi (土岐頼純) (1524–December 28, 1547)
# Toki Yorinari (was "shugo" twice)

References