:Tōshō-gū

{{Short description|Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu}}

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File:Gate-nikko-japan.jpg

A {{nihongo|Tōshō-gū|東照宮}} is a Shinto shrine in which Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, is enshrined.{{cite web |url=http://gethiroshima.com/museums-attractions/tosho-gu-shrine/ |title=Tōshō-gū Shrine |author= |date= 2 January 2012|website= |publisher=GetHiroshima |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}} Tōshō-gūs are found throughout Japan.

The most well-known Tōshō-gū is the Nikkō Tōshō-gū located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture.{{cite web |author= |date=2 January 2012 |title=Tōshō-gū Shrine |url=http://gethiroshima.com/museums-attractions/tosho-gu-shrine/ |access-date=2017-12-28 |website= |publisher=GetHiroshima |quote=}} It is one of Japan's most popular destinations for tourists and is part of "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō" World Heritage Site.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Shrines and Temples of Nikko |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/913 |access-date=2017-12-28 |website= |publisher=UNESCO |quote=}}

Ueno Tōshō-gū at Ueno Park in Tokyo is also widely known.{{cite web |url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html |title=Ueno Park |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Japan Guide |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uenotoshogu.com/en/ |title=Ueno Toshogu |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Ueno Toshogu |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}} The Kunōzan Tōshō-gū is in Shizuoka Prefecture and rivals Nikkō's for decorative splendor.{{cite web |url=https://www.toshogu.or.jp/english/ |title=Kunouzan Toshogu, Welcome |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Kunōzan Tōshō-gū Official Website |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6353.html |title=Kunozan Toshogu Shrine |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Japan Guide |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}} Another one is the Nagoya Tōshō-gū, constructed in 1619. A Tōshō-gū can also be found at Miyanochō, in Sendai.

During the Edo period these shrines reached 500 in number, but after the Meiji Restoration many were abandoned,{{cite web |url=http://www.oldtokyo.com/tosho-gu-shrine-ueno-park/ |title=Tosho-gu Shrine, Ueno Park, Tokyo |author= |date= 16 November 2014|website= |publisher=Old Tokyo |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}} and others united with shrines in the area. Presently, it is estimated that there are about 130 Tōshō-gū.{{cite web |url=https://japanthis.com/2013/05/27/1-toshogu/ |title=Toshogu |author= |date= 27 May 2013|website= |publisher=Japan This |access-date=2017-12-28 |quote=}} The National Tōshō-gū Association lists a total of 48 shrines.{{cite web |url= http://www.toshogu.net/list.htm |title=全国東照宮連合会 加盟神社 (in japanese) |author= |date= |website= |publisher= National Tōshō-gū association |access-date= 2017-12-28 |quote=}}

Ieyasu was deified with the name {{nihongo|2=東照大権現|3=Tōshō Daigongen}}, meaning "Great Gongen, Light of the East"{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Toshogu Shrine |url=https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3801.html |access-date=2017-12-28 |website= |publisher=Japan Guide |quote=}} (a gongen is a Buddha who has appeared on Earth in the form of a kami to save sentient beings), and this is what gives Tōshō-gū shrines their name.