A Confucian Mausoleum for the Founder of Owari
The Mausoleum of Lord Genkei (Tokugawa Yoshinao) (源敬公（徳川義直）廟) is the tomb of Tokugawa Yoshinao, posthumously Lord Genkei, founder of the Owari domain, built beside Jokoji in Jokoji-cho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, between 1651 and 1652, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property on August 25, 1937.
According to Seto City, it consists of seven structures: the tomb, the Chinese-style gate, the incense hall (ritual hall), the treasury (ritual vessel store), the Dragon Gate, the earthen wall and the Lion Gate. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the Lion Gate, an outer gate standing apart, was not originally included and was added in 1965. The approach, nine graves of retainers who followed him in death and four sections of stone fencing are designated as attached items. It is privately owned.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The mausoleum was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1937. Seto City explains that it was built at Jokoji in accordance with the wishes of Yoshinao, who died in 1650, and laid out on Confucian lines, rare in Japan, to a design by Chen Yuanyun, a scholar who had come from China. The tomb and stone marker were raised in 1651, the year after his death, and the incense hall, treasury, gates and earthen wall were finished in 1652.
The city points out that while the mausoleums of other daimyo of the time followed Buddhist or Shinto forms, this one is notable for its Confucian plan. As the tomb of a founder who valued Confucian learning, it holds a distinctive place among early Edo daimyo mausoleums.
What to Look For
According to the Agency, the tomb is a stone marker surrounded by a stone fence. The Chinese-style gate is a single-bay hira-karamon, the incense hall and treasury are each 3 ken by 2 ken with single-storey hipped roofs, all roofed in copper tiles. The Dragon Gate is a four-legged gate with a hip-and-gable roof, the Lion Gate a four-legged gate with a gabled cypress-bark roof, and the earthen wall runs 71 ken under copper tiles.
Seto City notes that the floor tiles of the incense hall were fired in the Seto area. The Seto tourism association's Setopedia explains that under Chen Yuanyun's design the hillside was levelled into three terraces for the tomb and marker. Walk the approach and climb through the gates with this terraced plan in mind.
Visiting
The mausoleum adjoins Jokoji to the northeast. Jokoji Temple is 15 minutes on foot from Jokoji Station on the JR Chuo Line and has free parking for 160 cars (Seto tourism association). No official information was found on access to the mausoleum's interior. Enquiries about the cultural property go to the cultural properties section of Seto City's culture division (0561-84-1811).
Q&A
- Whose tomb is the Genkei mausoleum?
- That of Tokugawa Yoshinao (Lord Genkei), founder of the Owari domain, who died in 1650; it was built at Jokoji according to his wishes.
- When was it designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On August 25, 1937, with the Lion Gate added in 1965.
- What is special about the mausoleum?
- Its Confucian layout, designed by Chen Yuanyun, unlike the Buddhist or Shinto mausoleums of other daimyo of the period.
- How many structures make up the mausoleum?
- Seven: the tomb, the Chinese-style gate, the incense hall, the treasury, the Dragon Gate, the earthen wall and the Lion Gate.
- How do I get there?
- It adjoins Jokoji, 15 minutes on foot from Jokoji Station on the JR Chuo Line.
Basic Information
| Name | Mausoleum of Lord Genkei (Tokugawa Yoshinao) (源敬公（徳川義直）廟) |
|---|---|
| Location | Jokoji-cho, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1937/8/25 (Showa 12); Lion Gate added 1965 (Showa 40) |
| Quantity | 7 structures (with the approach, 9 retainers' graves and 4 sections of stone fence) |
| Dimensions | Incense hall and treasury: 3 ken by 2 ken, single storey, hipped roofs, copper tiles; earthen wall 71 ken long |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | No information on interior access |
References
- 源敬公（徳川義直）廟 (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1218
- Genkei mausoleum (Seto City)
- https://www.city.seto.aichi.jp/docs/2011/01/26/00087/index.html
- Genkei mausoleum (Setopedia, Seto tourism association)
- https://setopedia.seto-guide.jp/cultural-and-cultural-properties/national-cultural-properties/%E6%BA%90%E6%95%AC%E5%85%AC%E5%BB%9F/
- Jokoji (Seto Marutto Museum, Seto City)
- https://www.seto-marutto.info/spot-post/%E5%AE%97%E6%95%99%E6%B3%95%E4%BA%BA%E5%AE%9A%E5%85%89%E5%AF%BA/
Last verified: 2026.10.04
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Dragon's Gate 0.00 km
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Incense Hall (Saisei-den) 0.03 km
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Treasure house (storehouse of ritual vessels) 0.03 km
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Lion Gate 0.04 km
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Karamon 0.04 km
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Minamoto Keiko Tomb 0.05 km
- Mausoleum of Lord Minamoto No Takashi (Tokugawa Yoshinao) Tsukiji Wall 0.06 km