TheKyōgoku clan (京極氏,Kyōgoku-shi) were aJapanesedaimyō and samurai clan which rose to prominence during theSengoku andEdo periods. The clan descend from theUdaGenji through theSasaki clan.[1] The name derives from the Kyōgoku quarter ofKyoto during theHeian period.[2]
A period of decline in clan fortunes was mitigated with the rise of theTokugawa clan. Members of the clan weredaimyōs of territories on the islands ofKyūshū andShikoku during theEdo period.[2] Under theTokugawa shogunate, the Kyōgoku were identified astozama or outsiders, in contrast with thefudai or insiderdaimyō clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa.[3]
Takatsugu's son,Kyōgoku Tadataka (1593–1637), married the fourth daughter of the second ShōgunTokugawa Hidetada in 1607. Tadataka's revenues were increased gradually over time. In 1634, he was grantedMatsue Domain (260,000koku) inIzumo Province; but he died three years later without leaving any heirs. His holdings reverted to the shogunate.[5]
An offshoot of the senior branch was established in 1694 atTadotsu (10,000koku) inSanuki Province, where they remained through theMeiji Restoration. The head of this clan line was given the title of viscount in the Meiji period.[1]
Kyōgoku Takahiro (1599–1677) was the adopted son and heir of Takatomo. When the administration of Miyazu became his responsibility after 1621, the revenues of the domain were reduced to 75,000koku by Tokugawa Shogunate. The poor stewardship of Takahiro was exacerbated by that of his sonKyōgoku Takakuni (1616–1675). ShōgunTokugawa Ietsuna dispossessed the Kyōgoku of Miyazu in 1666, banishing both Takakuni and his son,Kyōgoku Takayori. In 1687, Takayori was permitted to return from banishment; and he was granted a pension of 2,000koku and a position amongst thekōke. This Edo period bureaucratic position was responsible for official and imperial rituals and ceremonies.[7]
The Kyōgoku residence in Toyooka.
An offshoot of the cadet branch was created in 1604 when Kyōgoku Takatomo transferred his seat of authority to Miyasu Castle. This clan sub-branching comprised those descendants of the Kyōgoku who continued to hold Tanabe Castle in Tango Province. In 1668, this clan branch was transferred toToyooka Domain (15,000koku) inTajima Province. The head of this clan line was created a viscount in the Meiji period.[1]
Another offshoot of the cadet branch was established in 1620 whenKyōgoku Takamichi (1603–1665) was enfeoffed atMineyama Domain (10,000koku) in Tango Province. Takamichi, who was the son ofKuchiki Tanetsuna, had been adopted by Takatomo. The descendants of Takamichi weredaimyōs in thishan until 1871. The head of this clan line was recognized as a viscount in the Meiji period.
The fall of the Tokugawa shogunate created ripple of unanticipated consequences amongst thedaimyo closely associated with the bafuku. One results of these economic changes was that the residence in Edo belonging to the Kyōgoku daimyo of Tadotsu was sold. The clan's house and garden fell into the hands ofInoue Kaoru, the first foreign minister in the Meiji government.[8] The home became a venue for entertaining foreign dignitaries and introducing them to the esthetics of Japanese gardens.[9]
After World War II, the former Kyōgoku property was acquired by theInternational House of Japan. A new residence hall and cultural center was built on the site, but the garden was preserved as the unanticipated yet enduring legacy of the Kyōgoku clan.[8] The garden survives and the clan continues, albeit with less public visibly.
In 1925, the first election of the members of theHouse of Peers representing the Meiji-created nobility ( thekazoku) was held. As a result, ViscountTakanori Kyōgoku of Sanuki was amongst those who were seated in the upper house of the Imperial Diet.[10]
