Letter from Tokugawa Mitsukuni to Emiyō

The 5th (Month and year unknown)

Donated by the Homma Family

A letter from Tokugawa Mitsukuni to Niyosei (Emyōin Eiken) of Gannyū-ji Temple (in modern Ibaraki Prefecture). Its contents refer to visiting Mitsukuni’s granddaughter, who was suffering from smallpox, and is believed to be written in his own hand. 

Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628-1700) was granted the use of the character “Mitsu” from the name of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, with his name changing characters in 1679, and this is believed to have been written when he lived in his place of retirement, “Seizan-sō,” where he lived upon that name change.