TOKUGAWA MASAKO

(November 23, 1607-August 2, 1678) was the daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada, the second shogun of Japan. She married Emperor Go-Mizunoo in 1620. When the Emperor Go-Mizunoo abdicated in 1629, their daughter Imperial Princess Kazu-no-miya Okiko (Tokugawa Ieyasu’s great granddaughter) became the Empress Meishō (reigned 1629-43).
She used her wealth to bring together Edo and Kyoto and also to keep the high standards of the court. She also used it to restore significant buildings that had been damaged in the previous years of warring. Many of these restorations were originally credited to her brother Iemitsu, or her husband, but have recently been properly credited to her. Another important way she used her money is as a representation of the Tokugawa clan.
She was a patron of the arts. She collected antiques as well as contemporary art. She was also skilled at calligraphy and dabbled in poetry.
On 9 November 1629, Masako took the retired name of 'Tōfuku mon-in' (東福門院).

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★ Lillehoj, Elizabeth. "Tōfukumon'in: Empress, Patron and Artist." ''Womens Art Journal'' 17(1996):28-34.