Lady Myōkyū
| Myōkyū | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1499 |
| Died |
January 2, 1546 (aged 46–47) Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle, Aki Province |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Spouse(s) | Mōri Motonari |
| Children |
One daughter Mōri Takamoto Lady Goryū Kikkawa Motoharu Kobayakawa Takakage |
| Parent(s) |
Kikkawa Kunitsune Takahashi Naonobu's daughter |
Myōkyū (妙玖, 1499 – January 2, 1546) was a lady of the Sengoku period and the wife of Mōri Motonari. "Myōkyū" is her Dharma name; her real name is unknown. Her father was Kikkawa Kunitsune, her mother was Takahashi Naonobu's daughter, and her brothers were Kikkawa Mototsune and Kikkawa Tsuneyo. Her children consisted of an eldest daughter (hostage of Takahashi clan; premature death), Mōri Takamoto, Lady Goryū, Kikkawa Motoharu, and Kobayakawa Takakage.
Life
Born in 1499 in Ogurayama Castle, Myōkyū was the daughter of Kunitsune Kikkawa, a lord in Aki Province.
Reaching adulthood, Myōkyū was married out of convenience to Motonari Mōri, a prominent warlord of Aki Province from the Mōri clan. With Motonari, she had a daughter (hostage of Takahashi clan; premature death caused by Takahashi following their downfall), Takamoto in 1523, Lady Goryū around 1525, Motoharu in 1530, and Takakage in 1533.
January 2, 1546, Myōkyū died in Koriyama Castle. She was 47. Her Dharma name is Myōkyūshiten Seishitsu Kyūkōtashi. Her grave's location is unknown.
Note
- Although it was a political marriage, it is said that the relationship between Motonari and Myōkyū was good. For as long as Myōkyū was alive, Motonari took up no concubines.
- Though her real name is unknown, it is speculated to be Tama (玉) or Hisa (久).
Popular culture
- Portrayed by Tomita Yasuko in the 1997 NHK Taiga drama TV series Mōri Motonari.