Rin-noji Taiyu-in Mausoleum

Taiyu-in is the tomb of the 3rd Shogun of the Edo shogunate, Tokugawa Iemitsu. Based on the last wish of the shogun, a will to support the first shogun after his death, his body was buried here as it was close to Toshogu where the first shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu had been buried. Every building in the precincts is facing to Toshogu and the scale was made smaller on purpose to show a respect to Toshogu, the first shogun. Coloring is also in contrast to that of Toshogu; the basic color combination of Toshogu is white and gold while that of Taiyu-in is red and gold. However, since Taiyu-in was built about fifty years after Toshogu was built, the building technique and the sculpture technique are said to be more advanced than those of Toshogu. With 22 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties in the precincts, Taiyu-in creates a solemn and relaxed ambience.