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The Tragedy of Princess Matsu

Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), the first of the Tokugawa shoguns, had a problem: he could not find anyone willing to marry his half-sister Princess Matsu (1563–1587). The princess was terribly ugly, and even the prospect of having the shogun for a brother-in-law was not enough to tempt any suitors. Desperate to help, Ieyasu called an assembly of daimyos from around Japan and announced, “To the man who takes my sister as his wife and produces a son, I will award 100,000 koku of land.”

Even for a wealthy daimyo, 100,000 koku of land was an appealing incentive, but none of the daimyos hurried to accept the proposal. Only Toda Yasunaga (1562–1633), one of Ieyasu’s most trusted daimyos, gave Princess Matsu a shy grin. Seeing this, Ieyasu immediately declared their engagement. Toda Yasunaga was later made the fifth lord of Matsumoto Castle.

This account highlights Princess Matsu’s ugliness, but in fact, the entire story is a fanciful rumor invented long after her death. Princess Matsu was only five when she became engaged to six-year-old Yasunaga. Records state that she grew to be a very beautiful woman, and the couple produced a son, Nagakane (1580–1619).

Tragically, Princess Matsu died young, and her son was weak and sickly for most of his life. Yasunaga’s consorts later bore him two more sons: Tadamitsu (1598–1629) and Yasunao (1617–1634). In 1617, the family moved from Ueno (in what is now Gunma Prefecture) to Matsumoto, and Yasunaga assumed control of Matsumoto Castle. Nagakane died soon afterward. When Tadamitsu also died young, in 1629, Yasunao became the family’s official heir.

After Tadamitsu’s death, the Toda family encountered many misfortunes. Yasunao suspected this unluckiness (and the death of Tadamitsu) were the work of Nagakane’s vengeful spirit, who resented being supplanted as heir. Others whispered that the cause was the sorrowful ghost of Princess Matsu. Cruel stories were told about her, claiming that she had drowned herself, or that she had been an ugly woman in an unhappy marriage. Ultimately, the spirits of Matsu and Nagakane were enshrined at Matsumoto Jinja Shrine.

松姬的悲劇

德川幕府的首任將軍德川家康（1543-1616）一直有個煩惱：他找不到人願意迎娶他的同父異母妹妹，松姬（1563-1587）。傳說松姬相貌頗為醜陋，就連能成為幕府將軍妹夫這樣的條件都無法吸引人前來求娶。無奈之下，德川家康只得召集全日本的大名（領主），宣布：「誰若願意迎娶我的妹妹為妻，並生下兒子，我便賜予他10萬石的領地。」

即便對於身家豐厚的大名來說，10萬石的領地也是不得了的誘惑。然而，依舊沒有人回應，只有德川家康最信任的戶田康長（1562-1633）對松姬露出了一個靦腆的微笑。看到這一幕，德川家康立刻宣布為他倆訂立婚約。後來，戶田康長成為了松本城的第五任城主。

故事裡極力渲染了松姬容貌之醜陋，可這個故事卻是松姬過世許多年後才被後人杜撰出來的。事實上，松姬5歲時就與當時6歲的戶田康長訂立了婚約，史料顯示，長大後的松姬出落得楚楚動人，夫妻倆生下了一個兒子，名叫戶田永兼（1580-1619）。

不幸的是，松姬很早就過世了，他們的兒子也身體孱弱，一生的大多數時間都在病痛中度過。後來，戶田康長的側室又為他生下了兩個兒子，戶田忠光（1598-1629）和戶田康直（1617-1634）。1617年，戶田康長接掌松本城，戶田一家從上野（今群馬縣境內）搬到松本。此後不久，戶田永兼去世，戶田忠光也於1629年英年早逝，只留下戶田康直成為了家族繼承人。

自從戶田忠光死後，戶田家便遭遇了一連串的不幸。戶田康直懷疑這一系列的厄運（包括戶田忠光的死）都是戶田永兼憤怒的鬼魂在實施報復，因為他對自己沒能成為繼承人而心懷怨恨。也有傳言認為是松姬的怨靈作祟。有關松姬的故事總是那麼殘酷，有說她是投水自盡的，有說她是一個婚姻不幸的醜女。

今天，松姬與戶田永兼的靈位都被供奉在松本神社內。

松姬的悲剧

德川幕府的首任将军德川家康(1543-1616)一直有个烦恼，他找不到愿意迎娶他同父异母妹妹的人。传说，他妹妹松姬(1563-1587)相貌颇为丑陋，就连能成为幕府将军妹夫这样的条件都无法吸引人前来求娶。无奈之下，德川家康只得召集全日本的大名（领主），宣布：“谁若愿意迎娶我的妹妹为妻，并生下儿子，我便赐予他10万石的领地。”

即便对于身家丰厚的大名来说，10万石的领地也是极大的诱惑，然而依旧没有人响应。这时，唯有德川家康最信任的户田康长(1562-1633)对松姬露出了一个腼腆的微笑。看到这一幕，德川家康立刻宣布为他俩订下婚约。后来，户田康长成为了松本城的第五任城主。

故事里极力渲染了松姬容貌之丑陋，可其实这个故事是在松姬过世许多年之后杜撰出来的。松姬5岁时就与当时6岁的户田康长订立了婚约。史料显示，长大后的松姬出落得楚楚动人，夫妻俩生下了一个儿子，名叫户田永兼(1580-1619)。

不幸的是，松姬很早就过世了，他们的儿子也身体孱弱，一生的大多数时间都在病痛中度过。后来，户田康长的侧室又为他生下了两个儿子，名为户田忠光(1598-1629)和户田康直(1617-1634)。1617年，户田康长接掌松本城，户田一家从上野（今群马县境内）搬到松本。此后不久，户田永兼去世，户田忠光也于1629年英年早逝，户田康直成为了家族继承人。

自从户田忠光死后，户田家族便遭遇了一连串的不幸。户田康直怀疑接踵而来的厄运（包括户田忠光的死）都是户田永兼愤怒的鬼魂在实施报复，因为他对自己没能成为继承人而心怀怨恨；也有传言认为作祟的是松姬的怨灵。有关松姬的故事总是那么残酷，有说她是投水自尽的，有说她是一个婚姻不幸的丑女。

现在，松姬与户田永兼的灵位都被供奉在松本神社内。