A statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu can be seen at the Tosho-gu shrine within the Nikko temple complex, a World Heritage site in Japan.

This cunning Japanese shogun outlasted his rivals to found his dynasty

Ruthlessness, resolve, and luck all brought Tokugawa Ieyasu to power in 1603 as he unified Japan after centuries of samurai strife and civil war.

As large as life

A statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu can be seen at the Tosho-gu shrine within the Nikko temple complex, a World Heritage site in Japan.
Robert Harding/National Geographic Image Collection
This content is Subscriber-Exclusive
You must have a National Geographic subscription to explore this article.

Unlock this Nat Geo Premium content–and much more

Want to keep exploring? Unlock this exclusive story and more with Nat Geo Premium.
Already a subscriber?
Sign In

Read This Next

SeaWorld violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought
World’s first ultrasounds of wild manta rays reveal a troubling truth

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet