Tokugawa Ieyasu's Clock

Tokugawa Ieyasu's Clock
Japanese: 徳川家康の洋時計
Tokugawa Ieyasu's Clock stored at Kunōzan Tōshō-gū
ArtistNicolaus de Troestenberch or Hans de Evalo
Year1573 or 1581
TypeClock
MediumBronze, silver, brass
Dimensions21.5 cm × 10.6 cm (8.5 in × 4.2 in)
DesignationImportant Cultural Property (1979)
LocationKunōzan Tōshō-gū Museum, Shizuoka
OwnerKunōzan Tōshō-gū

Tokugawa Ieyasu's Clock (Japanese: 徳川家康の洋時計, Tokugawa Ieyasu no yōdokei) is a clock which was given to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu of Japan by King Philip III of Spain in 1611. Built in 1573 or 1581, the clock is the oldest surviving clock in Japan[1] and one of the few surviving clocks in the world of its era. Since Ieyasu's death, the clock has been stored at Kunōzan Tōshō-gū, and has since been designated as an Important Cultural Property[2] with application to designate it as a National Treasure in Japan under consideration. A 2012 examination by the British Museum concluded that the clock is likely the only clock in the world of its era in which almost all of the internal parts remain as they were originally made.[3]

  1. ^ "時と時計のエトセトラ" [Time and Timepiece Extensive]. 和時計の世界 [The World of Japanese Clocks] (in Japanese). Japan Clock & Watch Association (JCWA). Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  2. ^ "家康公の時計" [Ieyasu's Clock]. 久能山東照宮 [Kunozan Toshogu Shrine] (in Japanese). 静岡 [Shizuoka]. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  3. ^ "家康の西洋時計「極めて希少」 大英博物館が評価" [Ieyasu's western clock `extremely rare' evaluated by the British Museum]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2022-09-04.