three secondary Tokugawa branch families
Historical term referring to the Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi families, which were cadet branches of the Tokugawa shogunate. Often mentioned alongside the 御三卿 (Gosankyō).
See also: 御三卿
The Sankyō refers to the three houses of Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi.
The Gosankyō held a family rank second only to the shogun's house.
three secondary Tokugawa branch families (Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi)
From 三 (san, 'three') and 卿 (kyō, a title for high-ranking nobles). The term was used in the Edo period to designate the three secondary Tokugawa branch families.