noun
three secondary Tokugawa branch families (Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi)
Historical term referring to the three cadet branches of the Tokugawa shogunate, established to provide heirs to the main line. Often contrasted with the 御三家 (gosanke).
See also: 三卿
御三卿は、田安・清水・一橋の三家から成る。
The Gosankyō consists of the three families: Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi.
江戸時代、御三
During the Edo period, the Gosankyō played the role of providing successors to the shogun family.
The 御三家 (gosanke) were the three senior Tokugawa branch families (Owari, Kii, Mito), while the 御三卿 (gosankyō) were three junior branches established later, primarily to supply heirs.
三卿 (sankyō) is a broader term that can refer to the three Tokugawa branch families without the honorific prefix, or to three high-ranking court nobles in other contexts.
From 御 (honorific prefix) + 三 (three) + 卿 (noble, lord). The term was coined in the Edo period to designate the three cadet Tokugawa houses.