noun
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
三卿は、田安家、清水家、一橋家の三家を指す。
The Sankyō refers to the three houses of Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi.
御三卿は、将軍家に次ぐ家格を持っていた。
The Gosankyō held a family rank second only to the shogun's house.