三河
Mikawa Province
三河国 · みかわ
Province
Tokaido Circuit
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Three Rivers"
True Etymology
The name means 'three rivers' (三, three + 河, river). Three major rivers—the Yahagi, Yata, and Toyo—flow through the region. The three-river landscape defined the province's geography and gave it its straightforward descriptive name.
Alternative Theory
Mikawa was the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who unified Japan in 1603. The name 'Mikawa' (three rivers) thus became associated with the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, giving the simple geographic name outsized historical significance.
Key Facts
| Circuit (道) | Tokaido |
|---|---|
| Reading | みかわ |
| Active Period | Ancient-1868 |