Tokugawa Ietsuna
On March 2, 1657, the Great Fire of Meireki destroyed 60 to 70% of the city of Edo (Tokyo) and killed about 100,000 people. The "shōgun" Tokugawa Ietsuna wished to commemorate the victims of the fire, most of whom were not survived by relatives. For this purpose he erected a monument called the "Banninzuka" (Mound of a Million Souls) and held a great memorial service conducted by of Zōjō-ji.