There are several renowned people all over the world. These people gained their fame by imparting radical ideas or by doing something that somehow shaped the history and development of that nation. In Japan, in particular, there are various people who have gained the attention of many due to their extraordinary thinking and actions. Especially during the olden times of feudal Japan, several daimyos were recognized not just for their governance as a ruler but also for their skills in combat, for example. One of these daimyos is none other than Takeda Shingen.
Recounting the Early Life of Takeda Shingen
Born on the 1st of December in the year 1521, Takeda Shingen was a pre-eminent daimyo in the Kai Province who enjoyed great military prestige during the late parts of the Sengoku period. Born as the eldest son of Takeda Nobutora, Takeda Shingen had a promising future. As the son of the leader of the Takeda clan, many had high hopes for Shingen. Being taught by exemplary mentors at the time, Shingen was actually an accomplished poet when he was young.
At a fairly young age, Shingen already started assisting his father with concerns of their older relatives and vassals of the clan. He was deemed a valuable member of the family with his aid in solving their concerns. At a young age of 15, Shingen played an instrumental role in assisting his father in the Battle of Un no Kuchi in the year 1536. Their clan won during this fight, with much help from Shingen.
Takeda Shingen had two nicknames during his childhood. The first nickname was “Taro,” which was a common pet name used for the first-born son of a Japanese family. The second nickname was Katsuchiyo. Upon the celebration of his coming of age, Shingen was officially given a formal name, which was Harunobu. This formal name consisted of a character that was obtained from the name of Ashikaga Yoshiharu, who was the 12th Ashikaga Shogun. As a symbol of recognition, it was commonplace for higher-rank warriors to present a character from his own name to his loyal inferiors. It was seen as a great honor from the prespective of the local Lord.
Also often referred to as the “Tiger of Kai,” his allegiance was to the Takeda clan. His rank was Lord, also known as Daimyo in Japanese. He fought many wars in his lifetime. These wars include the Battle of Sezawa, the Battle of Uedahara, the Battles of Kawanakajima and Musashi-Matsuyama, the Battle of Mimasetoge, and the Battle of Mikatagahara.
After his coming of age celebration, Takde Shingen began to rebel against his father. After a number of attempts, Shingen finally succeeded in taking control of the Takeda clan in the year 1540. Specific details regarding this event was unknown but there were theories behind it. Many believe that Shingen decided to rebel because his father Nobutora was planning to name his second son, Shingen’s younger brother, Nobushige as his heir instead of his first-born.
As a result, Nobutora was miserably forced into retirement by Shingen and his active supporters. The father was sent to Suruga Province, located on the southern border of Kai. There, Nobutora was kept in custody by the Imagawa clan. This scrutiny of Nobutora was under the supervision of his son-in-law Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was the daimyo of Suruga at the time. To thank the Imagawa clan in assisting in the bloodless coup, an alliance was forged between the two clans.
Expansion of Power of Takeda Shingen, His Armor, and Swords
After his succession to the daimyo position of his clan, Shingen began to expand his power. His first goal was to take hold of the area around him and eventually conquer Shinano Province. Some major warlords in the region of Shinano attempted to thwart the growth of Shingen’s power at such a young age in the fear that he might expand to their lands as well if given the chance. These warlords marched on the border of Kai Province to stop Shingen. The plan was to beat Shingen down at Fuchu, where it was said that Shingen was amassing his supporters to take a stand with him.
However, these warlords were taken by surprise when Takeda forces suddenly attacked them and ensued the fight that is known as the Battle of Sezawa. Thanks to their confusion and unpreparedness, Shingen was able to win right away. This win set Shingen’s pace to drive into the Shinano land within the same year. His Siege of Uehara also turned out to be a success.
Despite his young age, Shingen continued to conquer various lands like the Suwa headquarters in the Siege of Kuwabara before he moved on to central Shinano after defeating Tozawa Yorichika in the Siege of Fukuyo and Takato Yoritsugu in the Battle of Ankokuji. Other lands he captured include the Nagakubo Castle in the year 1543, Kojinyama in the year 1544, Takato and Ryugasaki in the year 1545, Uchiyama in the year 1546 wherein he also won the Battle of Odaihara, and Shika in the year 1547.
However, Shingen was not fully prepared when he faced Murakami Yoshikiyo at Uedahara. Shingen lost two of his generals and ultimately lost the battle. On the other hand, he was able to avenge this loss by defeating the Murakami clan in the Sieges of Toishi. The Murakami family was forced to flee the region. Eventually pleading for help from the Echigo Province. In the year 1548, Ogasawara Nagatoki was defeated by Shingen in the Battle of Shiojiritoge. Two years later, Shingen conquered Fukashi in the year 1550.
Takeda Shingen vs. Uesugi Kenshin: The Battles of Kawanakajima
Shingen was successful in conquering Shinano. After this conquest, Shingen was faced with another rival by the name of Uesugi Kenshin. Hailing from Echigo, Kenshin was the most famous rival of Shingen. Their feud was considered legendary with Shingen and Kenshin facing each other five times during the Battles of Kawanakajima. The first few fights were considered mild as the two daimyos’ fights were confined to minor skirmishes with neither one of them willing to actually proceed with an all-out attempt of a fight. However, probably the main fight instigated between the two that have decided the victor of the rivalry was the fourth battle.
It was said that the forces of Uesugi Kenshin cleared a path through the troops of Takeda Shingen with Kenshin initiating and engaging Shingen in a single, all-out battle. Kenshin was said to have attacked Shingen with his sword as Shingen tried to defend himself with the use of his iron war fan or tessen. Due to this combat, both daimyos lost several of their men. Particularly for Shingen, he lost two of his main generals, namely, Yamamoto Kansuke and his younger brother Takeda Nobushige
Following the fourth battle of Kawanakajima, the Takeda clan faced two more problems internally. Two plots of killing the daimyo was uncovered by Shingen. The first plot was by his cousin known as Suwa Shigemasa. As a punishment, Suwa Shigemasa was ordered by Shingen to commit seppuku.
The second plot, which was uncovered a number of years later, was by his own son known as Takeda Yoshinobu. As punishment, Yoshinobu was confined in the Toko temple. Two years later, he passed away though his cause of death is unclear. Many speculate that it was either of natural causes or an order from his father. Afterwhich, the fourth son known as Takeda Katsuyori was appointed by Shingen to be the next acting leader of the clan until the son of Katsuyori came of age.
Despite these setbacks, Shingen still continued with his pursuits. He was able to capture Wada, Fukuda, Katsurao, and Takashima all in the year 1553. A year after, he took over Kannomine, Yoshioka, Fukushima, and Matsuo in the year 1554. Together with Hojo Ujiyasu, Shingen took over the Matsuyama Castle located in Musashi Province in the year 1563. Two years later, he also captured Kuragano and Minowa Castle in the year 1565.
However, in contrast to his alliance with Hojo Ujiyasu, Shingen went against the Hojo clan by attacking the Hachigata Castle. Eventually, he engaged in the Odawara in the year 1569. Both Hojo Ujiteru and Hojo Ujikuni failed in an attempt to stop Shingen while he withdrew in success in the Battle of Mimasetoge. One of his retainers went by the name of Sanada Yukimura.
Many believe that the death of Yoshinobu was an effect of the change in the Imagawa policy of Shingen. A plan to invade Suruga, a land governed by the son of Imagawa Yoshimoto known as Ujizane, was hatched by Shingen after the death of Yoshimoto in a fight against Oda Nobunaga. However, Yoshinobu had a strong opposition against this idea due to the fact that his spouse was the daughter of the deceased Yoshimoto. Undeterred, Shingen still planned to carry out his plan by the year 1567.
After successfully keeping Uesugi Kenshin and his troops from getting to the northern boundaries of Shinano, capturing a castle located at a strategic point in western Kozuke, and stifled the objections coming in internally against the taking advantage of the Imagawa clan that has considerably weakened, Shingen was ready to make a move. It was also at this time that one of the primary domestic projects during this period, the damming project of the Fuji River, was ordered by Shingen
Eventually, both Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu formed an alliance and took over Suruga by fighting against Imagawa Ujizane and other intervention forces under the command of Hojo Ujimasa of Sagami. Shingen and Ieyasu emerged victorious, having secured the Suruga. Previously recognized as the base of the prestigious Imagawa clan, Suruga became an asset of the Takeda clan in the year 1569. With Suruga, northern Shinano, and wester Kozuke under the belt of the Takeda clan, Shingen proceeded on to challenge the alliance between the Oda and the Tokugawa clan. Shinge led forces composed of more than 30,000 into the territories of the said two clans in Mino, Mikawa, and Totomi in the year 1572.
The Last Breath of Takeda Shingen
Despite the many victories of Takeda Shingen, he was not indestructible. Many theories surround the death of the famous daimyo. It was said that at the age of 49, Shingen was the only daimyo who had sufficient power and tactical skills to prevent Oda Nobunaga from ruling Japan. Amidst the battles, Shingen went on to stay and camp in Mikawa Province, where he ultimately met his demise. There were many speculations as to how he died there. One theory suggests that Shingen succumbed to a wound obtained from an old war while another states that he died from suffering leukemia.
Probably the most accepted theory of all is that a sniper shot Shingen and wounded him fatally. After his death and proper mourning of his people, Shingen was buried at Erin Temple, which is now known as Koshu, Yamanashi. Following his footsteps, Takeda Katsuyori succeeded Shingen’s position as daimyo of the Takeda clan. Highly ambitious, Katsuyori wanted to continue the legacy that his father left behind. He went on to fight Ieyasu and Nobunaga in the Battle of Nagashino, where he lost. Feeling shame, Katsuyori committed suicide after losing the battle. After which, the Takeda clan was never able to recover again.
Due to the loss of the heir of Shingen, the Takeda clan was mostly destroyed in essence. Nonetheless, Shingen was able to partake a lot of lessons to the history of Japan. His laws, tax, and administration systems had high influence over several lords during that period. Because of his many battles and great strategies in winning them, there were also several stories told about him. A character from the video game Samurai Warriors was based on Shingen.
While he was considered aggressive when it came to military enemies, it was said that Shingen was not as cruel in comparison to the other warlords. One of the famous phrases contained in his war banner was “Fū-Rin-Ka-Zan,” which translates to “Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain,” obtained from The Art of War by Sun Tzu. This phrase by Sun Tzu denotes to the notion of Swift as the Wind, Silent as a Forest, Fierce as Fire and Immovable as a Mountain, which was applied to the policies and strategies made by Shingen. Shingen shall remain a notable figure to date in the history of Japan.