The Life and Glory of Takeda Shingen
The legacy of one of Asia’s most brilliant commanders, and one of Japan’s most revered samurai, began in Kai Province (modern day Yamanashi Prefecture), in 1521, during Japan’s Sengoku (feudal) Period. He was born to the powerful Takeda daimyō (feudal lord) family with the birth name of Takeda Katsuchiyo. When he came of age, he changed it to the adult name of Harunobu. In 1541, he forced his father Nobutora to retire as head of the clan. Events regarding this change of leadership are hazy, but it is believed that Harunobu and his supporters within the Takeda, with the assistance of the nearby Imagawa clan, drove him to settlement on the southern border of Suruga Province overseen by Imagawa Yoshimoto of the western Imagawa clan.
Harunobu wasted no time in expanding the Takeda domain. Harunobu, as thanks for the Imagawa’s help, forged an alliance with Yoshimoto, securing the western border. He also organized campaigns to the northwest into the neighboring Shinano Province (Nagano Prefecture), with a rapid victory in the Battle of Sezawa against a coalition of Shinano daimyō, who were seeking to end his career early. In the meantime, he joined a Buddhist monastery and took up the Buddhist name of Shingen, as he would come to be known in the annals of history. However, the vows failed to stop his rapid expansion across Japan’s Kantō region.
Map of Takeda expansion into northern Kantō
It was between the mountains of Shinano that he would encounter his famed rival, Uesugi Kenshin. Based in Echigo Province in the north of Shinano, Kenshinwas concerned by Shingen’s rapid advance up to his border. He fought him five times in Kawanakajima Plain, a crossroads vital to the province’s trade. The most famous of these battles is the fourth in 1561, in which Kenshin’s personal guard managed to carve a way through the Takeda ranks to the command post itself, where he caught Shingen himself unarmed. Shingen parried Kenshin’s blows with an iron war fan until one of the Takeda aides managed to spear Kenshin’s horse and drive him off. The battle ended in a draw, without a clear winner. However, Shingen’s attention was soon drawn off of Shinano Province, and the only time they came into contact again resulted in another mutual retreat in 1571.
Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo and Takeda Shingen of Kai, woodblock print ~1800, artist unknown
Shingen launched an invasion of Suruga Province to the south in 1568. The Later Hōjō Clan, whom the Takeda had been allied and on good terms with, intervened. Thus, Shingen ended the alliance with them and marched on Musashi Province. He besieged the Hōjō capital at Odawara Castle and burned it, successfully withdrawing, having taken Musashi for his own.
Takeda holdings in 1572
At this time, all eyes in Japan were pointed towards the young upstart warlord, Oda Nobunaga. He had successfully wiped out the Takeda ally of the Imagawa, driven the Shogun out of Kyoto, and launched a formidable campaign to control all of Japan. Takeda Shingen was the only general who could realistically halt Nobunaga’s advance. He was requested by deposed Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki to advance on Kyoto and kick the Oda out. He accepted, and faced a combined force of the Oda and Tokugawa clans at the Battle of Mikatagahara. He put the famed Takeda cavalry to fantastic use, and gave Tokugawa Ieyasu the most embarrassing defeat of his career. He managed to avoid a complete defeat though, and bought himself time to regroup.
Battle of Mikatagahara, woodblock print 1885, by Toyohara Chikanobu
Shingen, however, would not see the defeat of Oda Nobunaga. He died shortly after Mikatagahara, under uncertain circumstances. It is unknown whether he died of an old wound, pneumonia, or an enemy sniper. Uesugi Kenshin reportedly wept upon hearing of Shingen’s death, for the loss of one of the only rivals he had ever faced who could challenge him. His legacy manifested in Tokugawa Ieyasu, who adapted some of Shingen’s policies into the Tokugawa Shogunate when he declared himself Shogun in 1602.
He was succeeded by his son, Takeda Katsuyori, who was eager to live up to his father’s reputation. He faced the Oda-Tokugawa again at Nagashino, but was dealt an unquestionable defeat when Nobunaga demonstrated the effectiveness of matchlock rifles against cavalry warriors. Katsuyori retreated, and Ieyasu saw his weakness. He pursued and met Katsuyori at the Battle of Tenmokuzan, and defeated him once more. Katsuyori committed seppuku (ritual suicide), and the Takeda was consumed by the Tokugawa.
The Death in Battle of Katsuyori on Mount Tenmoku, woodblock print 1861, by Utagawa Kuniteru
All in all, Takeda Shingen helped to shape the government of Japan. His tales of bravery and strategy outline the chaos of Japan’s Sengoku Period. I hope you enjoyed reading and learning!
Footnotes