Recognized as the Tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen was not only a brilliant military strategist but also an innovator ahead of his time. From a young age, he showcased his prowess in battle, notably at the age of 15 during the Battle of Un no Kuchi in 1536. However, his greatest achievement came when he orchestrated a bloodless coup against his father to ascend as the undisputed leader of the Takeda clan.
Under Shingen's command, the Takeda forces engaged in a series of campaigns and sieges, including the renowned Battles of Kawanakajima against Uesugi Kenshin. One of his notable tactics was to position warriors clad in red lacquered armor at the forefront of his armies, a psychological strategy that struck fear into the hearts of his adversaries and was later emulated by the Ii clan.
Shingen's most significant contribution to warfare was his development of the cavalry charge. Recognizing the evolving battlefield dynamics with the rise of foot soldiers, he transformed his horsemen into lancers, forming the formidable Takeda Kiba Gundan. This cavalry charge tactic proved devastatingly effective, cementing Shingen's reputation as an indomitable force on the battlefield.
Legend has it that Shingen crafted the Shingen Tsuba, also known as the Takeda Tsuba, by wrapping brass wire around a large iron sukashi tsuba while awaiting battle. This ingenious method helped him maintain calmness and clarity of mind. Inspired by his example, many of his followers adopted similar tsuba designs, a tradition that endured into the Edo period.
Additionally, Shingen is attributed with the invention of the water flush toilet, demonstrating his concern for hygiene. Numerous monuments in and around Nagano Prefecture commemorate his use of these innovative facilities.
Furthermore, Shingen's contributions extended beyond warfare and sanitation. He oversaw the construction of the extensive Shingen Zutsumi dikes along the Kamanashi segments of the Fuji River, effectively preventing flooding and marking one of the most ambitious public works projects of the 16th century.
Despite his formidable reputation, Shingen's laws were known for their fairness. He replaced corporal punishment with financial fines for minor offenses, earning him admiration from the people of Kai Province. However, it's worth noting that he also employed two large iron cauldrons for executing certain criminals, a practice later abolished by Tokugawa Ieyasu due to its perceived cruelty.
Shingen's economic reforms were groundbreaking for his time. He implemented uniform taxation across most of his subjects and introduced the option of paying taxes in either gold or rice—a departure from the common practice of exempting powerful samurai families, shrines, and temples from taxes.
One of the most notable displays of Shingen's political acumen was evident after the defeat of his son, Katsuyori, when Ieyasu assumed control of Kai. Ieyasu retained many of Shingen's governance strategies, which later served as the blueprint for the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Shingen had territorial ambitions in Mikawa and Owari districts (now part of Aichi Prefecture). In 1571, a Takeda expeditionary force briefly seized Noda Castle, which belonged to the Okudaira clan, later known as the Tokugawa clan.
In 1573, Shingen launched another assault on Mikawa and Noda Castle. However, this time, the castle's defenses had been reinforced, leading to a prolonged siege. As the defenders resisted, Shingen was fatally shot by a matchlock marksman on May 13, 1573. Although efforts were made to rush him home to Kai, he reportedly passed away en route. His death at the age of 49 remained a closely guarded secret. The gun believed to have been used in the assassination is preserved at the Shitagahara Museum in Nagashino, Aichi Prefecture.
See also
-
Hojo Ujimasa
Hojo Ujimasa (1538 – August 10, 1590) was the fourth leader of the later Hojo clan and the daimyo of Odawara. He continued his father Hojo Ujiyasu's policy of territorial expansion, achieving the largest territorial holdings in the clan's history.
-
Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
-
Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
-
Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
-
Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
-
Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
-
Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
-
Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
