Tenkajin no Jidai

The Gifu Prefectural Museum in Seki City is hosting a special exhibit on Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu.  The special exhibit is open to the public April 24th to June 28.  Admission to the exhibit is 600 yen.

Link: http://t.co/mWk5kLGDVH

Nobunaga no tame!

Banshoji Construction

It looks like the Oda temple Banshoji is going to be reconstructed to fit the modern age.  The temple is located in Nagoya at the heart of the Osu Kannon district.  Here is the link to the article:
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/aichi/20150423/CK2015042302000060.html

Tenka no tame!

Nohime and Dagger

Last night before going to bed I found a nice article on Nohime and the dagger story on the net.  The famous story goes right before Nohime is sent off to marry Nobunaga, she meets with her father Saito Dosan (The Viper of Mino/Mino no Mamushi).  Dosan gives her a dagger, telling her if Nobunaga is a fool, use the dagger to kill him.  She replies to her father that she will be part of the Oda and might use the dagger to kill him instead.  Dosan right away knew Nohime was truly the Viper's daughter.  The article continues with the famous meeting between Nobunaga and Dosan at Shotokuji Temple in 1553.

The link:http://t.co/5RRT7X1FgK

For a good read in English on Nohime, Kicho&Nobunaga by Rumi Komonz is highly recommended.

Nobunaga no tame!

Kuroda Castle

My good Okehazama researcher friend Seishiro Mizuno has written a new article on Kuroda Castle.  http://ow.ly/LFUxg

Kuroda Castle was the birthplace of Yamauchi Kazutoyo (father was Moritoyo), who later served Nobunaga.  The castle was built during the Meio Era (1492-1501) by Goto Mitsumasa.  The castle landmark is not far from JR Kisogawa Station, a five minute walk.  One can see the symbol of the Yamauchi house, the oak leaf (kashi) all over the landmark area.  Here is another link in Japanese: http://www.geocities.jp/chiezoikomai/owari/kuroda.html

Tenka no tame!

Matsunaga and the Kettle

I found a great article on Matsunaga Hisahide who once worked for Nobunaga.  However, he betrayed the Uesama and in 1577, he met his maker.  Hisahide was quite fond of tea and its utensils.  So was Nobunaga.  Nobunaga was also known for his "Meibutsu Gari" or utensil hunt besides his superior military power.  However, when Oda Nobutada (Nobunaga's son) led the assault on Shigi Castle in the fall of 1577, Hisahide was not going to let Nobunaga obtain his prized tea kettle, the Hiragumo.

The article: http://kissakoculture.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-strange-fate-of-hiragumo-kettle.html?m=1

Interesting to note when Oda Nobutada led the attack on Shigi Castle, his helmet bore the ornament of deer antlers.

Nobunaga no tame!

Shinjitsu no Nobunaga

The 2015 April issue of Rekishi Kaido will feature Nobunaga.  The issue title Shinjitsu no Nobunaga or Nobunaga's truth.  Unfortunately, I do not own a copy yet.  However, those who own a copy and have read it told me it is a must read.

http://astore.amazon.co.jp/sengokuwalker-22/detail/B00STR3SYQ

Tenka no tame!

Mt. Hiei

I have not wrote anything on Nobunaga and Mt. Hiei in ages.  The last time I was able to visit Mt. Hiei was in 2001.  It was an awesome place to visit and learn.  It still amazes me even today how Nobunaga and his army climbed up the mountain and put practically everyone to the sword in 1571.

There is an excellent book in English by Neil McMullin, Buddhism and the State in Sixteenth-Century Japan, which explains the many reasons why Nobunaga put Mt. Hiei to the torch.  The monks of Mt. Hiei either bought their way out, fought their way, or prayed their way out of troubles.  That being said, Nobunaga was very different and had no fear to show Mt. Hiei a lesson they will never forget.

Here are some of the main reasons why Nobunaga attacked Mt. Hiei in 1571.

• Mt. Hiei was a member of the anti-Nobunaga league united at least indirectly with the Honganji against Nobunaga.
• Mt. Hiei was on the doorstep of Kyoto.  It was very dangerous to come and go.
• Nobunaga had a chain of forces against him.  To break the chain, Mt. Hiei was the weakest link of that chain.
• Mt. Hiei was located in a strip of land between the Honganji to the west and the provinces to the east such as Echizen and Kaga that Nobunaga wanted to control.
• Mt. Hiei challenged Nobunaga's authority.  A very bad idea indeed.  Challenging the Uesama's authority only results in death!  A year earlier, Nobunaga gave Mt. Hiei a stern warning.  The priests disregarded the warning which costs them total destruction of the entire area.

In the end, Nobunaga did not give a damn and slaughtered everyone at Mt. Hiei.

Nobunaga no tame!