Azuchi Jaishi

 Azuchi Jaishi or Serpent stone was the famous rock hauled for the construction of Azuchi Castle. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga has a passage on this subject (pp. 248-249)

"Nobunaga had large rocks hauled down from Mount Kannonji, Mount Chomeiji, Mount Chokoji, Mount Iba, and so forth. Each rock was transported up Mount Azuchi by as many men as it took--one thousand, or two or three. The quarry masters were Nishio Kozaemon (Yoshitsugu), Ozawa Rokurosaburo, Yoshida Heinai, and Onishi.

These men selected large stones for transportation, while rejecting the smaller ones. Tsudo Bo moved a great boulder as far as the foot of Mount Azuchi, but this rock, widely known as the Jaishi (Serpent's Stone) was so enormous that he could not get it up the mountain. That being the case, Hasiba Chikuzen, Takikawa Sakon, and Korezumi Gorozaemon came to Tsuda's aid with more than ten thousand men.  It took them three days and three nights to haul the Jaishi up the mountain. Thanks to Lord Nobunaga's ingenuity, building materials were brought up to the donjon with greatest of ease. Mountains and valleys were the scene of continuous activity by day and by night."

Tenka no tame!

Great For Fall Reading

 Looking for a great book to read during the fall season. My Battle of Okehazama novel is perfect book for the fall. Available at Amazon.com 

Nobunaga no tame! Tenka no tame!

Omido Castle Video

 Earlier this month I wrote a blog post regarding Omido Castle, the birthplace of Takenaka Hanbei. Here is a video by historian Owada Tetsuo explaining Omido Castle. He later visits a local museum with a small interview with a staff member.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Kasugayama Nikki

 Here is a copy of the Kasugayama Nikki regarding to the Battle of Okehazama. This is one of the first primary sources written about the battle. Earlier in May, I wrote a post about it, but using a secondary source, Kikei Okehazama Kassen no Shinjutsu by Ota Teruo. First clue is Bishu Okehazama. Okehazama is where the battle was taken place. Second clue: Yoshimoto's army 30,000. It is a bit high, but much lower than the 45,000 mentioned in The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga and the Shinchoki (Oze Hoan) Third clue: the two words kikei (ingenious plan) and fuiuchi (surprise attack) by Nobunaga.

The Kasugayama Nikki is not perfect. No document is perfect. Uesugi Kenshin probably sent scouts or spies to Owari. Once Yoshimoto was killed in action, the news of his death quickly reached Echigo. Did Kenshin's spies/scouts know the geography around the Okehazama area. Probably not. Then why Okehazama is written instead of Dengakutsubo or Dengakuhazama? Highly probable scenario: one of the villagers gave the name of the area to the scouts. Only a decade later or so, the document Ashikaga Kisetsuki Okehazama was written down as the location of the battle. 

My opinion, Okehazama was first used as the location of the area of the battle. Over time, the name changed. As in my previous post, many of the documents have different names written down. For example, Narumi Okehazama, Okehazama Okehazamayama, Dengakutsubo, Dengakuhazama, and others.

Kasugayama Nikki is the first document written on the battle, first written as Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

Battle of Okehazama Area Location Document List

 Okehazama Kassen Kenkyuu by Sakakibara Kunihiko is a fantastic book regarding to the Battle of Okehazama. Pages 11-12 are extremely important since he lists most of the primary sources related to the name of area. I will list the key sources. You can find most of them online (digital documentation)

Narumi Okehazama: Matsudairaki, EhonTaikoki

Okehazama: Ashikaga Kisetsuki

Okehazamayama: The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga, Oda Shinki

Okehazama no Yama (sange): Oda Gunki, Sokenki, Bukejiki

Okehazama no kita: Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki, Seikoki

Okehazama Matsubara: Bukejiki

Dengakutsubo: Chuko Nihon Chiranki, Okehazama Kassenki, Mikawa Gofudoki

Dengakuhazama: Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki, Bukoyawa 

Dengakubo: Koyo Gunkan, Mikawa Gofudoki, Okehazama mura kassenki

Oyakatahazama: Choushuu Zasshi, Okehazama Okehazama Kassenenki

Chausuyama: Okehazama Kassenenki, Okehazama Kassenryakuki

There are more, but I wanted to add the key documents. My next post will regarding the Kasugayama Nikki and the Battle of Okehazama, since I have found the document online.

Many thanks to Yukio Kajino and the Battle of Okehazama Preservation Committee.

Nobunaga no tame!

Omido Castle

 Omido Castle was the birthplace of Takenaka Hanbei (1544-79). Located in western Mino, modern day Gifu Prefecture. It was known to be a flatland (hirajiro) type of castle. Hanbei's baptism of fire was at the Battle of Nagaragawa 1556, fighting on the side of Saito Dosan. He replaced his father as the serving commander. Hanbei also had a residence near Gifu Castle at Myoshoji Temple during the time of Nobunaga. Omido Castle is located at Ono Town, Ibi district Gifu Prefecture.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Gunki

 

Earlier this morning I found an old Okehazama document online. Okehazama Zokugunki/ Okehazama Gunki is mixed with prints with documentation of the Battle of Okehazama. The first print is Imagawa Yoshimoto at camp. The second print Yoshimoto is killed at the Battle of Okehazama. The last print: Nobunaga holding the post-battle head viewing ceremony with Maeda Toshiie. Reliable? It is what is it is, a historical propaganda document, but it does provide clues regarding the Battle of Okehazama. I like it since the prints are different from the usual ones found in museums.

Nobunaga no tame!