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.
Believe or not, Takakura Musubimiko Jinja has a special relationship with Nobunaga. Located north from Atsuta Shrine, Nobunaga donated and rebuilt the main hall of the shrine in 1571. It was built Owari zukuri style. Later in the early Edo Era, the Hachisuka family made additional repairs to the shrine.
Takakura Musubimiko Jinja is about a 25 minute walk from Atsuta Shrine.
Whoever made this chart is a lifesaver. A lifesaver, because it simply describes and compares Sengoku hairstyles from what you see on the television and the movies, to the portraits itself. The portraits of Nobunaga, Ashikaga Yoshiharu, and Yoshiteru still have some hair on the top. So, which is correct? In my opinion, the option on the right, the one with some hair on the top is correct. Those artists who drew the portraits back in the day had interaction with the people of Sengoku Japan, so they knew how people dressed their clothes and hair.
Here is a short video by local historian Seishiro Mizuno on his opinion regarding the Bukoyawa. Unfortunately, he thinks it is a fraudulent document. I highly recommend the Bukoyawa to its rich information relating to the Battle of Okehazama and Sumomata. There is a well-written thesis by David D. Neilson, Society at War: Eyewitness Accounts of Sixteenth Century Japan (University of Oregon) explains the Bukoyawa and the Men of the Fields. To be honest and fair, I do not think Seishiro Mizuno knows or most Japanese historians know about Neilson's work. Also I do not know if his thesis has been translated into Japanese. I have discussed the Bukoyawa with Seishiro Mizuno and explained my opinion. It is not some Showa Era historical novel.
Neilson (pp.4-5) "Much of what has been produced has been resoundingly negative in its evaluation of the Bukoyawa as a legitimate historical source. Let it suffice at this point to say that although it is not a perfect source, there is still a great deal that can be learned from the Bukoyawa...."
Is the The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga or the Mikawa Monogatari perfect? No. No primary source is perfect. In fact, you will find many irregularities with them.
I agree with Neilson on this statement regarding to the Bukoyawa Neilson (p. 33)
"I have come to the conclusion that much of the reason behind the apparent blacklisting of the Bukoyawa has to do with the way that the documents were released." Historians were caught by surprise were the Bukoyawa appeared in bookstores.
Neilson (pp. 33-34) "Historians can be very protective of their sources and sometimes think of documents as things that, because of their special skills, belongs to them. In this case though, the normal process was sidestepped and the documents were not given to historians for official vetting."
Historians are upset that they did not get their greasy fingers first, that is why the Bukoyawa is blacklisted. Again to be fair, Mizuno and others do not know Neilson's published works. It is not their fault. The blame can go to the national historians and the like since they have a personal vendetta regarding to the Bukoyawa.
This post continues with Nobunaga's abolition of toll barriers. This time in Ise Province, 1569. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 137)
" The toll barriers in Ise Province caused a great deal of trouble to travelers coming and going, and Nobunaga therefore abolished them in perpetuity, issuing strict orders that henceforth no tolls be collected there."
As I stated in an earlier post, Nobunaga abolished most of the toll barriers under his control. Some were kept in place. For example, the toll barrier that benefited the Imperial treasury was still in use. As for the normal traveler and merchant, it became safer and cheaper. Once Nobunaga abolished the tolls barriers, economic development rapidly increased.
Here is my current summer reading and it is a good one. Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki by Tamiya Atsuteru (1808-71). Written in 1846 (Kouka 3) 286 years after the Battle of Okehazama. Believe or not, the Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki is not that difficult to read and it is full of useful information. Is it perfect? No. That being said, it is a must read for any Battle of Okehazama scholar.
Key points: Brief mention of the Battle of Muraki.
His take on Nobunaga's Atsumori performance is different and radical than the traditional norm. For example, he mentioned that Nobunaga held an eve-of-battle banquet with his retainers performing Atsumori. To tell you the truth, that never happened. I plan to write a separate post on this important subject in the near future.
Yoshimoto's camp: Dengakuhazama. Again, nobody knows the full answer to this. It is still highly debated.
Kutsukake Castle mentioned several times in the manuscript. Including Yanada Masatsuna's reward.
Nobunaga's prayer at Atsuta Shrine. All of Nobunaga's key forts mentioned: Tange, Zenshouji, and Nakajima. The bad weather: heat and rain.
The constant retreating and fighting by the Imagawa army. Mori Shinsuke's finger chewed off by Yoshimoto before being killed. Yoshimoto's palanquin abandoned during battle.
There are many nuggets of information in the manuscript. That being said, there is a lot of side notes and endnotes as well.
I do highly recommend Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki.
Many thanks to Yukio Kajino and the Okehazama Battlefield Preservation Committee for the recommendation.
On the bottom is a two year Battle of Okehazama Festival Video from Touken. The festival took place at the Toyoake City Battlefield. Near the end of the video, a mock battle takes place. If I had to choose between the Arimatsu or Toyoake City Okehazama festival, Toyoake wins out simply because of the mock battle. I have participated in both. There is nothing wrong with the Arimatsu Okehazama festival. It just does not have the mock battles.
Years ago I wrote a short post on Fumio Watanabe's Okehazama book. It is decent, but it does have some flaws.
Fumio Watanabe Okehazama Kassen no Shinjutsu
Publisher: Ikohousha Year: 2012 Pages: 255
Watanabe's big push: Nobunaga's victory at the Battle of Okehazama was not a chaotic, impromptu dash, but a well calculated strategy combining frontal and flanking maneuvers from Fort Nakajima. Yoshimoto's weakness he stated was not military educated properly compared to Nobunaga and letting his retainers do the job. There is some truth to that. See pages 247-250.
One of the negatives, unfortunately, Fumio Watanabe never visited the battlefield and reaches his conclusions by the use of books and maps. I am assuming after publishing his book, he has visited both battlefields. That being said, his two maps at the end of the book are useful.
I do think Fumio Watanabe's Okehazama book is a must read for the Battle of Okehazama scholar. It will open your mind a bit. Read it for yourself and then decide.
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