Gifu?

 

Gifu is back in the news again and it now has some controversy.  Did Nobunaga rename Inoguchi to Gifu in 1567 or Gifu was renamed 100 years earlier by the Toki?   It seems that Toki Shigeyori of Zuiryoji has a portrait with Gifu written on it.  Zuiryoji is located in the Gifu Teramachi district, a place I know very well.  Why mention now?  Is there an agenda by someone in the Toki family to keep the legacy alive?  Probably.  Why during the time of Dosan, it was referred to Inoguchi?  No answers to that.  Owada Tetsuo does a great job explaining both sides, the Toki and Nobunaga version.  Fortunately, Nobunaga has the higher ground since it was well known that Takugen Shuon gave Nobunaga three options, Giyou, Gizan, and Gifu.  Nobunaga decided on Gifu due to its Chinese origins.  "Gi" came from the area where the Chou Ruler Wu Wang began his quest to unify China in 12th century B.C. "Fu" came from the birthplace of Confucius.

Owada Tetsuo gives the viewers a word of caution on this subject.  As for myself, it is possible that Toki Shigeyori might have something to do with Gifu.  That being said, it was Nobunaga without a doubt renamed Inoguchi to Gifu in 1567.  In the end, I think Zuiryoji creating some news due to the fact nobody knows where the temple is at or even Teramachi even exists.

Tenka no tame!