Mochizuki Chiyome
Encyclopedia
Mochizuki Chiyome also known as Mochizuki Chiyojo, was a Japan
ese noblewoman of the 16th century who was credited with creating an all-female group of ninja
.
, was the wife of Mochizuki Nobumasa, a samurai
warlord from Shinano
and lord of the Mochizuki Castle (he was killed in the Battle of Nagashino
in 1575). While Nobumasa was off in battle, she was often left in the care of the daimyo
Takeda Shingen
, who also was the uncle of her husband. It was then when Shingen approached her and gave her an important mission to recruit women and create an underground network of kunoichi
(female ninja) agents. Takeda’s plan was to have fully trained female operatives who could act as subversive agents used to gather information and deliver coded messages to his allies; Chiyome was the best candidate for this, since she came from a long line of Kōga ninja. She accepted the task and set up her operation in the village of Nazu in the Shinshu
region and began her search for potential candidates for training.
Chiyome recruited several young women who were recently orphaned, prostitutes or victims of the civil wars of the Sengoku period
. She also recruited girls who were either lost or abandoned. Many people believed that she was helping these women, and giving them an opportunity to start up a new life. But in reality, they were trained to become highly efficient information gatherers and veryfiers, seductresses, messengers and, when necessary, assassins. The girls were taught all the skills of a miko
(Shinto
shrine maiden or a wandering female shaman), which allowed them to travel virtually anywhere without suspicion, receiving religious education to complete their disguise. Over time, Chiyome's kunoichi learned to effectively use more disguises such as actresses, prostitutes or even geisha
s. This allowed them to move freely within villages, towns, castles and temples, and get closer to their targets. Eventually, Chiyome and her kunoichi had set up an extensive network of some 200-300 agents that served the Takeda clan well and Shingen was always well informed of all activities, putting him one step ahead of his opponents at all times until his mysterious death in 1573.
Due to the sketchy details regarding Chiyome's life, some researchers doubt whether or not she existed as this could have been actually a fabricated tale from the Edo period
, as it was most probably in the case of the Sanada Ten Braves
.
, in the video game series Samurai Warriors
(as a trainer of the character Kunoichi in Samurai Warriors and appearing as a leader of the kunoichi bodyguards in Samurai Warriors 2
), and in the video game Sangoku Heroes.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese noblewoman of the 16th century who was credited with creating an all-female group of ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
.
Biography
Mochizuki Chiyome, rumoured to be originally from the Kōga clanKoga-ryu
Kōka-ryū is a historical school of ninjutsu. It originated from the region of Kōka...
, was the wife of Mochizuki Nobumasa, a samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
warlord from Shinano
Shinano, Nagano
is a town located in Kamiminochi District, Nagano, Japan.As of 2005, the town has an estimated population of 9,851 and a density of 65.99 persons per km². The total area is 149.27 km²....
and lord of the Mochizuki Castle (he was killed in the Battle of Nagashino
Battle of Nagashino
The ' took place in 1575 near Nagashino Castle on the plain of Shitaragahara in the Mikawa province of Japan. Forces under Takeda Katsuyori had besieged the castle since the 17th of June; Okudaira Sadamasa , a Tokugawa vassal, commanded the defending force...
in 1575). While Nobumasa was off in battle, she was often left in the care of the daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...
, who also was the uncle of her husband. It was then when Shingen approached her and gave her an important mission to recruit women and create an underground network of kunoichi
Kunoichi
is the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
(female ninja) agents. Takeda’s plan was to have fully trained female operatives who could act as subversive agents used to gather information and deliver coded messages to his allies; Chiyome was the best candidate for this, since she came from a long line of Kōga ninja. She accepted the task and set up her operation in the village of Nazu in the Shinshu
Shinano Province
or is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano Prefecture.Shinano bordered on Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces...
region and began her search for potential candidates for training.
Chiyome recruited several young women who were recently orphaned, prostitutes or victims of the civil wars of the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
. She also recruited girls who were either lost or abandoned. Many people believed that she was helping these women, and giving them an opportunity to start up a new life. But in reality, they were trained to become highly efficient information gatherers and veryfiers, seductresses, messengers and, when necessary, assassins. The girls were taught all the skills of a miko
Miko
is a Japanese term that anciently meant a "female shaman, spirit medium" who conveyed oracles from kami , and currently means a "shrine maiden; virgin consecrated to a deity" who serves at Shinto shrines.-Word:...
(Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine maiden or a wandering female shaman), which allowed them to travel virtually anywhere without suspicion, receiving religious education to complete their disguise. Over time, Chiyome's kunoichi learned to effectively use more disguises such as actresses, prostitutes or even geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
s. This allowed them to move freely within villages, towns, castles and temples, and get closer to their targets. Eventually, Chiyome and her kunoichi had set up an extensive network of some 200-300 agents that served the Takeda clan well and Shingen was always well informed of all activities, putting him one step ahead of his opponents at all times until his mysterious death in 1573.
Due to the sketchy details regarding Chiyome's life, some researchers doubt whether or not she existed as this could have been actually a fabricated tale from the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, as it was most probably in the case of the Sanada Ten Braves
Sanada Ten Braves
The are a legendary group of ninja that assisted the warlord Sanada Yukimura during the Warring States era of Japan ....
.
In popular culture
Mochizuki Chiyome is featured as a character in the video game Red Ninja: End of HonorRed Ninja: End Of Honor
Red Ninja: End of Honor, known in Japan as , is a 2005 video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms, created in a collaboration between the game developer Tranji Studios and the film writer Shinsuke Sato. It was published overseas by Vivendi Games...
, in the video game series Samurai Warriors
Samurai Warriors
is the first title in the series of video games created by Koei's Omega Force team based loosely around the Sengoku period of Japanese history and it is a spinoff of the Dynasty Warriors series...
(as a trainer of the character Kunoichi in Samurai Warriors and appearing as a leader of the kunoichi bodyguards in Samurai Warriors 2
Samurai Warriors 2
is a sequel to the original Samurai Warriors, created by Koei and Omega Force. The game was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, and received a port to Microsoft Windows in 2008....
), and in the video game Sangoku Heroes.
Sources
- Stephen K. HayesStephen K. HayesStephen K. Hayes is an American Bujinkan ninjutsu master, Buddhist priest and writer.-Life and martial arts:Stephen K. Hayes was born in Wilmington, Delaware and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Fairmont West High School, Kettering, Ohio in 1967. He began formal training in the martial...
, Bill Griffeth, Mike Lee, Gregory Lee, Legacy of the Night Warrior (1984), p. 109-112 - Stephen K. Hayes, The Mystic Arts of the Ninja (1985), p. 4
- Peter Lewis, The Way to the Martial Arts (1986), p. 112
- Vicki León, Uppity Women of Medieval Times (1998), p. 8