Rokkaku Yoshikata
Encyclopedia
was a samurai head of the Rokkaku clan
during Japan's Sengoku period
. He was shugo
(governor) and later daimyō
of an area of southern Ōmi province
, he served as castellan of Kannonji Castle
. He later became a Buddhist
monk, under the name Shōtei.
area during this period. In 1549, he became allied with Hosokawa Harumoto
against Miyoshi Chōkei
, and succeeded his father as head of the family in 1552. After a number of victories against the Miyoshi, the tides turned; Yoshikata and his Hosokawa allies in service of the shogun
Ashikaga Yoshiteru
began to experience a string of defeats. In 1558, the shogun reconciled his differences with the Miyoshi clan
, putting an end to the conflict.
Seeing an opportunity, Azai Hisamasa
of northern Ōmi invaded the Rokkaku territory. Defeated, the Azai clan was forced to become vassals to the Rokkaku. He entered the Buddhist priesthood in 1559, passing on his status within the family to his son Rokkaku Yoshiharu
, but remained active in the family's battles nevertheless. Yoshikata led his clan's forces to battle the following year against Azai Nagamasa
, seeking to maintain his control over the Azai and their territory. He was sorely defeated in this, the battle of Norada
, which marked the beginning of the decline of the Rokkaku clan.
In 1563, one of their chief vassals, Gotō Katatoyo, killed someone inside Kannonji Castle
(see Kannonji Disturbance). Distrust between the Rokkaku lords and their retainers reached the point that Yoshikata and his son were driven from the castle. They returned soon afterwards, however, through the mediation of Gamō Sadahide and Gamō Katahide
.
In 1565, the Rokkaku were again attacked by the Azai; and the invading forces were contained.
, in the service of shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki
, asked the Rokkaku to join his army, and was refused. Defeated in the ensuing battle, the Rokkaku were driven from their castle, settling in Kōka
, their clan effectively eliminated as daimyō.
In 1570, the Rokkaku were defeated by Shibata Katsuie
at Chōkōji castle, and again at Bodaiji castle, eventually submitting to Nobunaga. At Nobunaga's orders, Yoshikata was imprisoned in Ishibe castle, held by Sakuma Nobumori
. He escaped four years later, fleeing to Shigaraki
. There, he lived in seclusion, aiding local movements, and the Ishiyama Hongan-ji
, against Nobunaga.
Yoshikata died at the age of 74 in 1598. During his life, he studied archery
under Yoshida Shigemasa, and began his own school of horsemanship, the Sasaki-ryū.
Rokkaku clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan which wielded considerable power in the Muromachi period under the Ashikaga shogunate.-Rise and Fall:Founded by Sasaki Yasutsuna of Ōmi province in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family...
during Japan's 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...
. He was shugo
Shugo
was a title, commonly translated as "Governor," given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan...
(governor) and later daimyō
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...
of an area of southern Ōmi province
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
, he served as castellan of Kannonji Castle
Kannonji Castle
The ruins of ' are located on the ridgeline of Mount Kinugasa in the town of Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture, not far from the ruins of Azuchi Castle. At the castle site, the ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and an historical signboard can be found...
. He later became a Buddhist
Buddhism in Japan
The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period , the Heian period and the post-Heian period . Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools...
monk, under the name Shōtei.
Life of struggle
The son of Rokkaku Sadayori, Yoshikata fought in many of the battles for control of the KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
area during this period. In 1549, he became allied with Hosokawa Harumoto
Hosokawa Harumoto
was a Japanese daimyo of the Muromachi and Sengoku periods, and the head of the Hosokawa clan. Harumoto's childhood name was Sōmei-maru . He was born to Hosokawa Sumimoto, another renowned samurai of the Muromachi era....
against Miyoshi Chōkei
Miyoshi Chokei
, eldest son of Miyoshi Motonaga, was a Japanese samurai and daimyo who was lord of the Miyoshi clan during the Sengoku period. Nagayoshi held the court titles of Shūri-dayū and Chikuzen no Kami , and was also known by the more Sinic reading of his name: Chōkei...
, and succeeded his father as head of the family in 1552. After a number of victories against the Miyoshi, the tides turned; Yoshikata and his Hosokawa allies in service of the shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Ashikaga Yoshiteru
Ashikaga Yoshiteru
, also known as Yoshifushi or Yoshifuji, was the 13th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1546 to 1565 during the late Muromachi period of Japan. He was the eldest son of the 12th shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu; and his mother was a daughter of Konoe Taneie...
began to experience a string of defeats. In 1558, the shogun reconciled his differences with the Miyoshi clan
Miyoshi clan
The Miyoshi clan is a Japanese family descended from Emperor Seiwa and the Minamoto clan . They were a cadet branch of the Ogasawara clan and the Takeda clan....
, putting an end to the conflict.
Seeing an opportunity, Azai Hisamasa
Azai Hisamasa
was a son of Azai Sukemasa and the second head of the Azai clan.Hisamasa became the head of the clan in 1542 after his father died, but unlike his father, he was never a strong leader. Losing domains against Rokkaku clan, he instead became a Rokkaku retainer...
of northern Ōmi invaded the Rokkaku territory. Defeated, the Azai clan was forced to become vassals to the Rokkaku. He entered the Buddhist priesthood in 1559, passing on his status within the family to his son Rokkaku Yoshiharu
Rokkaku Yoshiharu
the eldest son of Rokkaku Yoshikata. During the year 1559, Yoshiharu became the official head of the Rokkaku clan, though he and his father ruled jointly. Both were at the Battle of Norada in 1560, where they were defeated by Azai Nagamasa. Yoshiharu along with his father abandoned Kannōnji Castle...
, but remained active in the family's battles nevertheless. Yoshikata led his clan's forces to battle the following year against Azai Nagamasa
Azai Nagamasa
was a Daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japan. His clan, the Azai, were located in northern Ōmi Province, east of Lake Biwa. He was both the brother-in-law of Oda Nobunaga, starting in 1564, and one of Nobunaga's enemies from 1570-1573. Nagamasa and his clan were utterly destroyed by Oda...
, seeking to maintain his control over the Azai and their territory. He was sorely defeated in this, the battle of Norada
Battle of Norada
The Battle of Norada was a battle of Japan's Sengoku period, fought between forces under Azai Nagamasa and Rokkaku Yoshikata in the year 1560....
, which marked the beginning of the decline of the Rokkaku clan.
In 1563, one of their chief vassals, Gotō Katatoyo, killed someone inside Kannonji Castle
Kannonji Castle
The ruins of ' are located on the ridgeline of Mount Kinugasa in the town of Azuchi, Shiga Prefecture, not far from the ruins of Azuchi Castle. At the castle site, the ruins of stone walls, a stone-lined well, and an historical signboard can be found...
(see Kannonji Disturbance). Distrust between the Rokkaku lords and their retainers reached the point that Yoshikata and his son were driven from the castle. They returned soon afterwards, however, through the mediation of Gamō Sadahide and Gamō Katahide
Gamo Katahide
was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period through Azuchi-Momoyama Periods. Katahide, the eldest son of Gamō Sadahide, was a retainer of the Oda clan. His son, Gamō Ujisato, became daimyo of the Aizu Domain....
.
In 1565, the Rokkaku were again attacked by the Azai; and the invading forces were contained.
Defeat
In 1569, Oda NobunagaOda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
, in the service of shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki
Ashikaga Yoshiaki
was the 15th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan who reigned from 1568 to 1573. His father, Ashikaga Yoshiharu was the twelfth shogun, and his brother, Ashikaga Yoshiteru was the thirteenth shogun....
, asked the Rokkaku to join his army, and was refused. Defeated in the ensuing battle, the Rokkaku were driven from their castle, settling in Kōka
Koka District, Shiga
was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 147,928 and a density of 267.90 persons per km²...
, their clan effectively eliminated as daimyō.
In 1570, the Rokkaku were defeated by Shibata Katsuie
Shibata Katsuie
or was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.-Biography:Katsuie was born in the Shibata family, a branch of the Shiba clan . Note the differences between , , and the .Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu...
at Chōkōji castle, and again at Bodaiji castle, eventually submitting to Nobunaga. At Nobunaga's orders, Yoshikata was imprisoned in Ishibe castle, held by Sakuma Nobumori
Sakuma Nobumori
was a retainer for the Oda clan. Nobumori's banishment by Oda Nobunaga to Mount Koyasan has widely been regarded as symbolic of Nobunaga's ruthlessness against even his longest-serving retainers, highlighting the leader's shortcomings as a military commander....
. He escaped four years later, fleeing to Shigaraki
Shigaraki, Shiga
was a town located in Kōka District, Shiga, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Shigaraki was merged with the towns of Kōka, Kōnan, Minakuchi and Tsuchiyama, all from Kōka District, to form the new city of Kōka....
. There, he lived in seclusion, aiding local movements, and the Ishiyama Hongan-ji
Ishiyama Hongan-ji
For other uses, see Ishiyama .The ' was the primary fortress of the Ikkō-ikki, mobs of warrior monks and peasants who opposed samurai rule. It was established in 1496, at the mouth of the Yodo River, on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. At the time, this was just outside of the remains of the...
, against Nobunaga.
Yoshikata died at the age of 74 in 1598. During his life, he studied archery
Kyujutsu
is the traditional Japanese martial art of wielding a bow. Although the samurai of feudal Japan are perhaps best known for their swordsmanship with a katana , kyūjutsu was actually considered a more vital skill for a significant portion of Japanese history...
under Yoshida Shigemasa, and began his own school of horsemanship, the Sasaki-ryū.
Sengoku period house codes
During the Sengoku period, Japan's social and legal culture evolved in ways unrelated to the well-known history of serial battles and armed skirmishes. A number of forward-looking daimyos independently promulgated codes of conduct to be applied within a specific han or domain. Few examples of these daimyo-made law codes have survived, but the legal framework contrived by the Rokkaku clan remains amongst the small number of documents which can still be studied:- 1567: Rokkaku Yoshikata issues Rokkaku-shi shikimoku.
- 1567: Rokkaku YoshiharuRokkaku Yoshiharuthe eldest son of Rokkaku Yoshikata. During the year 1559, Yoshiharu became the official head of the Rokkaku clan, though he and his father ruled jointly. Both were at the Battle of Norada in 1560, where they were defeated by Azai Nagamasa. Yoshiharu along with his father abandoned Kannōnji Castle...
, Yoshikata's eldest son, re-issues Rokkaku-shi shikimoku.