Rokkaku clan
Encyclopedia
The was a Japanese samurai clan which wielded considerable power in the Muromachi period
under the Ashikaga shogunate
.
in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family continued to be called Sasaki
. Over the course of the Muromachi period, members of the clan held the high post of Constable (shugo
) of various provinces
.
During the Ōnin War
(1467–77), which marked the beginning of the Sengoku period
, the clan's Kannonji Castle
came under assault. As a consequence of defeat in the field, the clan entered a period of decline.
Like other hard-pressed daimyos, the Rokakku tried to enhance their military position by giving closer attention to improved civil administration within their domain. For instance, in 1549, the Rokkaku eliminated a paper merchant's guild in Mino under penalty of confiscation. Then they declared a free market in its place.
The Rokakku were defeated by Oda Nobunaga
in 1568 on his march to Kyoto and in 1570 they were absolutely defeated by Shibata Katsuie
.
During the Edo period
, Rokkaku Yoshisuke
's descendants were considered a kōke
clan.
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
under the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
.
Rise and Fall
Founded by Sasaki Yasutsuna of Ōmi provinceOmi 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...
in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family continued to be called Sasaki
Sasaki clan
are a historical Japanese clan. - Brief history :They are descended directly from Emperor Uda by his grandson Minamoto no Masanobu , but were adopted by the Seiwa Genji...
. Over the course of the Muromachi period, members of the clan held the high post of Constable (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...
) of various provinces
Provinces of Japan
Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni , usually known in English as provinces. Each province was divided into gun ....
.
During the Ōnin War
Onin War
The ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
(1467–77), which marked the beginning 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...
, the clan's 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...
came under assault. As a consequence of defeat in the field, the clan entered a period of decline.
Like other hard-pressed daimyos, the Rokakku tried to enhance their military position by giving closer attention to improved civil administration within their domain. For instance, in 1549, the Rokkaku eliminated a paper merchant's guild in Mino under penalty of confiscation. Then they declared a free market in its place.
The Rokakku were defeated by Oda Nobunaga
Oda 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 1568 on his march to Kyoto and in 1570 they were absolutely 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...
.
During 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....
, Rokkaku Yoshisuke
Rokkaku Yoshisuke
' was the son of Rokkaku Yoshikata; and, after 1562, he took responsibility for administration in his father's Namazue domain in Japan's Ōmi Province....
's descendants were considered a kōke
Koke
A was a noble ranking below a daimyo in Japan during the Edo period. Their lands were assessed at less than ten thousand koku, making them ineligible for the rank of daimyo.Unlike hatamoto, whose duties were military, the kōke had certain privileged missions...
clan.
Rokkaku of Note
- Sasaki Nobutsuna, mid-13th century—the first to take the name Rokkaku.
- Sasaki Yasutsuna, 13th century—son of Nobutsuna.
- Rokkaku Jakusai, 1348-1424 -- Yamato-eYamato-eYamato-e is a style of Japanese painting inspired by Tang Dynasty paintings and developed in the late Heian period. It is considered the classical Japanese style...
painter - Rokkaku Takayori, d. 1520—fought in Ōnin WarOnin WarThe ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
. - Rokkaku Sadayori, 1495–1552
- Rokkaku YoshikataRokkaku Yoshikatawas a samurai head of the Rokkaku clan during Japan's Sengoku period. He was shugo and later daimyō of an area of southern Ōmi province, he served as castellan of Kannonji Castle...
, 1521-1598—son of Sadayori; founder of Sasaki-ryū of martial arts. - 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...
, 1545-1612—eldest son of Yoshikata.In 1562, he took on responsibilities in the administration of his father's domain. Later, he entered Ieyasu's service, and his descendants were ranked amongst the kōkeKokeA was a noble ranking below a daimyo in Japan during the Edo period. Their lands were assessed at less than ten thousand koku, making them ineligible for the rank of daimyo.Unlike hatamoto, whose duties were military, the kōke had certain privileged missions...
.
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 YoshikataRokkaku Yoshikatawas a samurai head of the Rokkaku clan during Japan's Sengoku period. He was shugo and later daimyō of an area of southern Ōmi province, he served as castellan of Kannonji Castle...
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...
re-issues Rokkaku-shi shikimoku.