Saito Dosan
Encyclopedia
was a daimyo
who dramatically rose and also fell from power in Sengoku period
Japan
. He was also known as the for his ruthless tactics.
(modern-day Kyoto Prefecture
), he entered the service of Nagai Nagahiro of Mino Province
(southern half of modern-day Gifu Prefecture
), assuming the name Nishimura Kankurô.
He used his power and influence to become a retainer of the daimyo of Mino, Toki Yorinari
.
Dōsan contributed to general instability within Mino Province, so Yorinari gave him his concubine in the hopes that this would appease him in 1526.
He later married Ômi no kata, a daughter of Akechi Suruga no kami Mitsutsugu.
He eventually succeeded in becoming the magistrate of Mino Province and settled in Inabayama Castle
. Using his power and wealth, he drove Toki Yorinari out of Mino Province in a coup d'état
in 1542, and claimed the region as his own, becoming a daimyo in his own right. Afterwards, Toki Yorinari allied with Oda Nobuhide
of Owari Province
, which was on the southern border of Mino Province, but their defeat at the Battle of Kanōguchi
, in 1547, solidified Dōsan's domination of Mino and also made him known throughout Japan
. Oda Nobuhide made peace and arranged a political marriage in 1549, between his son, Oda Nobunaga
, and Dōsan's daughter, Nōhime
, to end all hostilities.
Ironically, Saitō Dōsan fell in his own son Saitō Yoshitatsu's coup d'état in 1556.
Around 1555, rumors began to circulate that Saitō Yoshitatsu
was not in fact Dōsan's son; it was said that he was Yorinari's. It does not appear that Yoshitatsu had been aware of that possibility himself until he heard the rumors.
The circumstances surrounding this are unclear, however. One belief is that Dōsan, having had a number of sons after Yoshitatsu, had decided to name one of them heir (despite having officially retired by this point in favor of Yoshitatsu). Another theory holds that Yoshitatsu simply assumed that he would be disinherited, and decided to move first. A further idea is that Saitō Yoshitatsu just elected to usurp his father's power.
Relations at any rate quickly soured between Yoshitatsu and Dōsan, leading up to the Battle of Nagaragawa
, where Dōsan was heavily outnumbered.
In desperation, Toshimasa is alleged to have named Nobunaga as lord of Mino in his will and sent this document to Nobunaga. Nobunaga, however, was unable to provide help.
Dōsan was defeated and his head was taken by a certain Komaki Genta, a retainer of Yoshitatsu's son Tatsuoki
. His remains were originally interred in Sōfuku-ji
, but they were later moved to Jōzai-ji
because the Nagara River
kept overflowing and covering his burial mound. Both temples are located in Gifu
.
s and for frequently changing his name. Some believe that this is because there were two Saitō Dōsan, father and son, and the son adopted his father's name after his death. Other names of Saitō Dōsan are Minemaru (峰丸), Hōrenbō (法蓮坊), Matsunami Shogorō (松浪庄五郎), Nishimura Kankurō Masatoshi (西村勘九郎正利), Shinkurō (新九郎), Nagai Norihide (長井規秀), and Saitō Sakondayu Toshimasa (斎藤左近大夫利政).
The name Saitô was adopted from the former shugodai
of Mino who had been overcome by the Nagai clan in the 1520s.
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...
who dramatically rose and also fell from power in 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...
Japan
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...
. He was also known as the for his ruthless tactics.
Life
Originally a wealthy merchant from Yamashiro ProvinceYamashiro Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai. It overlaps the southern part of modern Kyoto Prefecture on Honshū. Aliases include , the rare , and . It is classified as an upper province in the Engishiki....
(modern-day Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
), he entered the service of Nagai Nagahiro of Mino Province
Mino Province
, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
(southern half of modern-day Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
), assuming the name Nishimura Kankurô.
He used his power and influence to become a retainer of the daimyo of Mino, Toki Yorinari
Toki Yorinari
was a son of Toki Masafusa and final ruling head of the Toki clan during the latter years of the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. As daimyo of Mino Province, he had hired Saito Dosan as his retainer in the 1520s, but was overthrown and expelled from the province by Dosan in a coup d'état in 1542...
.
Dōsan contributed to general instability within Mino Province, so Yorinari gave him his concubine in the hopes that this would appease him in 1526.
He later married Ômi no kata, a daughter of Akechi Suruga no kami Mitsutsugu.
He eventually succeeded in becoming the magistrate of Mino Province and settled in Inabayama Castle
Gifu Castle
is a castle located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Along with Mount Kinka and the Nagara River, it is one of the main symbols of the city.-History:Gifu Castle was first built by the Nikaidō clan between 1201 and 1204 during the Kamakura Period....
. Using his power and wealth, he drove Toki Yorinari out of Mino Province in a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in 1542, and claimed the region as his own, becoming a daimyo in his own right. Afterwards, Toki Yorinari allied with Oda Nobuhide
Oda Nobuhide
was a warlord and magistrate of lower Owari Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. His father was Oda Nobusada and Nobuhide was the father of Oda Nobunaga.-Ruling the clan:...
of Owari Province
Owari Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of present day Aichi Prefecture, including much of modern Nagoya. Its abbreviation is Bishū .-History:The province was created in 646....
, which was on the southern border of Mino Province, but their defeat at the Battle of Kanōguchi
Battle of Kanoguchi
was a battle during the Sengoku period of Japan.As a part of the very long rivalry between that of Oda Nobuhide and Saitō Dōsan, along with Dōsan's wanted supremacy over Mino Province, they fought each other on the battlefield in Kanōguchi. Nobuhide, who was the father of the famous Oda Nobunaga,...
, in 1547, solidified Dōsan's domination of Mino and also made him known throughout Japan
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...
. Oda Nobuhide made peace and arranged a political marriage in 1549, between his son, 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...
, and Dōsan's daughter, Nōhime
Nohime
also Kichō or Lady Noh, was the wife of Oda Nobunaga, a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. Her proper name was Kichō, but since she came from Mino Province, she is most commonly referred to as Nōhime . She was renowned for her beauty and cleverness.Nōhime's father was the...
, to end all hostilities.
Downfall
Around 1555, rumors began to circulate that Saitō Yoshitatsu
Saito Yoshitatsu
was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period. He was the second generation lord of the Saitō clan.-Early life:Yoshiatsu was born in Mino Province in 1527, the eldest son of Saitō Dōsan. Some theorize that Yoshitatsu was in fact the son of Toki Yorinari, the former ruler of Mino...
was not in fact Dōsan's son; it was said that he was Yorinari's. It does not appear that Yoshitatsu had been aware of that possibility himself until he heard the rumors.
The circumstances surrounding this are unclear, however. One belief is that Dōsan, having had a number of sons after Yoshitatsu, had decided to name one of them heir (despite having officially retired by this point in favor of Yoshitatsu). Another theory holds that Yoshitatsu simply assumed that he would be disinherited, and decided to move first. A further idea is that Saitō Yoshitatsu just elected to usurp his father's power.
Relations at any rate quickly soured between Yoshitatsu and Dōsan, leading up to the Battle of Nagaragawa
Battle of Nagaragawa
The was a battle that took place along the banks of the Nagara River in Mino Province in April 1556. It was a battle between Saitō Dōsan and his son, Saitō Yoshitatsu.-Background:...
, where Dōsan was heavily outnumbered.
In desperation, Toshimasa is alleged to have named Nobunaga as lord of Mino in his will and sent this document to Nobunaga. Nobunaga, however, was unable to provide help.
Dōsan was defeated and his head was taken by a certain Komaki Genta, a retainer of Yoshitatsu's son Tatsuoki
Saito Tatsuoki
was a daimyo in Mino Province during the Sengoku period and the third generation lord of the Saitō clan. He was a son of Saitō Yoshitatsu, and a grandson of Saitō Dōsan. He was also a nephew of Oda Nobunaga's first wife, Nōhime, herself a daughter of Saitō Dōsan....
. His remains were originally interred in Sōfuku-ji
Sofuku-ji (Gifu)
' is a Buddhist temple located in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The temple has strong ties to both Saitō Dōsan and Oda Nobunaga. Gifu's Sōfuku-ji is famed throughout Japan for both the number of monks it produces and for its "Blood Ceiling". Shortly after its founding, it was also known as Kōsai-ji...
, but they were later moved to Jōzai-ji
Jozai-ji (Gifu)
is a Buddhist temple of the Nichiren sect in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Its formal name is Shūrinzan Jōzai-ji . Starting with Saitō Dōsan, Jōzai-ji served as the family temple for the Saitō family for three generations, which included his son, Saitō Yoshitatsu, and his grandson, Saitō Tokugen...
because the Nagara River
Nagara River
The has its source in the city of Gujō, Gifu Prefecture, and its mouth in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Along with the Kiso River and Ibi River, the Nagara River is one of the Kiso Three Rivers of the Nōbi Plain. Previously, the river was named Sunomata River . With a length of , it...
kept overflowing and covering his burial mound. Both temples are located in Gifu
Gifu, Gifu
is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
.
Pseudonyms
Saitō Dōsan is known for having a large number of pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s and for frequently changing his name. Some believe that this is because there were two Saitō Dōsan, father and son, and the son adopted his father's name after his death. Other names of Saitō Dōsan are Minemaru (峰丸), Hōrenbō (法蓮坊), Matsunami Shogorō (松浪庄五郎), Nishimura Kankurō Masatoshi (西村勘九郎正利), Shinkurō (新九郎), Nagai Norihide (長井規秀), and Saitō Sakondayu Toshimasa (斎藤左近大夫利政).
The name Saitô was adopted from the former shugodai
Shugodai
were officials during feudal Japan.Shugodai were representatives of provincial shugo when the shugo could not exercise his power, being often away from his province. Unlike shugo, who were appointed from the central power, shugodai were locally appointed....
of Mino who had been overcome by the Nagai clan in the 1520s.