Tachibana Muneshige
Encyclopedia
, known in his youth as Senkumaru (千熊丸) and alternatively called Tachibana Munetora (立花 宗虎 or 立花 統虎), was 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...
during the Azuchi–Momoyama period and a 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....
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...
. He was the eldest biological son of Takahashi Shigetane
Takahashi Shigetane
also known as was a senior retainer beneath the clan of Otomo throughout the latter Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan. As Shigetane was additionally known by the name of Takahashi Shoun during the earlier years of his life, he would began his service beneath the Otomo of Bungo Province around this...
, a retainer of Ōtomo clan
Otomo clan
The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
. He was adopted by Tachibana Dōsetsu
Tachibana Dosetsu
, born Hetsugi Akitsura, was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period who served the Ōtomo clan. He was the father of Tachibana Ginchiyo and adopted father of Tachibana Muneshige.-Biography:...
, later married his daughter Tachibana Ginchiyo
Tachibana Ginchiyo
was the head of the Japanese clan of Tachibana during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. Ginchiyo was the daughter of Tachibana Dōsetsu, retainer of the Ōtomo . Because Dosetsu had no sons, he requested that Ginchiyo be made family head after his death...
, succeeding the Tachibana clan.
He was skilled with tactical warfare, the traditional arts, and known for his benevolence. He was heralded as a man who braved many changes in his life.
Early life
When Muneshige was eight years old, he attended a stage show. During the act, a man was killed and the crowd panicked. Muneshige showed no signs of fear and he taunted the audience for leaving the show early. He hurried back to the scene. His interesting behavior attracted Tachibana Dōsetsu's attention and, in 1581, Dōsetsu strongly adhered to adopt him. Shigetane strongly refused the adoption, even when Dōsetsu begged him constantly with cordial visits. With time, Shigetane's insistence weakened and Dōsetsu had his request granted.In July 1581, Muneshige attended his first battle with his adopted father. The Ōtomo were pursing the Akizuki family at the Battle of Honami. Muneshige rode on horseback and shot at the Akizuki's valiant retainer, Horie Bizen. Horie charged at Muneshige with a long sword for the kill. He was unexpectedly overpowered when he fought with Muneshige and was distracted long enough to be killed by Hagio Daigaku.
In 1584, he joined his father and adopted father in the campaign to recapture Chikugo Province
Chikugo Province
is the name of a former province of Japan in the area that is today the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Chikuzen Province...
. After he went to the battle front with Dōsetsu, he was entrusted to guard the Ayama Castle. When Akizuki Tanezane
Akizuki Tanezane
was a samurai warrior who was defeated by the Ōtomo clan. Later he joined the Shimazu clan and fought with them against Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Kyūshū, an island of Japan....
's 8,000 man army closed in, Muneshige defeated him with a night raid and fire attack. Either after his first battle or his victory against Tanezane, he was enumerated during the army's victory banquet. Muneshige was pleased to have fought beside his biological father and mistakenly addressed Shigetane as "Father". Shigetane responded by berating and publicly disowning him, declaring that Muneshige was always a part of the Tachibana clan.
Serving Toyotomi
In 1586, Shimazu Tadatane and Ijuin Tadamune invaded Chikuzen provinceChikuzen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today part of Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Chikugo Province. Chikuzen bordered Buzen, Bungo, Chikugo, and Hizen Provinces....
with an army of 20,000, initiating the Siege of Iwaya. Muneshige, who was stationed within Ayama Castle and knew that Shigetane was at Iwaya Castle, wanted to send reinforcements to his father. He was stopped by Yoshida Sakyo, who faced death in Muneshige's stead. Shigetane and Sakyo died with the over 500 retainers at Iwaya Castle. Shimazu Yoshihisa
Shimazu Yoshihisa
was a daimyo of Satsuma Province and the eldest son of Shimazu Takahisa. His mother was a daughter of Nyurai'in Shigesato , Yukimado . Shimazu Yoshihiro and Shimazu Toshihisa are his brothers....
then ordered his men to take Ayama Castle. Muneshige defended his position bravely by relying on surpsie attacks to drive the Shimazu
Shimazu clan
The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
back. At one point, he led a surprise attack on the Shimazu main camp and decapitated several enemy soldiers. The Shimazu army suffered from fatigue and withdrew. Muneshige pursued them, capturing one of the Shimazu positions and retaking two of their castles.
After the Shimazu army retreated, the Toyotomi army of 20,000 appeared in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. Muneshige took an active role in the following campaign to suppress Kyūshū, mainly involved with negotiating peace with their opposition. When the Shimazu surrendered in 1587, Muneshige was rewarded with Yanagawa Castle, owning 132,200 koku. With his new wealth, the Tachibana declared independence from their masters, the Ōtomo clan.
When Sassa Narimasa
Sassa Narimasa
, also known as Kura-no-suke , was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Azuchi-Momoyama period. He became a retainer of Oda Nobunaga in 1550 and was granted Etchū Province as a reward for helping Shibata Katsuie fight the Uesugi clan. After Nobunaga's death, in 1584 he joined Tokugawa Ieyasu...
experienced riots in Kyūshū, Muneshige volunteered to stop the insurrections and helped with the pacification efforts. He met Kobayakawa Takakage
Kobayakawa Takakage
was a samurai retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during Japan's Sengoku period, and the son of Mōri Motonari. Adopted by the head of the Kobayakawa clan, Takakage took his name, and succeeded his adoptive father to become head of the Kobayakawa clan following his death in 1545.As head of the Kobayakawa...
and his adopted son, Kobayakawa Motofusa
Kobayakawa Hidekane
was a Japanese samurai, the ninth son of Mōri Motonari....
. Both men served with great renown and took a liking to one another when they shared similar accomplishments. Motofusa and Muneshige became sworn brothers and they were both promoted a year later. After serving in the Siege of Odawara
Siege of Odawara (1590)
The third ' occurred in 1590, and was the primary action in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to eliminate the Hōjō clan as a threat to his power. The months leading up to it saw hasty but major improvements in the defense of the castle, as Hideyoshi's intentions became clear...
, Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
praised him further and he earned the admiration of several 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...
present. The Taikō declared, "Just as how the east has Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu
, also called Honda Heihachirō , was a Japanese general of the late Sengoku through early Edo period, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Sakai Tadatsugu. - Biography :A native of Mikawa Province in...
as the greatest warrior of the land, the west surely has Muneshige for the same right."
During the two ill-fated invasions of Korea, Muneshige was a captain to one of the six 2,500 squadrons with Kobayakawa Takakage during the first invasion. They initially planned to capture Jeolla
Jeolla
Jeolla was a province in southwestern Korea, one of the historical Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. It consisted of the modern South Korean provinces of North Jeolla, South Jeolla and the Special City of Gwangju as well as Jeju Island...
and sail south from Chungcheong
Chungcheong
Chungcheong was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Chungcheong was located in the southwest of Korea...
, but they were fiercely pushed back and defeated several times near Geumsan by the righteous armies
Righteous army
Righteous armies, sometimes called irregular armies or militias, have appeared several times in Korean history, when the national armies were in need of assistance....
led by Jo Heon and Yeong Gyu. Since neither army could gain a stronger foothold over the other, both sides were forced into a deadlock. Muneshige tried to barricade the roads in Muju County
Muju County
Muju County , is a county in North Jeolla Province , South Korea. Muju is knownfor its Muju Firefly Festival and is considered the most popular tourism area.-History:...
in an effort to protect his troops. However, since soldiers were still in the midst of being transported, his plan failed and he could not maintain his position in Korea.
In 1597, Muneshige continued to act as a defensive unit. Without merging with the invading army, he was sent to protect Angol-po during the Siege of Ulsan
Siege of Ulsan
On September 22, 1598, Korean and Chinese allied forces made a second attack against Japanese forces. The alliance army formation was Commander Ma Gui, leading an army of 24,000 Chinese, and an army of 5,500 Koreans were led by general Kim Eung-seo...
. However, since he was concerned for his Mōri allies, his original plan to head to Busan was changed to guard Goseong Castle. He presumably participated in the defense of Waeseong or Goseong. He did not participate in battle for the majority of the campaigns as he was regulated to serve as reinforcements or ordered to take defensive positions.
After Hideyoshi died, the Japanese fleet ordered a full-scale retreat. Muneshige assisted Shimazu Yoshihiro's fleet and they were able to retrieve their stranded ally from Chen Lin
Chen Lin (Ming)
Chen Lin Style Name: Chaojue was a Chinese general of the Ming Dynasty. Chen Lin was a native of modern-day Shaoguan in Guangdong province. He quelled the 1562 uprisings in Chaozhou and Yingde in Guangdong province and was subsequently promoted to the Shoubei of Guangdong...
and Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-sin
Yi Sun-shin was a Korean naval commander, famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well...
's naval forces.
Sekigahara
Although he disliked Ishida MitsunariIshida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari was a samurai who led the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 17th century. Also known by his court title, Jibunoshō...
, Muneshige served the Western army due to his loyalties to the departed Hideyoshi. He gave his men the choice to depart for whichever side and only a single house elder left to join the Eastern army. To this end, he swore to them that they would fight for unconditional victory and marched his armies into Ise Province
Ise Province
or was a province of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was at Suzuka...
.
He joined the siege to take Ōtsu Castle
Siege of Otsu
The took place in 1600, occurring concurrently with the battle of Sekigahara. Kyōgoku Takatsugu held Ōtsu castle for the Tokugawa, and commanded the garrison. Mōri Motoyasu and Tachibana Muneshige laid siege. The sides negotiated and Takatsugu surrendered...
with a 15,000 man army. On October 13, 1600, he fought with Kyōgoku Takatsugu
Kyōgoku Takatsugu
was a daimyo of Omi Province and Wakasa Province during the late-Sengoku Period of Japan's history.Takatsugu is recognized as the founder of the modern Kyōgoku clan. His forebears had been powerful since the 13th century, but their fortunes had waned after the Ōnin War...
. His army mainly used rifle troops, in which he stationed the gunners to theoretically reload three times faster than normal. Muneshige was unable to fight at the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
due to the siege and, when news of Ieyasu's victory reached their ears, the Western army abandoned Ōtsu Castle.
After his troops withdrew, Muneshige wanted to defend Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle
is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan.Originally called Ozakajō, it is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.-Description:...
. Mōri Terumoto
Mori Terumoto
Mōri Terumoto , son of Mōri Takamoto and grandson and successor of the great warlord Mōri Motonari, fought against Toyotomi Hideyoshi but was eventually overcome, participated in the Kyūshū campaign on Hideyoshi's side and built Hiroshima Castle, thus essentially founding Hiroshima.Terumoto was a...
advised him to drop the idea due to Ieyasu's inevitable invasion and suggested a hasty retreat back to Yanagawa. Muneshige agreed but he unexpectedly met one of the men indirectly responsible for his fathers' deaths, Shimazu Yoshihiro, at the docks. Yoshihiro, who had already retreated from Sekigahara and with few men remaining, confronted Muneshige and offered his head by saying, "This is the only chance you'll get to avenge your real father." Contrary to the general's expectations, Muneshige replied, "Slaughtering a defeated army is not an honor for any samurai", and worked together with Yoshihiro to escape safely back to their respective homes. As thanks, a small Shimazu vanguard escorted Muneshige back to Yanagawa.
It wasn't long until his home was attacked by Katō Kiyomasa
Kato Kiyomasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo period.-Origins and early career:Kiyomasa was born in Owari Province to Katō Kiyotada. Kiyotada's wife, Ito, was a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother. Kiyotada died while his son was still young...
, Nabeshima Naoshige
Nabeshima Naoshige
a retainer of the Ryūzōji clan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century. Naoshige was the son of Nabeshima Kiyosada and was known as Nobumasa throughout half of his career under the Ryūzōji. Naoshige proved himself as being one of the greatest generals under Ryūzōji Takanobu...
and Kuroda Josui. Bravely leading an army of 32,000 against 40,000, Muneshige split his army into two factions and gave each of his officers at least 3,000 to fight with. Despite earning a few bouts of early success, supplies depleted quickly and casualties became high. Muneshige, though also wounded during the conflict, was able to spring a final surprise attack to save his men. By the end of the struggle, he lost several of his clansmen and had to be supported to his horse when he retreated to Yanagawa Castle. Though greatly fatigued, he was prepared to resist his home's invaders. Naoshige first led an offensive strike, but eventually Kiyomasa and Josui decided to persuade their foe to surrender. Muneshige relented after several attempts. He was stripped of his lands and became a rōnin
Ronin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
.
As a side note, Yoshihiro had returned to his home and, as a sign of gratitude, he sent troops to reinforce Yanagawa. Sadly, by the time they arrived, the Tachibana were already on their third day of surrender.
Edo Period
As a rōnin, Kiyomasa and Maeda Toshinaga regretted to see his talents go to waste and offered him service. He refused all offers but Kiyomasa continued to fight for Muneshige's recognition to Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
. In 1603, the shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
gave Muneshige 5,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
and allowed him to become a 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...
once more. By 1610, he received 35,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
and was formally introduced to Ieyasu.
Though it was hard to convince him to join the front, Ieyasu ordered Muneshige to assist the Siege of Osaka
Siege of Osaka
The was a series of battles undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan, and ending in that clan's destruction. Divided into two stages , and lasting from 1614 to 1615, the siege put an end to the last major armed opposition to the shogunate's establishment...
. He served under Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.-Early life :...
's troops and clashed with Mori Katsunaga
Mori Katsunaga
was an officer for the Toyotomi clan following the 16th-century Azuchi-Momoyama period through the early years of the 17th-century Edo period in Japan....
. He was awarded his old territory and 109,200 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
by the shogunate in 1620. With this, he was able to reestablish himself as a feudal lord. He became one of Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
's mentors, educating the future 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...
during his youth. Since Muneshige immersed himself in the arts and culture in Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
, he hardly had time to return to his original home. He was able to establish a go-between and worked with the local lords to maintain peace in his absence.
He showed his bravery and battle prowess a final time during the Shimabara Rebellion
Shimabara Rebellion
The was an uprising largely involving Japanese peasants, most of them Catholic Christians, in 1637–1638 during the Edo period.It was one of only a handful of instances of serious unrest during the relatively peaceful period of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule...
in 1637. After his service, he passed on clan leadership and properties to his adopted son, Tadashige. He died in his local residence in Edo during 1643. He had three wives but no children. He was 76 years old at the time of his death. Two graves were made for him. One stands in Nerima, Tokyo
Nerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
at Kōtoku-ji and the other is at Komaki, Aichi
Komaki, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi, Japan. It is commonly associated with the former Nagoya Airport, which is partly located in the city. The other part is in the city of Kasugai. As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 149,060 and the density of 2,370 persons per km²...
near Fukugon-ji.