Takahashi Shigetane
Encyclopedia
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 same initial time, who presently possessed Sorin
as their leader and head. Eventually, Shigetane became the respective controller of the Takahashi clan, in which he was additionally regarded as a great pillar of power to the Otomo name, being granted a castle by the name of Iwaya that bordered Chikuzen Province
in contribution to his authority and prestige. However, by the year of 1586, The powerful Shimazu
had recently conquered the Ryūzōji
at Okitanawate in 1584, and thus presently set their aim upon the destruction of the Otomo, who they possessed a long, intense rivalry towards for many consecutive years—an action that forced the Shigetane, who was presently unprepared, to strengthen his defenses.
However, the forces of Shimazu had arrived earlier than the Otomo had initially inticipated, and therefore Shigetane was desperately placed into a dilemma: on hand he only possessed no than 760 men, and as the opposition respectively wielded around 50,000 soldiers, no form of defense could be utterly possible, considering that such a mass of military might was additionally set on solely besieging his Iwaya, as opposed to splitting and assaulting from a different direction. And as the circumstances would naturally have it, Shigetane was overwhelmed relatively immediately, but Iwaya somehow managed to survive for over two weeks of time before initially seeing that the situation was far beyond any length of salvation, forcing Shigetane to commit suicide there and then, who was consequently praised by the Shimazu for his bravery and conviction, despite being in a situation that entirely contradicted any means of victory.
Right in the middle of The battle of Iwaya castle, a commanding officer of Shimazu demanded him to stop attack and said that "why do you serve unjust Otomo clan that make light of Buddhism and has faith in Christianity. your bravely has been proved please surrender. and he answered that a lot of men serve hard when their lords are powerful but few men try to protect their lords at the risk of their lives when their lords become weaker. Do you also abandon your lord when your lord become weaker. A samurai who are ungrateful is worse than animals." It was said that all men in the battlefield include Shimazu's soldiers admired him.
His son Muneshige
later was adopted to the Tachibana and succeeded Shigetane's daughter-in-law Tachibana Ginchiyo
as the head of the 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....
throughout the latter 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...
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
Bungo Province
was a province of Japan in eastern Kyūshū in the area of Ōita Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Buzen Province. Bungo bordered Buzen, Hyūga, Higo, Chikugo, and Chikuzen Provinces.-History:...
around this same initial time, who presently possessed Sorin
Otomo Sorin
, also known as Fujiwara no Yoshishige and Ōtomo Yoshishige , was a Japanese feudal lord of the Ōtomo clan, one of the few to have converted to Christianity. The eldest son of Ōtomo Yoshiaki, he inherited the domain of Funai, on Kyūshū, Japan's southernmost main island, from his father...
as their leader and head. Eventually, Shigetane became the respective controller of the Takahashi clan, in which he was additionally regarded as a great pillar of power to the Otomo name, being granted a castle by the name of Iwaya that bordered Chikuzen Province
Chikuzen 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....
in contribution to his authority and prestige. However, by the year of 1586, The powerful 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...
had recently conquered the Ryūzōji
Ryuzoji clan
The was a Japanese clan which claimed descent from Fujiwara Hidesato. It came to prominence in the Sengoku period, in the fighting in northern Kyūshū. Their descendants became retainers of the Matsudaira clan of Aizu, and remained there until the Meiji Restoration...
at Okitanawate in 1584, and thus presently set their aim upon the destruction of the Otomo, who they possessed a long, intense rivalry towards for many consecutive years—an action that forced the Shigetane, who was presently unprepared, to strengthen his defenses.
However, the forces of Shimazu had arrived earlier than the Otomo had initially inticipated, and therefore Shigetane was desperately placed into a dilemma: on hand he only possessed no than 760 men, and as the opposition respectively wielded around 50,000 soldiers, no form of defense could be utterly possible, considering that such a mass of military might was additionally set on solely besieging his Iwaya, as opposed to splitting and assaulting from a different direction. And as the circumstances would naturally have it, Shigetane was overwhelmed relatively immediately, but Iwaya somehow managed to survive for over two weeks of time before initially seeing that the situation was far beyond any length of salvation, forcing Shigetane to commit suicide there and then, who was consequently praised by the Shimazu for his bravery and conviction, despite being in a situation that entirely contradicted any means of victory.
Right in the middle of The battle of Iwaya castle, a commanding officer of Shimazu demanded him to stop attack and said that "why do you serve unjust Otomo clan that make light of Buddhism and has faith in Christianity. your bravely has been proved please surrender. and he answered that a lot of men serve hard when their lords are powerful but few men try to protect their lords at the risk of their lives when their lords become weaker. Do you also abandon your lord when your lord become weaker. A samurai who are ungrateful is worse than animals." It was said that all men in the battlefield include Shimazu's soldiers admired him.
His son Muneshige
Tachibana Muneshige
, known in his youth as Senkumaru and alternatively called Tachibana Munetora , was a samurai during the Azuchi–Momoyama period and a Edo Period daimyo. He was the eldest biological son of Takahashi Shigetane, a retainer of Ōtomo clan...
later was adopted to the Tachibana and succeeded Shigetane's daughter-in-law 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...
as the head of the clan.