Toyotomi Hideyoshi Biography

*anese samurai and daimyo (1537–1598)"Hideyoshi" redirects here. For the given name, see Hideyoshi (given name).In this *anese name, the surname is Toyotomi.Toyotomi clan mon (*anese emblem)

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉, 17 March 1537 – 18 September 1598), otherwise known as Kino*a Tōkichirō (木下 藤吉郎) and Hashiba Hideyoshi (羽柴 秀吉), was a *anese samurai and daimyō (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of *an. Although he came from a peasant background, his immense power earned him the rank and *le of Kampaku (関白, Imperial Regent) and Daijō-daijin (太政大臣, Chancellor of the Realm), the highest official position and *le in the nobility cl*. He was the first person in history to become a Kampaku who was not born a noble. He then p*ed the position and *le of Kampaku to his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu. He remained in power as Taikō (太閤), the *le of retired Kampaku, until his death. It is believed, but not certain, that the reason he refused or could not obtain the *le of shogun (征夷大将軍), the leader of the warrior cl*, was because he was of peasant origin.

Hideyoshi rose from a peasant background as a retainer of the prominent lord Oda Nobunaga to become one of the most powerful men in *anese history. Hideyoshi succeeded Nobunaga after the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582 and continued Nobunaga's campaign to unite *an that led to the closing of the Sengoku period. Hideyoshi became the de facto leader of *an and acquired the prestigious positions of daijō-daijin and kampaku by the mid-1580s. Hideyoshi launched the *anese invasions of Korea in 1592 to initial success, but eventual military stalemate damaged his prestige before his death in 1598. Hideyoshi's young son and successor Toyotomi Hideyori was displaced by Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 which would lead to the founding of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Hideyoshi's rule covers most of the Azuchi–Momoyama period of *an, partially named after his castle, Momoyama Castle. Hideyoshi left an influential and lasting legacy in *an, including Osaka Castle, the Tokugawa cl* system, the restriction on the possession of weapons to the samurai, and the construction and restoration of many temples, some of which are still visible in Kyoto.

Early life (1537–1558)

Nakamura Park in Nagoya, traditionally regarded as Hideyoshi's birthplace

Very little is known for certain about Toyotomi Hideyoshi before 1570, when he begins to appear in surviving do*ents and letters. His autobiography starts in 1577, but in it, Hideyoshi spoke very little about his past.

According to tradition, Hideyoshi was born on 16 February 1537 according to the lunar *anese calendar (17 March 1537 according to the Julian calendar; 27 March 1537 (Proleptic Gregorian calendar)) in Nakamura, Owari Province (present-day Nakamura Ward, Nagoya), in the middle of the chaotic Sengoku period under the collapsed Ashikaga Shogunate. Hideyoshi had no traceable samurai lineage, and his father Kino*a Yaemon was an ashigaru – a peasant employed by the samurai as a foot soldier. Hideyoshi had no surname, and his childhood given name was Hiyoshi-maru (日吉丸) ("Bounty of the Sun") although variations exist. Yaemon died in 1543 when Hideyoshi was seven years old.

Many legends describe Hideyoshi being sent to study at a temple as a young man, but he rejected temple life and went in search of adventure. Under the name Kino*a Tōkichirō (木下 藤吉郎), he first joined the Imagawa clan as a servant to a local ruler named Matsu*a Yukitsuna (松下之綱). Hideyoshi traveled all the way to the lands of Imagawa Yoshimoto, the daimyo based in Suruga Province, and served there for a time, only to abscond with a sum of money entrusted to him by Matsu*a Yukitsuna.

Service under Nobunaga (1558–1582)

Main articles: Battle of Okehazama, Siege of Inabayama, Siege of Kanegasaki (1570), and Battle of Anegawa

In 1558, Hideyoshi became an ashigaru for the powerful Oda clan, the rulers of his home province of Owari, now headed by the ambitious Oda Nobunaga.Hideyoshi soon became Nobunaga's sandal-bearer, a position of relatively high status. According to his biographers, Hideyoshi also supervised the repair of Kiyosu Castle, a claim described as "apocryphal", and managed the kitchen. After Nobunaga noticed his talents, when Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, he became one of Nobunaga's trusted retainers.

In 1561, Hideyoshi married One, the adopted daughter of Asano Nagakatsu, a descendant of Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Hideyoshi carried out repairs on Sunomata Castle with his younger half-brother, Hashiba Koichirō, along with Hachisuka Masakatsu, and Maeno Nagayasu. Hideyoshi's efforts were well-received because Sunomata was in enemy territory, and according to legend Hideyoshi constructed a fort in Sunomata overnight and discovered a secret route into Mount Inaba, after which much of the local garrison surrendered.

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon No. 6, by Yo*oshi: "Mount Inaba Moon" 1885, 12th month. The young Toyotomi Hideyoshi (then named Kino*a Tōkichirō) leads a small group *aulting the castle on Mount Inaba.

In 1564, Hideyoshi was very successful as a negotiator. He managed to convince, mostly with liberal bribes, a number of Mino warlords to desert the Saitō clan. Hideyoshi approached many Saitō clan samurai and convinced them to submit to Nobunaga, including the Saitō clan's strategist, Takenaka Shigeharu.

Nobunaga's easy victory at the siege of Inabayama Castle in 1567 was largely due to Hideyoshi's efforts, and despite his peasant origins, in 1568 Hideyoshi became one of Nobunaga's most distinguished generals, eventually taking the name Hashiba Hideyoshi (羽柴 秀吉). The new surname included two characters, one each from Oda's right-hand men, Niwa Nagahide (丹羽 長秀), Shibata Katsuie (柴田 勝家) and the new given name included characters from Akechi Mitsuhide (明智 光秀), Mori Yoshinari (森 吉成).

In 1570, Hideyoshi protected Nobunaga's retreat from Azai-Asakura forces at Kanegasaki. Hideyoshi's rear-guard defense of his lord's escape is one of his fabled accomplishments under Nobunaga. Later in June 1570, at the Battle of Anegawa, in which Oda Nobunaga allied with Tokugawa Ieyasu to lay siege to two fortresses of the Azai and Asakura clans, Hideyoshi was *igned to lead Oda troops into open battle for the first time.

In 1573, after victorious campaigns against the Azai and Asakura, Nobunaga appointed Hideyoshi daimyō of three districts in the northern part of Ōmi Province. Initially, Hideyoshi based at the former Azai headquarters at Odani Castle but moved to Kunitomo town and renamed it "Nagahama" in tribute to Nobunaga. Hideyoshi later moved to the port at Imahama on Lake Biwa, where he began work on Imahama Castle and took control of the nearby Kunitomo firearms factory that had been established some years previously by the Azai and Asakura. Under Hideyoshi's administration, the factory's output of firearms increased dramatically. Later, Hideyoshi participated in the 1573 siege of Nagashima.

In 1574, Hideyoshi along with Araki Murashige, captured Itami Castle and later in 1575, fought in the Battle of Nagashino against the Takeda clan.

In 1576, he took part at the Siege of Mitsuji, part of the eleven-year Ishiyama Hongan-ji War. Later, Nobunaga sent Hideyoshi to Himeji Castle to conquer the Chūgoku region from the Mori clan. Hideyoshi then fought in the Battle of Tedorigawa (1577), the siege of Miki (1578), the siege of Tottori (1581) and also Siege of Takamatsu (1582).

Death of Nobunaga

Main articles: Honnō-ji incident and Battle of Yamazaki

During the Siege of Takamatsu, on June 21, 1582, Oda Nobunaga and his eldest son and heir, Nobutada, were killed in the Honnō-ji incident by the forces of the traitorous Akechi Mitsuhide. Their **ination in Honnō-ji temple in Kyoto ended Nobunaga's quest to consolidate centralised power in *an under his authority.

Hideyoshi, seeking vengeance for the death of his lord, made peace with the Mōri clan and thirteen days later met Mitsuhide and defeated him at the Battle of Yamazaki, avenging his lord (Nobunaga) and taking Nobunaga's authority and power for himself.: 275–279 

Rise to power (1582–1585)

*an around 1582

Construction of Osaka Castle

See also: Osaka Castle

In 1582, Hideyoshi began construction of Osaka Castle. Built on the site of the temple Ishiyama Hongan-ji, which was destroyed by Nobunaga, in 1597, construction was completed and the castle would become the last stronghold of the Toyotomi clan after Hideyoshi's death.

Conflict with Katsuie

Main article: Battle of ShizugatakeOne Hundred Aspects of the Moon No. 67, by Yo*oshi: The Moon and Hideyoshi at the Battle of Shizugatake.

In late 1582, Hideyoshi was in a very strong position. He summoned the powerful daimyō to Kiyosu Castle so that they could determine Nobunaga's heir. Oda Nobukatsu and Oda Nobutaka quarreled, causing Hideyoshi to instead choose Nobunaga's grandson Samboshi, whose other name was Hidenobu. Katsuie initially supported the choice of Samboshi, Nobunaga's grandson. but he later supported Oda Nobutaka, Nobunaga's third son, for whom Katsuie had performed the genpuku ritual. He then allied with Oda Nobutaka and Takigawa Kazumasu against Hideyoshi who was allied with Oda Nobukatsu. Having won the support of the other two Oda clan elders, Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Tsuneoki, Hideyoshi established Hidenobu's position, as well as his own influence in the Oda clan. He distributed Nobunaga's provinces among the generals and formed a council of four generals to help him govern. Tension quickly escalated between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie, and at the Battle of Shizugatake in the following year, Hideyoshi destroyed Katsuie's forces. Hideyoshi had thus consolidated his own power, dealt with most of the Oda clan, and controlled 30 provinces.: 313–314  The famous kiri*an daimyo and samurai Dom Justo Takayama fought on his side at this epic battle.

Conflict with Ieyasu

Main article: Battle of Komaki and Nagakute

In 1584, Nobunaga's other son, Oda Nobukatsu, remained hostile to Hideyoshi. Nobukatsu allied himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the two sides fought at the inconclusive Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. It ultimately resulted in a stalemate, although Hideyoshi's forces were delivered a heavy blow. Ieyasu and Hideyoshi never actually fought against each other themselves but the former managed to check the advance of the latter's allies. Finally, after Hideyoshi and Ieyasu heard the news of Ikeda Tsuneoki and Mori Nagayoshi's deaths, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu withdrew their troops. Later, Hideyoshi made peace with Nobukatsu and Ieyasu, ending the pretext for war between the Tokugawa and Hashiba clans. Hideyoshi sent Tokugawa Ieyasu his younger sister Asahi no kata and mother Ōmandokoro as hostages.

Toyotomi clan and Imperial Court appointment

Main article: Toyotomi clan

Like Oda Nobunaga before him, Hideyoshi never achieved the *le of shōgun. Instead, he arranged to have himself adopted by Konoe Sakihisa, one of the noblest men belonging to the Fujiwara clan and secured a succession of high court *les Chancellor (Daijō-daijin), including, in 1585, the prestigious position of Imperial Regent (kampaku). Also in 1585, Hideyoshi was formally given the new clan name Toyotomi (instead of Fujiwara) by the Imperial Court. He built a lavish palace, the Jurakudai, in 1587, and entertained the reigning Emperor, Emperor Go-Yōzei, the following year.

Battle standards of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Unification of *an (1585–1592)

Hideyoshi promulgated a ban on Christianity in form of the "Bateren-tsuiho-rei" (the Purge Directive Order to the Jesuits) on July 24, 1587.Letter from Duarte de Meneses, Viceroy of Portuguese India, to Hideyoshi dated April 1588, concerning the suppression of Christians, a National Treasure of *an

Negoro-ji Campaign

Main articles: Siege of Negoro-ji and Siege of Ōta Castle

Afterwards in 1585, Hideyoshi launched the siege of Negoro-ji and subjugated Kii Province. The Negoro-gumi, the warrior monks of Negoro-ji, were quite skilled in the use of firearms, and were devout followers of Shingi, a branch of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. They were allied with the Ikkō-ikki, and with Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of Toyotomi's chief rivals. In particular, they attracted Hideyoshi's ire for their support of Tokugawa in the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute the previous year. After attacking a number of other warrior monk outposts in the area, Hideyoshi's force turned to the monastery of Negoro-ji, attacking it from two sides. By this time, many of the Negoro-gumi had already fled to Ōta Castle. Later, Hideyoshi besieged Ōta Castle. The complex was set aflame, beginning with the residences of the priests, and Hideyoshi's samurai cut down monks as they escaped the blazing buildings.

Shikoku Campaign

Main article: Invasion of Shikoku

In the 1585 invasion of Shikoku, Toyotomi forces seized and conquered Shikoku island, the smallest of *an's four main islands, from Chōsokabe Motochika. Toyotomi's forces arrived 113,000 strong under Toyotomi Hidenaga, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Ukita Hideie and the Mōri clan's "Two Rivers", Kobayakawa Takakage and Kikkawa Motoharu. Opposing them were 40,000 men of Chōsokabe's. Despite the overwhelming size of Hideyoshi's army, and the suggestions of his advisors, Motochika chose to fight to defend his territories. The battles culminated in the siege of Ichinomiya Castle, which lasted for 26 days. Chōsokabe made a half-hearted attempt to relieve his castle from the siege, but surrendered in the end. He was allowed to keep Tosa Province, while the rest of Shikoku was divided among Hideyoshi's generals.

Toyama Campaign

Main article: Siege of Toyama

During the late summer of August 1585, Hideyoshi launched an attack on Etchū Province and Hida Province. Toyotomi Hideyoshi dispatched Kanamori Nagachika to destroy the Anegakōji clan of Hida and he carried out the siege of Toyama Castle. The Toyama Castle garrison was led by S*a Narimasa, one of his former allies many years back. Hideyoshi led his army of around 100,000 soldiers against the 20,000 men of the S*a Narimasa forces; in the end, Narimasa's defense was shattered, opening the way for Toyotomi's supremacy over Etchū Province and Hida Province.

Kyushu Campaign

Main article: Kyūshū Campaign

In 1586 Toyotomi Hideyoshi conquered Kyūshū, wresting control from the Shimazu clan. Toyotomi Hidenaga, half-brother to Hideyoshi, landed to the south of Bungo on Kyūshū's eastern coast. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more western route, in Chikuzen Province. Later that year, with a total of 200,000 soldiers against the 30,000 men of the Shimazu forces, the two brothers would meet up in the Shimazu home province of Satsuma. They besieged Kagoshima castle, the Shimazu clan's home. The Shimazu surrendered, leaving Hideyoshi to return his attention to the Hōjō clan of Kantō, the last major clan to oppose him.

Later in 1587, Hideyoshi banished Christian missionaries from Kyūshū, to exert greater control over the Kiri*an daimyō. However, since he did much trade with Europeans, individual Christians were overlooked unofficially.

Sword Hunt

Main article: Sword hunt

In 1588, Hideyoshi forbade ordinary peasants from owning weapons and started a sword hunt to confiscate arms. The swords were melted down to create a statue of the Buddha. This measure effectively stopped peasant revolts, and ensured greater stability at the expense of freedom of the individual daimyō.

Odawara Campaign

Main article: Siege of Odawara (1590)

In 1590, Hideyoshi carried out the Odawara Campaign against the Hōjō clan in the Kantō region. It is notable as the first battle that involved the alliance between Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. With 220,000 men, the m*ive army of Toyotomi Hideyoshi surrounded Odawara Castle and its 82,000-strong Hōjō garrison, in what has been called "the most unconventional siege lines in samurai history". The samurai were entertained by everything from concubines, pros*utes, and musicians to acrobats, fire-eaters, and jugglers. The defenders slept on the ramparts with their arquebuses and armor; despite their smaller numbers, they discouraged Hideyoshi from attacking. After three months the Hōjō surrendered, losing the will to fight after the sudden appearance of Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle.

This eliminated the last resistance to Hideyoshi's authority. His victory signified the end of the Sengoku period. During the siege, Hideyoshi offered Ieyasu the eight Hōjō-ruled provinces in the Kantō region, in exchange for the submission of Ieyasu's five provinces. Ieyasu accepted this proposal.

Death of Sen no Rikyū

Main article: Sen no Rikyū

In February 1591, Hideyoshi ordered Sen no Rikyū to commit suicide, likely in one of his angry outbursts. Rikyū had been a trusted retainer and master of the tea ceremony under both Hideyoshi and Nobunaga. Under Hideyoshi's patronage, Rikyū made significant changes to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony that had a lasting influence over many aspects of *anese culture. Even after Rikyū's death, Hideyoshi is said to have built his many construction projects based upon aesthetics promoted by Rikyū, perhaps suggesting that he regretted his actions.

Following Rikyū's death, Hideyoshi turned his attention from tea ceremony to Noh, which he had been studying since becoming Imperial Regent. During his brief stay in Nagoya Castle in what is today Saga Prefecture, on Kyūshū, Hideyoshi memorised the *e (lead role) parts of ten Noh plays, which he then performed, forcing various daimyō to accompany him onstage as the waki (secondary, accompanying role). He even performed before the emperor.

Kunohe Rebellion

Main article: Kunohe rebellion

The Kunohe rebellion was an insurrection in the Sengoku period of *an, that occurred in Mutsu Province from 13 March to 4 September 1591.

Kunohe Masazane, a claimant to daimyo of the Nanbu clan, launched a rebellion against his rival Nanbu Nobunao which spread across Mutsu Province. Nobunao was backed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who along with Tokugawa Ieyasu sent a large army into the Tōhoku region in mid-1591 which quickly defeated the rebels. Hideyoshi's army arrived at Kunohe Castle in early September. Masazane was outnumbered and surrendered Kunohe Castle but he and the castle defenders were executed. The Kunohe rebellion was the final battle in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns during the Sengoku period and completed the unification of *an.

Taikō (1592–1598)

Replica of Great Buddha of Kyoto. The Great Buddha of Kyoto was built by Hideyoshi to show off his power.

The future stability of the Toyotomi dynasty after Hideyoshi's eventual death was put in doubt with the death of his son Tsurumatsu in September 1591. The three-year-old was his only child. When his half-brother Hidenaga died shortly after, Hideyoshi named his nephew Hidetsugu his heir, adopting him in January 1592. Hideyoshi resigned as kampaku to take the *le of taikō (retired regent). Hidetsugu succeeded him as kampaku.

Replica of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's armor

With Hideyoshi's health beginning to falter, but still yearning for some accomplishment to solidify his legacy, he adopted Oda Nobunaga's dream of a *anese conquest of China and launched the conquest of the Ming dynasty by way of Korea (at the time known as Koryu or Joseon).

Hideyoshi had been communicating with the Koreans since 1587 requesting unmolested p*age into China. As an ally of Ming China, the Joseon government of the time at first refused talks entirely, and in April and July 1591 also refused demands that *anese troops be allowed to march through Korea. The government of Joseon was concerned that allowing *anese troops to march through Korea (Joseon) would mean that m*es of Ming Chinese troops would battle Hideyoshi's troops on Korean soil before they could reach China, putting Korean security at risk. In August 1591, Hideyoshi ordered preparations for an invasion of Korea to begin.

First campaign against Korea

Main article: *anese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)

In the first campaign, Hideyoshi appointed Ukita Hideie as field marshal, and had him go to the Korean peninsula in April 1592. Konishi Yukinaga occupied Seoul, which was the capital of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, on June 19. After Seoul fell easily, *anese commanders held a war council in June in Seoul and determined targets of subjugation called Hachidokuniwari (literally, dividing the country into eight routes). Each targeted province was attacked by one of the army's eight divisions:

• Pyeongan by the First Division led by Konishi Yukinaga.
• Hamgyong by the Second Division led by Katō Kiyomasa.
• Hwanghae by the Third Division led by Kuroda Nagamasa.
• Gangwon by the Fourth Division led by Mōri Katsunaga.
• Chungcheong by the Fifth Division led by *ushima Masanori.
• Jeolla by the Sixth Division led by Kobayakawa Takakage.
• Gyeongsang by the Seventh Division led by Mōri Terumoto.
• Gyeonggi by the Eighth Division led by Ukita Hideie.

In only four months, Hideyoshi's forces had a route into Manchuria and occupied much of Korea. The Korean king Seonjo of Joseon escaped to Uiju and requested military intervention from China. In 1593, the Wanli Emperor of Ming China sent an army under general Li Rusong to block the planned *anese invasion of China and recapture the Korean peninsula. The Ming army of 43,000 soldiers headed by general Li Ru-song proceeded to attack Pyongyang. On January 7, 1593, the Ming relief forces under Li recaptured Pyongyang and surrounded Seoul, but Kobayakawa Takakage, Ukita Hideie, Tachibana Muneshige and Kikkawa Hiroie won the Battle of Byeokjegwan north of Seoul, in modern day Goyang City. At the end of the first campaign, *an's entire navy was destroyed by Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Korea whose base was located in a part of Korea the *anese could not control. This, in effect, put an end to *an's dream of conquering China as the Koreans simply destroyed *an's ability to resupply their troops who were bogged down in Seoul.

Succession dispute

Toyotomi Hideyori

The birth of Hideyoshi's second son in 1593, Hideyori, created a potential succession problem. To avoid it, Hideyoshi exiled his nephew and heir Hidetsugu to Mount Kōya and then ordered him to commit suicide in August 1595. Hidetsugu's family members who did not follow his example were then murdered in Kyoto, including 31 women and several children.

Twenty-six martyrs of *an

In January 1597, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had twenty-six Christians arrested as an example to *anese who wanted to convert to Christianity. They are known as the Twenty-six Martyrs of *an. They included five European Franciscan missionaries, one Mexican Franciscan missionary, three *anese Jesuits and seventeen *anese laymen including three young boys. They were tortured, mutilated, and paraded through towns across *an. On February 5, they were executed in Nagasaki by public crucifixion.

The 26 Christian martyrs of Nagasaki, 18–19th century, Choir of La Recoleta, Cuzco

Second campaign against Korea

Main article: *anese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)

After several years of negotiations (broken off because envoys of both sides falsely reported to their masters that the opposition had surrendered), Hideyoshi appointed Kobayakawa Hideaki to lead a renewed invasion of Korea, but their efforts on the peninsula met with less success than the first invasion. *anese troops remained pinned down in Gyeongsang Province. In June 1598, the *anese forces turned back several Chinese offensives in Suncheon and Sacheon, but they were unable to make further progress as the Ming army prepared for a final *ault. While Hideyoshi's battle at Sacheon led by Shimazu Yoshihiro was a major *anese victory, all three parties to the war were exhausted. He told his commander in Korea, "Don't let my soldiers become spirits in a foreign land.".

Death

Houkokubyo (Mausoleum of Toyotomi Hideyoshi) Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Toyotomi Hideyoshi died at Fushimi Castle on September 18, 1598 (Keichō 3, 18th day of the 8th month). His last words, delivered to his closest daimyō and generals, were "I depend upon you for everything. I have no other thoughts to leave behind. It is sad to part from you." His death was kept secret by the Council of Five Elders to preserve morale, and they ordered the *anese forces in Korea to withdraw back to *an. Because of his failure to capture Korea, Hideyoshi's forces were unable to invade China.

After his death, the other members of the Council of Five Elders were unable to keep the ambitions of Tokugawa Ieyasu in check. Two of Hideyoshi's top generals, Katō Kiyomasa and *ushima Masanori, had fought bravely during the war but returned to find the Toyotomi clan castellan Ishida Mitsunari in power. He held the generals in contempt, and they sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hideyoshi's underage son and designated successor Hideyori lost the power his father once held. Ieyasu's power was consolidated when the Eastern Army led by Ieyasu defeated the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was appointed as a shogun in 1603 and established the Tokugawa shogunate, attacked Osaka Castle twice in 1614 and 1615 (Siege of Osaka), forcing Yodo-dono, Hideyoshi's concubine, and Hideyori, Hideyoshi's heir, to commit suicide and destroying the Toyotomi clan.

It is now believed that Hideyoshi's loss of all his adult heirs, leaving only the five-year-old Hideyori as his successor, was the primary reason for the weakening of the Toyotomi regime and its eventual downfall.Hideyoshi's younger brother, Toyotomi Hidenaga, who had supported Hideyoshi's rise to power as a leader and strategist, had already died of illness in 1591, and his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, who was Hideyoshi's only adult successor, was forced to commit seppuku in 1595 along with many other v*als on Hideyoshi's orders for suspected rebellion.

Family

• Father: Kino*a Yaemon (d. 1543)
  • Adopted father: Konoe Sakihisa (1536–1612)
• Mother: Ōmandokoro (1513–1592)
  • Siblings:
    • Toyotomi Hidenaga (1540–1591)
    • Tomo (1534–1625), married Soeda Jinbae
    • Asahi no kata (1543–1590), married first Soeda Oshinari then Tokugawa Ieyasu

Wives and concubines

Hideyoshi sitting with his wives and concubines

• Wife Nene (between 1541 and 1549–1624), or One, later Kōdai-in
• Minami-dono, daughter of Yamana Toyokuni
• Yodo-dono (1569–1615), or Chacha, later Daikōin, daughter of Azai Nagamasa
• Minami no Tsubone, daughter of Yamana Toyokuni
• Kyōgoku Tatsuko, daughter of Kyōgoku Takayoshi
• Kaga-dono or Maahime, daughter of Maeda Toshiie
• Kaihime, daughter of Narita Ujinaga
• Sonnomaru-dono, adopted daughter of Gamō Ujisato, daughter of Oda Nobunaga
• Kusu no Tsubone, later Hokoin, daughter of Azai Nagamasa
• Sanjo-dono or Tora, daughter of Gamō Katahide
• Himeji-dono, daughter of Oda Nobukane
• Hirozawa no Tsubone, daughter of Kunimitsu Kyosho
• Ōshima or Shimako, later Gekkein, daughter of Ashikaga Yorizumi
• Anrunkin or Otane no Kata
• O*u, later Enyu-in, daughter of Miura Noto no Kami and mother of Ukita Hideie

Children

Hashiba Hidekatsu (Ishimatsumaru)

• Hashiba Hidekatsu (Ishimatsumaru) (1570–1576) by Minami-dono
• daughter (name unknown) by Minami-dono

Tsurumatsu

• Toyotomi Tsurumatsu (1589–1591) by Yodo-dono
• Toyotomi Hideyori (1593–1615) by Yodo-dono

Adopted sons

• Hashiba Hidekatsu (Tsugaru) (1567–1586), fourth son of Oda Nobunaga
• Oda Nobutaka, later Toyotomi Takahiro (1576–1602), seventh son of Oda Nobunaga
• Oda Nobuyoshi, later Toyotomi Musashi (1573–1615), eighth son of Oda Nobunaga
• Oda Nobuyoshi (d. 1609), tenth son of Oda Nobunaga
• Ukita Hideie (1572–1655), son of Ukita Naoie
• Toyotomi Hidetsugu (1568–1595), first son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi
• Toyotomi Hidekatsu (1569–1592), second son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi
• Toyotomi Hideyasu (1579–1595), third son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi
• Yūki Hideyasu (1574–1607), Tokugawa Ieyasu's second son
• Ikeda Nagayoshi, third son of Ikeda Nobuteru
• Kobayakawa Hideaki (1577–1602), Hideyoshi's nephew from his wife Nene's family
• Prince Hachijō Toshihito (1579–1629), sixth son of Prince Masahito

Adopted daughters

• Gohime (1574–1634), daughter of Maeda Toshiie, married to Ukita Hideie
• O-hime (1585–1591), daughter of Oda Nobukatsu, married to Tokugawa Hidetada
• Oeyo (1573–1626), daughter of Azai Nagamasa, married to Saji Kazunari, Toyotomi Hidekatsu, Tokugawa Hidetada
• Konoe Sakiko (1575–1630), daughter of Konoe Sakihisa, married to Emperor Go-Yōzei
• Chikurin-in (1579/80–1649), daughter of Ōtani Yo*sugu. She was also known as Akihime and Riyohime. She was married to Sanada Yukimura. They had two sons, Sanada Daisuke and Sanada Daihachi, and some daughters
• Toyotomi Sadako (1592–1658), daughter of Toyotomi Hidekatsu with Oeyo, later became the adopted daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada and married to Kujō Yukiie
• Daizen-in, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga, married to Mōri Hidemoto
• Kikuhime, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga, married to Toyotomi Hideyasu
• Maeda Kikuhime (1578–1584), daughter of Maeda Toshiie

Grandchildren

• Toyotomi Kunimatsu (1608–1615)
• Tenshuni (天秀尼) (1609–1645)

Cultural legacy

A replicated Osaka Castle has been created on the site of Hideyoshi's great donjon. The iconic castle has become a symbol of Osaka's re-emergence as a great city after its devastation in World War II.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi changed *anese society in many ways. These include the imposition of a rigid cl* structure, restrictions on travel, and surveys of land and production.

Cl* reforms affected commoners and warriors. During the Sengoku period, it had become common for peasants to become warriors, or for samurai to farm due to the constant uncertainty caused by the lack of centralised government and always tentative peace. Upon taking control, Hideyoshi decreed that all peasants be disarmed completely. Conversely, he required samurai to leave the land and take up residence in the castle towns. This solidified the social cl* system for the next 300 years.

Furthermore, he ordered comprehensive surveys and a complete census of *an. Once this was done and all citizens were registered, he required all *anese to stay in their respective han (fiefs) unless they obtained official permission to go elsewhere. This ensured order in a period when bandits still roamed the countryside and peace was still new. The land surveys formed the basis for systematic taxation.

In 1590, Hideyoshi completed construction of the Osaka Castle, the largest and most formidable in all *an, to guard the western approaches to Kyoto. In that same year, Hideyoshi banned "unfree labour" or slavery in *an, but forms of contract and indentured labour persisted alongside the period penal codes' forced labour.

Hideyoshi also influenced the material culture of *an. He lavished time and money on the *anese tea ceremony, collecting implements, sponsoring lavish social events, and patronizing acclaimed masters. As interest in the tea ceremony rose among the ruling cl*, so too did the demand for fine ceramic implements, and during the course of the Korean campaigns, not only were large quan*ies of prized ceramic ware confiscated but many Korean artisans were forcibly relocated to *an. Hideyoshi also had a long relationship with tea master Sen no Rikyū, which eventually soured leading to Hideyoshi ordering Sen no Rikyū to commit suicide. The exact reason is disputed.

Inspired by the dazzling Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, he had the Golden Tea Room constructed, which was covered with gold leaf and lined inside with red gossamer. Using this mobile innovation, he was able to practice the tea ceremony wherever he went, powerfully projecting his unrivalled power and status upon his arrival.

Politically, he set up a governmental system that balanced out the most powerful *anese warlords (or daimyō). A council was created to include the most influential lords. At the same time, a regent was designated to be in command.

Just before his death, Hideyoshi hoped to set up a system stable enough to survive until his son grew old enough to become the next leader. A Council of Five Elders (五大老, go-tairō) was formed, consisting of the five most powerful daimyō. Following the death of Maeda Toshiie, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to secure alliances, including political marriages (which had been forbidden by Hideyoshi). Eventually, the pro-Toyotomi forces fought against the Tokugawa in the Battle of Sekigahara. Ieyasu won and received the *le of Seii-Tai Shōgun two years later.

Hideyoshi is commemorated at several Toyokuni Shrines scattered over *an.

Ieyasu left in place the majority of Hideyoshi's decrees and built his shogunate upon them. This ensured that Hideyoshi's cultural legacy remained. In a letter to his wife, Hideyoshi wrote:

I mean to do glorious deeds and I am ready for a long siege, with provisions and gold and silver in plenty, so as to return in triumph and leave a great name behind me. I desire you to understand this and to tell it to everybody.

The area of Taikō in Nagoya is named after him. The main street is Taikō-dōri, which is served by the subway Taiko-dori Station.

Names

Because of his low birth with no family name, to the eventual achievement of Imperial Regent, the highest *le of imperial nobility, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had quite a few names throughout his life. At birth, he was given the name Hiyoshi-Maru (日吉丸). At genpuku, he took the name Kino*a Tōkichirō (木下 藤吉郎). Later, he was given the surname Hashiba and the honorary court office Chikuzen no Kami; as a result, he was styled Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi (羽柴筑前守秀吉). His surname remained Hashiba even as he was granted the new Uji or sei (氏 or 姓, clan name) Toyotomi by the Emperor.

The Toyotomi Uji was simultaneously granted to a number of Hideyoshi's chosen allies, who adopted the new Uji "豐臣朝臣/豊臣朝臣" (Toyotomi no ason, courtier of Toyotomi).

His full name was Hashiba Tōkichirō Toyotomi No Ason Hideyoshi (羽柴藤吉郎豐臣朝臣秀吉) in formal do*ents.

The Catholic sources of the time referred to him as Cuambacondono (from kampaku and the honorific -dono) and "emperor Taicosama" (from taikō, a retired kampaku (see Sesshō and Kampaku), and the honorific -sama).

Toyotomi Hideyoshi had been given the nickname Kozaru, meaning "little monkey", from his lord Oda Nobunaga, because his facial features and skinny form resembled those of a monkey.

In popular culture

See also: People of the Sengoku period in popular culture §:Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Movies

In the 1949 Mexican hagiographic film Philip of Jesus, Luis Aceves Castañeda plays a character corresponding to Hideyoshi but named "Emperor Iroyoshi Taikosama".

In the 2009 *anese historical fantasy film Goemon, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (played by Eiji Okuda) features as the principal antagonist to the film's protagonist, Ishikawa Goemon. This is based on the tradition that Goemon was executed for his failed attempt to **inate Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1594, but the film otherwise bears little resemblance to either historical events or the received tradition. In the film, Goemon murders Hideyoshi's stand-in, avoids his execution by boiling (being replaced by an *ociate), succeeds in murdering Hideyoshi on a later occasion, and survives to intervene in the Battle of Sekigahara. Goemon is portrayed as the faithful retainer and avenger of Oda Nobunaga, unhistorically depicted as the victim of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. All of this is counter to historical facts; tradition credits Goemon with serving Nobunaga's enemies the Miyoshi clan and his murderer, Akechi Mitsuhide, as well as with failed murder attempts on both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Anime

In the Netflix anime series Great Pretender (2020), Hideyoshi is referenced many times by Laurent Thierry, one of the central protagonists of the series.

Do*entary

In the Netflix do*entary series Age of Samurai: Battle for *an (2021), Hideyoshi is portrayed by Masami Kosaka. The show depicts his life and rise to power.

Television

Actor Naoto Takenaka portrays Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 1996 NHK drama Hideyoshi, which shows his life from his time under Oda Nobunaga to his rise as a leader himself who helped to unify *an. It earned an average TV rating of 30.5% running from January 7 - December 22, 1996. Additionally, actor Yukijirō Hotaru plays The Taikō (Nakamura Hidetoshi), a character based on Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in the 2024 miniseries Shōgun.

Honours

• Senior First Rank (August 18, 1915; posthumous)

See also

• People of the Sengoku period in popular culture#Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Itsukushima's Senjokaku Hall
• Dom Justo Takayama
• hr:Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Notes

References

• Berry, Mary Elizabeth. (1982). Hideyoshi. Cambridge: Harvard UP, ISBN:978-0674390256; OCLC:8195691
• Haboush, JaHyun Kim. (2016) The Great East Asian War and the Birth of the Korean Nation (2016) excerpt
• Jansen, Marius B. (2000). The Making of Modern *an. Cambridge: Harvard UP. ISBN:978-0674003347; OCLC:44090600
• Joly, H. L., Legend in *anese Art, London, 1908.
• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). *an encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN:978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC:58053128
• Thornton, S. A., The *anese Period Film: A Critical *ysis, Jefferson, NC, 2008.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

• Hideyoshi (1996) TV-Series at IMDb
• The Christian Century in *an, by Charles Boxer

Muromachi period

• Ichijō Tsunetsugu
• Nijō Morotsugu
• Konoe Tadatsugu
• Nijō Mitsumoto
• Kujō Mitsuie
• Nijō Mochimoto
• Konoe Fusatsugu
• Ichijō Kaneyoshi
• Takatsukasa Fusahira
• Nijō Mochimichi
• Ichijō Norifusa
• Nijō Masatsugu
• Kujō Masamoto
• Konoe Masaie
• Takatsukasa Masahira
• Kujō Masatada
• Ichijō Fuyuyoshi
• Konoe Hisamichi

Sengoku period

• Nijō Hisamoto
• Ichijō Fuyuyoshi
• Kujō Hisatsune
• Konoe Hisamichi
• Takatsukasa Kanesuke
• Nijō Korefusa
• Konoe Taneie
• Kujō Tanemichi
• Takatsukasa Tadafuyu
• Ichijō Fusamichi
• Nijō Haruyoshi
• Ichijō Kanefuyu
• Konoe Sakihisa

Azuchi–Momoyama period

• Nijō Haruyoshi
• Kujō Kanetaka
• Ichijō Uchimoto
• Nijō Akizane
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Toyotomi Hidetsugu

Edo period

• Kujō Kanetaka
• Konoe Nobutada
• Takatsukasa Nobufusa
• Kujō Yukiie
• Takatsukasa Nobuhisa
• Nijō Akizane
• Kujō Yukiie
• Konoe Nobuhiro
• Ichijō Akiyoshi
• Konoe Hisatsugu
• Nijō Mitsuhira
• Takatsukasa Fusasuke
• Ichijō Kaneteru
• Konoe Motohiro
• Takatsukasa Kanehiro
• Konoe Iehiro
• Kujō Sukezane
• Nijō Tsunahira
• Konoe Iehisa
• Nijō Yo*ada
• Ichijō Kaneka
• Ichijō Michika
• Konoe Uchisaki
• Kujō Naozane
• Takatsukasa Sukehira
• Ichijō Teruyoshi
• Takatsukasa Masahiro
• Ichijō Tadayoshi
• Takatsukasa Masamichi
• Kujō Hisatada
• Konoe Tadahiro
• Takatsukasa Sukehiro
• Nijō Nariyuki

Muromachi period

• Tokudaiji Sanetoki
• Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
• Koga Tomomichi
• Sanjō Sanefuyu
• Tokudaiji Kintoshi
• Nijō Mochimoto
• Ichijō Kaneyoshi
• Koga Kiyomichi
• Saionji Kinna
• Nijō Mochimichi
• Konoe Fusatsugu
• Koga Michihiro
• Takatsukasa Masahira
• Konoe Masaie

Sengoku period

• Ichijō Fuyuyoshi
• Tokudaiji Saneatsu
• Konoe Hisamichi
• Kazan'in Masanaga
• Sanjō Saneka
• Konoe Taneie
• Takatsukasa Tadafuyu?
• Ichijō Fusamichi?
• Nijō Haruyoshi?

Azuchi–Momoyama period

• Nijō Haruyoshi?
• Oda Nobunaga?
• Konoe Sakihisa
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Edo period

• Tokugawa Ieyasu1
• Tokugawa Hidetada1
• Konoe Motohiro
• Konoe Iehiro
• Konoe Iehisa
• Ichijō Kaneka
• Konoe Uchisaki
• Kujō Naozane
• Tokugawa Ienari1
• Takatsukasa Masamichi

Meiji period

• Sanjō Sanetomi

1: official court *les for samurai (buke-kan'i).