Japanese History Digest

Azuchi-Momoyama Period

Azuchi-Momoyama Period

The Azuchi-Momoyama period marks the end of the Sengoku period, when Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi successively promoted national unification and established a unified government. The name comes from Azuchi Castle in Omi, Nobunaga's residence, and Momoyama Castle and Fushimi Castle, built by Hideyoshi.

Regarding the beginning of this period, there are various theories, including 1568, when Nobunaga accompanied Ashikaga Yoshiaki to Kyoto (perhaps marking the start of the national unification effort), and 1573, when Yoshiaki was expelled from Kyoto and the Muromachi shogunate was destroyed (perhaps marking the end of the Muromachi shogunate). There are also various theories about the end of the period, including 1600, when Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Battle of Sekigahara (effectively marking the collapse of the Toyotomi government), and 1603, when Ieyasu was appointed Seii Taishogun and established the Edo shogunate (perhaps marking the establishment of a new government).

 

The Era of Oda Nobunaga

As the power of the Muromachi shogunate weakened, feudal lords and warlords from various regions began to expand their influence through their own efforts, and Japan entered the Sengoku period. One figure who rose to great power during this period was Oda Nobunaga, based in Owari.

In 1560, when Imagawa Yoshimoto of Suruga attempted to march to Kyoto with a large army, Nobunaga launched a surprise attack at Okehazama in Owari and defeated Yoshimoto. In 1567, he defeated the Saito clan of Mino, renamed Inabayama Castle Gifu Castle, and expanded his power under the slogan "Tenka Fubu" (Unifying the World with Military Forces). In 1570, he defeated the Azai and Asakura clans at the Battle of Anegawa, and in 1575, he used his musketeers to defeat Takeda Katsuyori at the Battle of Nagashino, establishing extensive control over the Hokuriku, Tokai, and Kinki regions.In 1568, he accompanied Ashikaga Yoshiaki to Kyoto, making him the 15th shogun. However, they later came into conflict, and in 1573 Nobunaga expelled Yoshiaki from Kyoto and overthrew the Muromachi shogunate.

Nobunaga also focused on economic development. He implemented free market transactions by implementing the Rakuichi (rakuza) system, and abolished checkpoints to stimulate distribution. He also promoted the introduction of firearms and trade with the West, expanded international exchange by allowing missionary activities, and sought to curb the influence of temples and shrines.

In 1582, while staying at Honnoji Temple in Kyoto, he was attacked by his vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide, and committed suicide (the Honnoji Incident).Though Nobunaga was unable to achieve national unification, he did lay the foundation for it.

 

The Era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Shortly before the Honnoji Incident, Hashiba Hideyoshi (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi), who was fighting the Mori clan in the Chugoku region, received urgent news and made peace with the Mori clan. He then turned his army and defeated Akechi Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki. He clashed with Shibata Katsuie of Echizen over Nobunaga's succession, and by defeating him at the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583, he seized control of the Hokuriku region and effectively assumed leadership in national unification.

Hideyoshi then continued Nobunaga's work and promoted national unification. In 1585, he subjugated Chosokabe Motochika of Shikoku, and in 1587, he subjugated the Shimazu clan of Kyushu. In 1590, he annihilated the Hojo clan of Kanto in the Siege of Odawara. Furthermore, he formally subjugated the Date clan and others through the Oshu Shioki, achieving nominal national unification.

Under the Toyotomi administration, the establishment of a system to support national unification was also underway. Hideyoshi conducted the Taiko Land Survey nationwide, clearly grasping the feudal lords' territories based on the kokudaka system. He also issued the Sword Hunt Order, which took weapons away from farmers, forcing them to focus on farming and clearly distinguishing between samurai and farmers. He also issued the Order for One Castle Lord per Province, thoroughly enforcing the principles of "one land, one ruler" and "separation of soldiers and farmers," laying the foundation for the feudal domain system of the Edo period.

 

Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Foreign Policy

In foreign relations, while Nobunaga tolerated Christianity to a certain extent in order to secure trade interests with the Western Barbarians and to contain Buddhist influence, Hideyoshi gradually became more wary. Upon learning that Christian daimyo Omura Sumitada had donated Nagasaki to a church during the subjugation of Kyushu, Hideyoshi issued the Missionary Expulsion Order in 1587, ordering missionaries to leave the country and restricting missionary activities within the country.

Meanwhile, Hideyoshi harbored ambitions for expansion into the continent, and through the So clan of Tsushima, he demanded that Korea pay tribute to the Ming and send envoys. When Korea refused, he sent a large army to the Korean Peninsula in 1592 (the Bunroku War). Japanese forces temporarily advanced from southern Korea to Hanseong and Pyongyang, but due to the valiant efforts of the Korean navy and Ming reinforcements, the war front reached a stalemate. Peace negotiations failed, and Hideyoshi again sent troops in 1597 (the Keicho War). When Hideyoshi died of illness in 1598, Japanese forces withdrew, bringing an end to the long-running Korean invasion.

While the war placed a heavy burden on the western daimyo and left them exhausted, Tokugawa Ieyasu and others, who did not take part in the invasion as a major force, were able to preserve their military and financial resources, creating the conditions for them to seize political leadership after the war.

 

The Fall of the Toyotomi Government

After Hideyoshi's death, his successor, Toyotomi Hideyori, was still young, and the government was left to the Five Elders and Five Commissioners. However, conflict deepened between the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari. In 1600, the two armies clashed at Sekigahara in Mino, resulting in the victory of the Eastern Army. Following the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu reduced and transferred the feudal lords who belonged to the Western Army, placing them under his own influence. In 1603, Ieyasu was appointed Shogun and established the shogunate in Edo, marking the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, a full-fledged military government.

Even after the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, the Toyotomi clan maintained its residence in Osaka Castle and maintained enormous economic and military power. Ieyasu viewed this presence as a threat, and used the inscriptions on the temple bell cast for the reconstruction of the Great Buddha Hall of Hokoji Temple ("Peace and Prosperity for the Nation" and "Happiness for the Ruler and His Subjects") as a political pretext to attack the Toyotomi clan. The Winter Siege of Osaka took place in 1614, and the Summer Siege of Osaka the following year in 1615, during which Osaka Castle fell, and Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo-dono committed suicide, marking the demise of the Toyotomi clan.

This marked an end to the nationwide wars between daimyo that had been occurring since the Sengoku period, and Japan transitioned to a long period of peace under the Edo Shogunate, namely the Edo period.

 

Timeline of Azuchi-Momoyama Period period

1560	Battle of Okehazama (Oda Nobunaga defeats Imagawa Yoshimoto)
1568	Oda Nobunaga brings Ashikaga Yoshiaki to Kyoto, where he becomes the 15th Shogun
1573	Oda Nobunaga expels Ashikaga Yoshiaki from Kyoto (the Muromachi Shogunate falls)
1575	Battle of Nagashino (the Oda–Tokugawa allied forces defeat Takeda Katsuyori)
1582	Honnoji Incident (Nobunaga commits suicide)
1584	Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (Toyotomi Hideyoshi confronts Tokugawa Ieyasu)
1590	Siege of Odawara (the Hojo clan falls, establishing control over the Kanto region)
1592	Bunroku Invasion (Hideyoshi invades Korea)
1597	Keicho Invasion (second invasion of Korea, lasting until 1598)
1598	Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies
1600	Battle of Sekigahara (Tokugawa Ieyasu wins, ending the East–West conflict)
1603	Tokugawa Ieyasu is appointed Shogun and establishes the Edo Shogunate
1614	Winter Siege of Osaka (Battle between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans)
1615	Summer Siege of Osaka (Destruction of the Toyotomi clan)

Facilities where you can learn about Azuchi-Momoyama Period

Highlights Around the Battle of Okehazama Area (Nagoya City Midori Ward Website)
http://www.city.nagoya.jp/midori/page/0000052400.html

The Battle of Nagashino (Shinshiro City Tourism Association Website)
http://shinshirokankou.com/history.html

Highlights Around the Battle of Okehazama Area (Nagoya City Midori Ward Website)
https://www.city.kiyosu.aichi.jp/shisetsu_annai/kanko_shisetsu_sonota/kiyosujo.html

Honnō-ji Temple
http://www.kyoto-honnouji.jp/

The Battle of Komaki and Nagakute | Komaki Castle (Nagoya Tourism Website)
http://nk.xtone.jp/archives/komakijo.html

The Battle of Komaki and Nagakute | Inuyama Castle (National Treasure Inuyama Castle Website)
http://inuyama-castle.jp/

Osaka Castle (Osaka Castle Main Keep Website)
http://www.osakacastle.net/

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