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Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Shinjitai (modern Japanese) writing: 豊臣秀吉; Kyūjitai (historical) writing: 豐臣秀吉; born Hiyoshi-maru 日吉丸; coming of age (gempuku) as Kinoshita Tōkichirō 木下藤吉郎 and later made Hashiba and martial nobility in the style of Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi 羽柴筑前ノ神秀吉; 1536 - September 18, 1598), was a Sengoku daimyo who unified Japan. He succeeded his former liege, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. He was also known for his unsuccessful invasion of Korea in the Imjin Wars. He is noted for a number of cultural legacies, including the restriction that only members of the samurai class could bear arms.

The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, after Toyotomi's castle. It lasted from 1582 to his death in 1598, or (according to some scholars) until Tokugawa Ieyasu seized power after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.

Rise to power

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born in what is now Nakamura-ku, Nagoya in Owari province, the home of the Oda clan. He was born with no traceable samurai lineage and hence without a surname: his childhood given name was Hiyoshimaru, although variations exist. According to Maeda Toshiie and a European missionary named Luis Frois, he was polydactyl—he had two thumbs on his right hand, and he didn't amputate his extra thumb as other Japanese in his period would have done. As a youth, he first joined the Imagawa clan as a servant of local ruler Matsushita, under the name Kinoshita Tokichiro.

Later, he joined the Oda clan as a lowly servant. He was noticed for his resourcefulness and rose to a high position within a relatively short time. Despite his peasant origins, he quickly became one of Oda Nobunaga's most distinguished generals, eventually taking the name Hashiba (the name was made up of two characters, each taken from Oda's two other right-hand men, Niwa Nagahide and Shibata Katsuie) Hideyoshi.

Some of his well-known exploits under Oda Nobunaga, many of them exaggerated and romanticized, include the legendary overnight construction of Sunomata Castle, his encounters with Takenaka Shigeharu, and later the siege of Takamatsu Castle.

After the assassinations of Oda Nobunaga and his eldest son, Oda Nobutada at the hands of Akechi Mitsuhide in 1582, Hashiba defeated Akechi at the Battle of Yamazaki and established his de facto succession to Oda's military rule.

At the Kiyosu Meeting to decide on a de jure successor, Hashiba cast aside the apparent candidate, Oda Nobutaka and his advocate, Oda clan's chief general, Shibata Katsuie, by supporting Nobutada's young son, Oda Hidenobu. Having won the support of the other two Oda elders, Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Itsuoki, Hashiba established Hidenobu's position, as well as his own influence in the Oda clan. Tension quickly escalated between Shibata and Hashiba, and at the Battle of Shizugatake in the following year, Hashiba destroyed Shibata's forces and thus consolidated his own power, absorbing most of the Oda clan into his control.

However, Nobunaga's other son, Oda Nobukatsu remained hostile to Hashiba. He allied himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the two sides fought at the inconclusive Battle of Komaki-Nagakute. It ultimately resulted in a stalemate, although the Hashiba forces were delivered a heavy blow. Finally, Hashiba made peace with Nobukatsu, ending the pretext for war between the Tokugawa and Hashiba clans. Tokugawa eventually subjected himself to become a vassal to Hashiba.

Pinnacle of power

On the other hand, Hashiba wanted the title of shogun, because it was then considered the title of the active ruler of Japan. However, the emperor was unable to grant such a title to someone of Hideyoshi's lowly origins. Hashiba then wanted the last Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki to accept him as an adopted son, but was refused. Unable to become shogun, in 1585 he took the position of regent (kampaku), as the Fujiwara Regents had done, and it was around this time that he married Lady Yodo, the mother of his future son. In 1586, Hashiba was formally given the name Toyotomi by the imperial court. He built a lavish palace, the Jurakudai, in 1587 and entertained the reigning Emperor Go-Yozei the following year.

Afterwards, Toyotomi subjugated Kii Province and conquered Shikoku under the Chosokabe clan. He also took control of Etchu and conquered Kyushu. In 1587, Toyotomi banished Christian missionaries from Kyushu to exert greater control over the Kirishitan daimyo. In 1588, Toyotomi started a sword hunt and forbade ordinary peasants from owning weapons. This measure effectively stopped peasant revolts and ensured greater stability, at the expense of individual freedom. The 1590 Siege of Odawara against the Late Hojo clan in Kanto, the last resisting force to Toyotomi's authority, signified the end of the Sengoku period.

A year after that, Toyotomi resigned as kampaku to take the title of taiko (retired regent). His adopted son, Hidetsugu (actually his nephew) succeeded him as kampaku.

Before seizing control of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi employed a friendly diplomatic stance towards the Ming Dynasty and helped the Chinese government combat Japanese piracy (wakō) along the coasts of the Yellow Sea, South China Sea and Taiwan. With his control of the country secured, he launched the Imjin War to invade Korea, with the intention to invade the Chinese Ming Empire. On April 1592, his generals invaded Busan, a major Korean port. Within a month, the Japanese forces were able to reach Seoul. However, the Korean Army, bolstered by the Korean Irregular Army and aided by the salvage forces of the Ming dynasty of China headed by Li Rusong, launched a successful counteroffense. Nearly a third of Japan's army of 150,000 died in the winter of 1592 alone, but they were able to raze parts of Seoul in 1593. The Korean Navy, led by Admiral Yi Sunshin of Korea, crushed the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Sacheon (1592) and the Battle of Hansan and effectively cut off the Japanese supply route. The Japanese army was forced to withdraw from Korea on December, 1599.

After a few attempts at reaching a diplomatic consensus with Korea and the Ming, Toyotomi again attempted to invade Korea in 1596. This second offensive was termed the Jeongyu Jaeran by the Koreans and Battle of Keicho by the Japanese. This time, the Japanese encountered a well-prepared joint defence by the Koreans and Chinese. During the Battle of Myeongnyang Strait, Admiral Yi Sun Shin destroyed the 133-ship Japanese fleet with just 12 ships, effectively disabling the Japanese navy. On August, 1597, the Japanese army was defeated by a large Korean and Ming force and was forced to retreat south through Gyeongsang. Frustrated, Toyotomi ordered his generals to kill all who resisted Japanese troops - including women and children - and to cut off and pickle their noses, which Toyotomi collected by the tens of thousands in a large pile known today by the misnomer "Mound of Ears", located next to his mausoleum, the Hokoku-byo Mausoleum in the Hokoku Shrine in Kyoto. The invasions created a long legacy of Korean and Chinese bitterness against Japan.

In 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi died and the Japanese forces in Korea were effectively destroyed. After Hideyoshi's death, the Council of Five Regents immediately decided to withdraw the Japanese army. Admiral Yi Sun-shin pursued the retreating Japanese navy, and in the Battle of Noryang Point, more than 550 of 600 Japanese ships were sunk. This futile war only served to weaken the clans that were loyal to the Toyotomi name and clan. Following Toyotomi's death, the other members of the Council of Five Regents could not keep the ambitions of Tokugawa Ieyasu in check. Toyotomi's underaged son and designated successor Hideyori lost the claim to the power his father once held, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was declared Shogun following the Battle of Sekigahara.

Cultural legacy

It is important to note the many ways in which Toyotomi Hideyoshi changed Japanese society. During the Sengoku period, it became common for peasants to become warriors, or even for samurai to farm due to the constant uncertainty of no centralized government and always tentative peace. Upon taking control, Toyotomi decreed that all peasants be disarmed completely. This solidified the social class system for the next 300 years. Furthermore, he ordered all of Japan to be surveyed, including a census. Once this was done and all citizens were registered, he required all Japanese to stay in their respective provinces (or 'han') without official permission to go elsewhere. These steps were taken to ensure a modicum of peace in a period of time where bandits still roamed the countryside and peace was still new. But also by surveying the countryside, Japanese land and resources could be utilized properly. In 1588, Toyotomi effectively abolished slavery by stopping sales of slaves. Contract and indentured labor replaced slavery.

In 1590 Toyotomi completed construction of the huge Osaka Castle, the largest and most formidable in all Japan, to guard the western approaches to Kyoto. His contributions were not all military, however. Inspired by the dazzling Kinkaku (golden pavilion) temple in northwestern Kyoto, he constructed a fabulous portable tea room, known as kigame no zashiki ("golden chamber"), covered with gold leaf and lined inside with red gossamer. Using this mobile innovation, he was able to practice the Japanese tea ceremony wherever he went, powerfully projecting his unrivaled power and status upon his arrival.

Politically, he set up a governmental system that balanced out the most powerful Japanese warlords (or daimyo). A council was created to include the most influential lords. At the same time, a regent was designated to be in command. The combined polity functioned in some ways like a president with a parliament.

At the time of his death, Toyotomi had 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 regents was formed, consisting of the five most powerful daimyo. Following the death of Maeda Toshiie, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to secure alliances, including political marriages (which had been forbidden by Toyotomi). Things eventually came to a head and the pro-Toyotomi forces fought against Tokugawa and his allies in the battle of Sekigahara. Tokugawa won and received the title of Seii-tai Shogun two years later.

Tokugawa, asserting their wisdom, left in place the majority of Toyotomi's decrees to use as a base upon which his fledgling shogunate was built. This ensured that Toyotomi's cultural legacy remained.

Popular culture

Being the subject of much fiction and speculation, Toyotomi's life is also frequently used as a source of inspiration in fictional works, films, and video games.

Toyotomi's stereotypical, monkey-like appearance, for example, is used in Capcom's Onimusha, and he is portrayed in the popular video game as a sneaky and cunning character.

In January 2006, Capcom's released one of its popular console franchise ever: The Fourth Onimusha Saga: Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams , Hideyoshi was depicted as the new leader that alligned himself with the evil Genma (Demon) Clan , followed by the death of his predecessor- Oda Nobunaga (portrayed here as the Evil Genma Lord) in the end of previous saga: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Soki, (a.k.a. Yuki Hideyasu), one of the sons of Tokugawa Ieyasu & adoptive son of Hideyoshi, whom was chosen as the new generation warrior of the Oni-Clan, declared battle against Hideyoshi, after he uncovered the terrible truth of his adoptive father's identity & his insidious agenda...

In Koei's Samurai Warriors Xtreme Legends, Hashiba Hideyoshi is a powerful monkey-like character wielding a three-segment staff. The said game also featured his achievement on building Sunomata Castle, where he would dance around and sing :

"Behold the castle that is built in just one day.
What genius could have done this you say ?
It's Hideyoshi, Hideyoshi we praise.
Who built the castle in just one day ! Whee !
It's Hideyoshi, Hideyoshi we praise !
He built the castle in just one day !"

Due to the removal of the Siege of Inabayama stage in the second installment of the game, this event and song is no longer featured.

Toyotomi's life and struggles also inspired the popular video game series by Koei, Taikou Risshiden.

In Visco Games' arcade shoot-em-up Vasara 2, Toyotomi (as Hashiba Hideyoshi) is an enemy boss who guards the stage just before Oda Nobunaga's. He appears and attacks the heroes in a gigantic chimpanzee-like robot (named, fittingly, the "Golden Monkey") with extremely long arms.

As Messier Undertree, Toyotomi appears in Cantos LVI and LVIII of Ezra Pound's long poem The Cantos.

Also, in James Clavell's famous novel Shogun, though Toyotomi Hideyoshi isn't a character by name, the figure of the Taiko in this historical novel bears a remarkable resemblance to him while going by a different name.

Recently, Toyotomi Hideyoshi has been confirmed as a new character in Sengoku Basara 2. Seiyuu Ryotaro Okiayu is confirmed as his voice actor. Contrary to his usual short, monkey-ish appearance, Hideyoshi is depicted as a huge man with huge armor and fights with his bare hands, using it to grab his enemies and use them to bash his other opponents or throwing them wildly.

Cultural point of interest

Japanese grammar schools even today impart to children an intriguing story intended to offer an insight into the different characters of these three great historical contemporaries: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. First a brief background:

Nobunaga wanted to unify the many mini-kingdoms of Japan and become sole ruler. An aggressive and brilliant military tactician and commander, he was a very impetuous man and not surprisingly, rather callous and coarse even toward trusted subordinates. He came very close to attaining his goal of a unified nation, but in the end his recklessness and closely associated lack of any real understanding of the men serving him eventually led to his assassination. Hideyoshi, on the other hand, as well as being a fine military commander, had long held a reputation for being a brilliant manipulator as well - an excellent reader of people: the very skill in which his boss, Nobunaga, was most sorely lacking. Hideyoshi's subtle methods in the long run thus proved far more successful than Nobunaga's brash methods and he succeeded where Nobunaga had failed, unifying the many separate domains into one country and becoming the first military ruler of a unified land. Tokugawa meanwhile, had long coveted the same position, but did not have the power base or support equal to Nobunaga or Hideyoshi, and thus could not compete with either; he had to settle for demonstrating his skill in the art of being patient - but in his case, the "all good things come to him who waits" folk saying could not have been more true: in the end, Tokugawa came to power after Hideyoshi, and his clan proceeded to rule the country for the next 200 years. Under the Tokugawas, the Samurai caste was eventually put out of work since regulations were issued which greatly curbed the use and even carrying of swords (this as a means of reducing potential rebellion - which was not always successful).

The story told in Japanese grammar schools today regards these three famous men, and their individual approach to a problem, as being faced with a songbird (known as a "Hototogisu") which will not sing. When asked what he would do in this situation:

• Nobunaga replies: "Kill it."

• Hideyoshi replies: "Make it want to sing", while

• Tokugawa replies: "Wait."

A very simple, but effective demonstration of each man's most notable character trait.

Further reading

• Eiji Yoshikawa: Taiko (historical fiction). Kodansha International (Japan), 2001, ISBN 4770026099
• Mary Elizabeth Berry: Hideyoshi (historical work). Harvard Council on East Asian Studies (Boston), 1989, ISBN 0674390261

External links

• Hideyoshi Toyotomi (in Japanese)
• Hideyoshi (1996) TV-Series at IMDb
• SengokuDaimyo.com The website of Samurai Author and Historian Anthony J. Bryant
  • Anthony J. Bryant is the author of Sekigahara 1600: The Final Struggle for Power, Praeger Publishers;(September, 2005)
• The Toyokuni shrine at Find-A-Grave]

• 1536 births
• 1598 deaths
• Daimyo
• History of Korea
• Samurai
• Sessho and Kampaku