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Revision as of 08:07, 6 January 2003 by 208.186.187.83 (talk) (Some revised grammar)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Toyotomi Hideoshi (豊臣 秀吉) (1536-1598), was a Japanese general who united Japan. He succeeded his former liege, Oda Nobunaga. Later he invaded Korea.
He was born at the place now called Nagoya.
Despite his poor peasant background, Toyotomi Hideyoshi quickly became one of Oda Nobunaga's most distinguished generals. After Oda's death in 1582, he succeeded him as military ruler and, aided by Ieyasu Tokugawa, had by 1590 ended the Sengoku period by reunifying Japan.
Hideyoshi wanted the title of shogun because it was then the title of the practical ruler of Japan. However, the emperor didn't like his poor lineage, and refused to give him the title. Then he wanted Muromachi shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki to accept him as an adopted son, and was refused. Unable to become shogun, in 1585 Hideyoshi took the position of regent or kampaku (関白) just as the Fujiwara had. In 1591, he resigned as kampaku and took the title of taiko (retired regent). His adopted son Hidetsugu (actually his nephew) succeeded him as kampaku.
After he grasped control of Japan, he showed an ambition to annex Korea to its territory. On April, 1592, his generals began to invade Korea, meeting a quick success. By May 1592, just one month later, the Japanese force had control of almost the entire country. However, aided by the Ming dynasty, Korean people soon rebelled. Resistance lead by Lee Syun Shin (in Japanese pronounciation) (季舜臣) forced the Japan army to retreat from Korea by December, 1592. That war is called bun-roku war "文禄の役" in Japan.
Unsatisfied, Hideyoshi made a unwise second attempt to invade Korea. In 1596, his force invaded but encountered a well-prepared defence, resulting in a stalemate. In 1598, the Japanese army withdrew and the war ended after the death of Hideyoshi. The war is called kei-cho war (慶長の役) in Japan.
Due to this furtile war, after his death, the government led by his son (Note: another son who who succeeded the regent) collapsed and was taken over by Ieyasu Tokugawa.
The period of his rule from 1582 to his death in 1598, or until Tokugawa Ieyasu seized power after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, is known as the Momoyama period, named after his castle.
External Links
- Timeline of the invasion of Korea (CAVEAT: in Japanese)
- Hideyoshi Toyotomi (CAVEAT: in Japanese)