Oda Nobuhide

• Birth: 1510
• Death: 1551
• Other Name: Oda Kankûro
• Titles: Bingo no kami, Danjô no chu
• Japanese: 織田 信秀 (Oda Nobuhide)
• Sons: Nobuhiro, Nobunaga, Nobuyuki, Nobukane, Nobuharu, Hidetaka (d.1555), Nobutoki (Awa no kami; d.1556), Nobuoki, Nobuteru (Etchû no kami), Nobumasu

Nobuhide was born the eldest son of Oda Danjô no chu Nobusada, in Shobata castle in the Kaito District of Owari province. He was a powerful figure within Owari province, though not a daimyô in his own right. Rather, he was one of the 'elders' of the Kiyosu branch of the Oda clan. He had a reputation as a spirited leader and conducted numerous raids into Mikawa and Mino provinces. He clashed with the Matsudaira of Mikawa and fought a series of contests with the Imagawa of Suruga and Tôtômi, highlighted by his victory at the first Battle of Azukizaka in 1542. He fought with Saitô Dôsan of Mino in 1547-48 and concluded a peace treaty that saw his son Nobunaga married to Dôsan's daughter. His progress in Mikawa, on the other hand, was checked by the Imagawa, who defeated him at the second Battle of Azukizaka in the spring of 1548, although he was able to secure the Matsudaira's Anjo castle in 1549. He fell ill and died at Suemori castle on 8 April 1551 and his funeral was carried out at the Bansyôji. He is remembered as being brave, at times reckless, and intemperate.

Nobuhide is also known as an avid collector of karamono, including Chinese ceramics and paintings by Mu Qi and others.

He is buried at Ôbai-in, a sub-temple of Daitokuji in Kyoto.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005