Changes

* ''Died: [[1615]]''

* ''Died: [[1615]]''

* ''Title: U-Konoe''

* ''Title: U-Konoe''

Takayama Ukon was born the son of [[Takayama Tomoteru]] (also known as Zusho; [[1531]]-[[1596]]), a retainer of [[Matsunaga Hisahide]] who held [[Sawa Castle]] in northwest [[Yamato province]].

Takayama Ukon was born the son of [[Takayama Tomoteru]] (also known as Zusho; [[1531]]-[[1596]]), a retainer of [[Matsunaga Hisahide]] who held [[Sawa Castle]] in northwest [[Yamato province]].

Nobunaga rewarded Ukon for his decision, especially after the latter was able to convince Nakagawa to open Ibaragi’s gates to the Oda. Both Ukon and Nakagwa kept their castles and Takayama set about converting the population in his fief. Many temples were reportedly torn down or converted to churches, an activity that could have hardly drawn less concern from Nobunaga, the destroyer of the Enryakuji.  

Nobunaga rewarded Ukon for his decision, especially after the latter was able to convince Nakagawa to open Ibaragi’s gates to the Oda. Both Ukon and Nakagwa kept their castles and Takayama set about converting the population in his fief. Many temples were reportedly torn down or converted to churches, an activity that could have hardly drawn less concern from Nobunaga, the destroyer of the Enryakuji.  

In June [[1582]] Nobunaga was killed by [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] in Kyoto. [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] hastily marched back from the western provinces on a campaign of vengeance, and in [[Settsu Province|Settsu]] was joined by the Takayama and Nakagawa. In the ensuing [[Battle of Yamazaki]], both men commanded troops in Hideyoshi’s vanguard and helped defeat Akechi Mitsuhide’s army<ref>It may be of some interest to note that later, during Nobunaga's funeral, Takayama refused to light incense at his mortuary alter or say traditional Buddhist prayers (due to Christian beliefs). This does not appear to have sat so well with Hideyoshi, and may have gone some way towards fostering disquiet between the two men.</ref>.

In June [[1582]] Nobunaga was killed by [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] in Kyoto. [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] hastily marched back from the western provinces on a campaign of vengeance, and in [[Settsu province|Settsu]] was joined by the Takayama and Nakagawa. In the ensuing [[Battle of Yamazaki]], both men commanded troops in Hideyoshi’s vanguard and helped defeat Akechi Mitsuhide’s army<ref>It may be of some interest to note that later, during Nobunaga's funeral, Takayama refused to light incense at his mortuary alter or say traditional Buddhist prayers (due to Christian beliefs). This does not appear to have sat so well with Hideyoshi, and may have gone some way towards fostering disquiet between the two men.</ref>.

After Hideyoshi’s triumph at Yamazaki, conflict broke out between the late Nobunaga’s senior retainers over the matter of succession. The tensions culminated in open warfare between faction led by Hideyoshi and [[Shibata Katsuie]]. In late 1582 Hideyoshi dispatched Takayama and Nakagawa to northern [[Omi Province|Omi]] and tasked them with holding two critical forts placed to block any movement from the Shibata down from Echizen. Takayama was given Iwasakiyama and, some miles to the south, Nakagawa was installed in Shizugatake. In early [[1583]] Katsuie dispatched an army under [[Sakuma Morimasa]] to capture these frontier forts, and in the course of the campaign Takayama was forced to abandon Iwasakiyama and take up in nearby Tagami

After Hideyoshi’s triumph at Yamazaki, conflict broke out between the late Nobunaga’s senior retainers over the matter of succession. The tensions culminated in open warfare between faction led by Hideyoshi and [[Shibata Katsuie]]. In late 1582 Hideyoshi dispatched Takayama and Nakagawa to northern [[Omi province|Omi]] and tasked them with holding two critical forts placed to block any movement from the Shibata down from Echizen. Takayama was given Iwasakiyama and, some miles to the south, Nakagawa was installed in Shizugatake. In early [[1583]] Katsuie dispatched an army under [[Sakuma Morimasa]] to capture these frontier forts, and in the course of the campaign Takayama was forced to abandon Iwasakiyama and take up in nearby Tagami

<ref>Takayama is traditionally accused of cowardice during this action in arguably biased Japanese histories, an accusation difficult to substantiate one way or the other. It seems that had Takayama been guilty of blatant cowardice, Hideyoshi might have taken serious issue with him (as he would later with Otomo Yoshimune and others who broke before the enemy). In fact, Takayama's defeat further drew Sakuma Morimasa's neck out, much to Hideyoshi's benefit-a fact which, on the same token, may have spared Takayama a certain amount of disgrace. Tagami, incidentally, was held by Hashiba Hidenaga, Hideyoshi's half brother.</ref>. Sakuma went on to besiege Shizugatake and killed Nakagawa, although he was unable to take the castle itself and in the end was defeated by Hideyoshi in battle.  

<ref>Takayama is traditionally accused of cowardice during this action in arguably biased Japanese histories, an accusation difficult to substantiate one way or the other. It seems that had Takayama been guilty of blatant cowardice, Hideyoshi might have taken serious issue with him (as he would later with Otomo Yoshimune and others who broke before the enemy). In fact, Takayama's defeat further drew Sakuma Morimasa's neck out, much to Hideyoshi's benefit-a fact which, on the same token, may have spared Takayama a certain amount of disgrace. Tagami, incidentally, was held by Hashiba Hidenaga, Hideyoshi's half brother.</ref>. Sakuma went on to besiege Shizugatake and killed Nakagawa, although he was unable to take the castle itself and in the end was defeated by Hideyoshi in battle.  

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Shikoku ([[1584]]) and in [[1585]] was transferred to Akashi (Harima province, 60,000 koku). Once there, Ukon, as he had at Takatsuki, set about converting the population, an activity that enraged the local Buddhist monks but drew no immediate attention from Hideyoshi<ref>It remains a point of debate as to whether or not Takayama engaged in forced conversions at either Takatsuki or Akashi-if not both locations.</ref>.

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Shikoku ([[1584]]) and in [[1585]] was transferred to Akashi (Harima province, 60,000 koku). Once there, Ukon, as he had at Takatsuki, set about converting the population, an activity that enraged the local Buddhist monks but drew no immediate attention from Hideyoshi<ref>It remains a point of debate as to whether or not Takayama engaged in forced conversions at either Takatsuki or Akashi-if not both locations.</ref>.

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Kyushu in [[1587]], but this campaign proved to be Takayama’s last. Hideyoshi had finished breaking the power of the armed monks (an effort Takayama had assisted him with in 1585-86) in the Yamato region; now the de facto ruler of Japan turned on Christianity. Takayama was known to be a dyed-in-the-wool Christian, and was therefore considered untrustworthy. Even before the Kyushu campaign had been wrapped up, Ukon was deprived of his fief and forced to find shelter under Konishi Yukinaga, a much more powerful Christian lord who was awarded a substantial fief in [[Hyuga Province|Hyuga]]. Ukon ended up wandering all the way to the [[Hokuriku Province|Hokuriku]], where he sought service with the Maeda family in [[Kaga province]]. In [[1588]] [[Maeda Toshiie]] accepted him as a retainer, an interesting turnaround in Ukon’s career poorly explored by western historians. Over the next decade, Hideyoshi gradually stepped up a program of persecution against Christianity in Japan that was only temporarily halted by the Taiko’s death in 1598. The short respite was ended by a Tokugawa edict in [[1614]] that finally banned Christianity in its entirety, and ordered the expulsion of all missionaries and those samurai who refused to recant their faith.

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Kyushu in [[1587]], but this campaign proved to be Takayama’s last. Hideyoshi had finished breaking the power of the armed monks (an effort Takayama had assisted him with in 1585-86) in the Yamato region; now the de facto ruler of Japan turned on Christianity. Takayama was known to be a dyed-in-the-wool Christian, and was therefore considered untrustworthy. Even before the Kyushu campaign had been wrapped up, Ukon was deprived of his fief and forced to find shelter under Konishi Yukinaga, a much more powerful Christian lord who was awarded a substantial fief in [[Hyuga province|Hyuga]]. Ukon ended up wandering all the way to the [[Hokuriku province|Hokuriku]], where he sought service with the Maeda family in [[Kaga province]]. In [[1588]] [[Maeda Toshiie]] accepted him as a retainer, an interesting turnaround in Ukon’s career poorly explored by western historians. Over the next decade, Hideyoshi gradually stepped up a program of persecution against Christianity in Japan that was only temporarily halted by the Taiko’s death in 1598. The short respite was ended by a Tokugawa edict in [[1614]] that finally banned Christianity in its entirety, and ordered the expulsion of all missionaries and those samurai who refused to recant their faith.

Though [[Maeda Toshitsune]] feared Ukon would fight rather than leave the country, Takayama peacefully complied and on 8 November 1614 departed for Manila. He arrived later that month and was greeted warmly by the Jesuits there, but died of illness just 40 days afterwards.

Though [[Maeda Toshitsune]] feared Ukon would fight rather than leave the country, Takayama peacefully complied and on 8 November 1614 departed for Manila. He arrived later that month and was greeted warmly by the Jesuits there, but died of illness just 40 days afterwards.

Takayama Ukon was a rather controversial figure, considered by the Jesuits as a pillar of the Christian faith in Japan and by some Japanese (contemporary and modern) as a symbol of the duplicity and heavy-handedness of Christianity in the Sengoku era. At the time of Ukon’s transfer to Akashi some 18,000 of Takatsuki’s population (of 25,000) were said to have been Christian, an achievement much lauded by the Jesuits and scorned by many Japanese as proof of forced conversion. Additionally, Ukon’s betrayal of both [[Wada Korenaga]] and Araki Murashige were looked down upon, to say nothing of his questionable conduct at [[Battle of Shizugatake|Shizugatake]]. Conversely, Takayama fought gallantly at [[Battle of Yamazaki|Yamazaki]] and was a noted tea man, practicing that art with Sen no Rikyu as Minami no Bo. He was also supposed to have converted [[Kuroda Kanbei]] to Christianity and been respected by as many of his contemporaries as not, as his admittance into the service of the Maeda would seem to indicate. Takayama Ukon Shigetomo, whether considered a conniver or saint, provides an interesting case study of the rise and fall of a Sengoku warrior.  

Takayama Ukon was a rather controversial figure, considered by the Jesuits as a pillar of the Christian faith in Japan and by some Japanese (contemporary and modern) as a symbol of the duplicity and heavy-handedness of Christianity in the Sengoku era. At the time of Ukon’s transfer to Akashi some 18,000 of Takatsuki’s population (of 25,000) were said to have been Christian, an achievement much lauded by the Jesuits and scorned by many Japanese as proof of forced conversion. Additionally, Ukon’s betrayal of both [[Wada Korenaga]] and Araki Murashige were looked down upon, to say nothing of his questionable conduct at [[Battle of Shizugatake|Shizugatake]]. Conversely, Takayama fought gallantly at [[Battle of Yamazaki|Yamazaki]] and was a noted tea man, practicing that art with Sen no Rikyu as Minami no Bo. He was also supposed to have converted [[Kuroda Kanbei]] to Christianity and been respected by as many of his contemporaries as not, as his admittance into the service of the Maeda would seem to indicate. Takayama Ukon Shigetomo, whether considered a conniver or saint, provides an interesting case study of the rise and fall of a Sengoku warrior.  

==Notes on the Text==

==Notes on the Text==

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[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Christians]]

[[Category:Christians]]

[[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Sengoku Period]]