Changes

* ''Other Names: Nagao Kagetora, Nagao Masatora, Uesugi Masatora, Uesugi Terutora''

* ''Other Names: Nagao Kagetora, Nagao Masatora, Uesugi Masatora, Uesugi Terutora''

* ''Title: Danjô no Shôhitsu''

* ''Title: Danjô no Shôhitsu''

==The Dragon of Echigo==  

==The Dragon of Echigo==  

[[Image:Uesugi_kenshin.jpg|thumb|right|Uesugi Kenshin]]

[[Image:Uesugi_kenshin.jpg|thumb|right|Uesugi Kenshin]]

Uesugi Kenshin was born in February [[1530]] at Kasugayama in [[Echigo province]], the 4th son of [[Nagao Tamekage]], a powerful warlord who was first an enemy and then a nominal vassal of the Yamaouchi-Uesugi. A leader of some note, Tamekage had in his youth defeated [[Uesugi Sadanori]] in [[1509]] at the [[Battle of Ichiburi]]. He had then been besieged at Nishihama ([[Etchu province]]) by [[Uesugi Funayoshi]] and emerged victorious, killing Funayoshi in the process. In later years, Tamekage found himself confronted both with rebellious kokujin within Echigo and the growing power of the Ikko-Ikki in the Hokuriku. In 1530-[[1531|31]] a power struggle took place within the so-called ‘Peasant’s province’ of [[Kaga Province|Kaga]] that saw the nominal [[Shugo]] family, the Togashi, expelled once and for all and the Honganji assume the dominant political position. From this point on the Ikko became more aggressive in their relations with neighboring daimyo, and those who opposed the Honganji were liable to suffer internal difficulties in the form of riots or even armed attacks. This was nowhere more the case then in Echigo, prompting Nagao Tamekage in [[1536]] to raise an army and march westward, possibly in the hopes of reaching Kaga. A fierce battle took place at [[Battle of Sendanno|Sendanno]] in Etchu that left Tamekage dead and his army defeated.<ref>The victorious enemy commander was a certain [[Enami Kazuyori]].</ref> It was one of the Kaga Ikko’s greatest triumphs and disastrous to the stability of Echigo. Leadership of the Nagao fell to Tamekage’s eldest son, Harukage, whose cause was forwarded by a number of important Nagao retainers. A power struggle ensued, in the course of which another of Tamekage’s sons, Kageyasu, was killed. The youngest son was spirited away to the Rizen-ji, where he studied from the age of 7 to 14.  

Uesugi Kenshin was born in February [[1530]] at Kasugayama in [[Echigo province]], the 4th son of [[Nagao Tamekage]], a powerful warlord who was first an enemy and then a nominal vassal of the Yamaouchi-Uesugi. A leader of some note, Tamekage had in his youth defeated [[Uesugi Sadanori]] in [[1509]] at the [[Battle of Ichiburi]]. He had then been besieged at Nishihama ([[Etchu province]]) by [[Uesugi Funayoshi]] and emerged victorious, killing Funayoshi in the process. In later years, Tamekage found himself confronted both with rebellious kokujin within Echigo and the growing power of the Ikko-Ikki in the [[Hokuriku]]. In 1530-[[1531|31]] a power struggle took place within the so-called ‘Peasant’s province’ of [[Kaga province|Kaga]] that saw the nominal [[Shugo]] family, the Togashi, expelled once and for all and the Honganji assume the dominant political position. From this point on the Ikko became more aggressive in their relations with neighboring daimyo, and those who opposed the Honganji were liable to suffer internal difficulties in the form of riots or even armed attacks. This was nowhere more the case then in Echigo, prompting Nagao Tamekage in [[1536]] to raise an army and march westward, possibly in the hopes of reaching Kaga. A fierce battle took place at [[Battle of Sendanno|Sendanno]] in Etchu that left Tamekage dead and his army defeated.<ref>The victorious enemy commander was a certain [[Enami Kazuyori]].</ref> It was one of the Kaga Ikko’s greatest triumphs and disastrous to the stability of Echigo. Leadership of the Nagao fell to Tamekage’s eldest son, Harukage, whose cause was forwarded by a number of important Nagao retainers. A power struggle ensued, in the course of which another of Tamekage’s sons, Kageyasu, was killed. The youngest son was spirited away to the Rizen-ji, where he studied from the age of 7 to 14.  

When the boy reached 14, he was approached by [[Usami Sadamitsu]]<ref>Also known as Usami Sadayuki and sometimes as Usa Sadayuki.</ref> and others, who urged him to make a claim for leadership of the Nagao family. Evidently, Harukage was an unpopular figure who had failed to garner the loyalty of the province’s various and powerful kokujin families. Internal strife soon threatened to tear the province apart.

When the boy reached 14, he was approached by [[Usami Sadamitsu]]<ref>Also known as Usami Sadayuki and sometimes as Usa Sadayuki.</ref> and others, who urged him to make a claim for leadership of the Nagao family. Evidently, Harukage was an unpopular figure who had failed to garner the loyalty of the province’s various and powerful kokujin families. Internal strife soon threatened to tear the province apart.

Also in 1559, Uesugi Norimasa again urged Kenshin to campaign against the Hojo, a call for action that was seconded by [[Satomi Yoshitaka]]. Kenshin was able to oblige the following year with the capture of [[Numata castle]] in Kozuke. In [[1561]] Kenshin pushed further into the Hojo domain with the capture of Musashi-Matsuyama. He followed this up with a push on [[Odawara castle]] itself in [[Sagami province]]. Kenshin was able to break through the Hojo's defenses and burn Odawara Town but was unable to make any impression on the castle. For want of supplies he had to break camp within a few days and return to the north. But in the course of this campaign he had taken Kamakura and marked the occasion by a visit to the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, where he announced the adoption of both the name 'Uesugi' and the title of Kanto Kanrei.  

Also in 1559, Uesugi Norimasa again urged Kenshin to campaign against the Hojo, a call for action that was seconded by [[Satomi Yoshitaka]]. Kenshin was able to oblige the following year with the capture of [[Numata castle]] in Kozuke. In [[1561]] Kenshin pushed further into the Hojo domain with the capture of Musashi-Matsuyama. He followed this up with a push on [[Odawara castle]] itself in [[Sagami province]]. Kenshin was able to break through the Hojo's defenses and burn Odawara Town but was unable to make any impression on the castle. For want of supplies he had to break camp within a few days and return to the north. But in the course of this campaign he had taken Kamakura and marked the occasion by a visit to the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, where he announced the adoption of both the name 'Uesugi' and the title of Kanto Kanrei.  

For some time Kenshin had involved himself in the goings-on in neighboring [[Etchu province]], where the Jinbo and Shiina clans had been feuding since around [[1550]]. Kenshin had at first acted as a mediator between the two but in [[1560]] he entered the fight on the side of the Shiina and took [[Toyama pastle]] from the Jinbo in 3rd month of 1560. Later, Kenshin would turn on the Shiina when it seemed as if they were becoming too friendly with the Takeda; the Shiina's [[Matsukura castle]] was taken in [[1575]] and Kenshin at that point became the effective ruler of Etchu Province. The Jinbo and Shiina were both reduced to vassal houses.

For some time Kenshin had involved himself in the goings-on in neighboring [[Etchu province]], where the Jinbo and Shiina clans had been feuding since around [[1550]]. Kenshin had at first acted as a mediator between the two but in [[1560]] he entered the fight on the side of the Shiina and took [[Toyama castle]] from the Jinbo in 3rd month of 1560. Later, Kenshin would turn on the Shiina when it seemed as if they were becoming too friendly with the Takeda; the Shiina's [[Matsukura castle]] was taken in [[1575]] and Kenshin at that point became the effective ruler of Etchu Province. The Jinbo and Shiina were both reduced to vassal houses.

==The Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima ==

==The Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima ==

[[Image:Kenshin_4th_kawanakajima.jpg|thumb|left|Uesugi Kenshin at Fourth Kawanakajima]]

[[Image:Kenshin_4th_kawanakajima.jpg|thumb|left|Uesugi Kenshin at Fourth Kawanakajima]]

After returning from the [[Siege of Odawara|Siege of Odawara castle]], Kenshin, the newly-minted Kanto Kanrei, immediately began planning another campaign, this one aimed at Shinano Province. Takeda Shingen’s northernmost fort was Kaizu, presently garrisoned by [[Kosaka Masanobu]] and a token force of cavalry. Kenshin set out with some 13,00 men under his command, intending apparently to provoke a major battle with Shingen. Here one must pause to consider that our only real source for the course of the following campaign is the Koyo Gunkan, a rambling and at times disjointed record of the Takeda family under Shingen. This was composed by Takeda partisans (Kosaka Masanobu himself is sometimes given as the composer but the actual author appears to have been [[Obata Kagenori]], [[1570]]-[[1644]]) and its accuracy is often dubious. But that having been said, the battle the Koyo Gunkan describes is the one imprinted in the minds of generations of Japanese.  

After returning from the [[Siege of Odawara|Siege of Odawara castle]], Kenshin, the newly-minted Kanto Kanrei, immediately began planning another campaign, this one aimed at Shinano Province. Takeda Shingen’s northernmost fort was Kaizu, presently garrisoned by [[Kosaka Masanobu]] and a token force of cavalry. Kenshin set out with some 13,000 men under his command, intending apparently to provoke a major battle with Shingen. Here one must pause to consider that our only real source for the course of the following campaign is the [[Koyo Gunkan]], a rambling and at times disjointed record of the Takeda family under Shingen. This was composed by Takeda partisans (Kosaka Masanobu himself is sometimes given as the composer but the actual author appears to have been [[Obata Kagenori]], [[1570]]-[[1644]]) and its accuracy is often dubious. But that having been said, the battle the Koyo Gunkan describes is the one imprinted in the minds of generations of Japanese.  

Kenshin might easily have captured Kaizu; instead, he sat down to wait. Kosaka sent off a smoke signal that triggered a chain reaction all the way south to [[Kai province]]. When word reached Shingen of Kenshin’s intrusion, he mustered an army of perhaps 20,000 men and force-marched north. He arrived to find the Uesugi army camped on the top of Saijoyama, a height somewhat west of Kaizu (there is actually a number of Saijoyamas in the Kawanakajima area, prompting some to question whether or not even the traditional setting for these opening moves is accurate). Shingen camped at the Amenomiya Ford for a period of about a week before making his way to Kaizu. Kenshin had made no movement as yet and continued to remain inactive, apparently determined to let Shingen make the first move. The Takeda decided after another week of idleness that a battle would have to be forced, as it was unlikely that Kenshin would leave Kaizu alone if Shingen withdrew without bloodying him.

Kenshin might easily have captured Kaizu; instead, he sat down to wait. Kosaka sent off a smoke signal that triggered a chain reaction all the way south to [[Kai province]]. When word reached Shingen of Kenshin’s intrusion, he mustered an army of perhaps 20,000 men and force-marched north. He arrived to find the Uesugi army camped on the top of Saijoyama, a height somewhat west of Kaizu (there is actually a number of Saijoyamas in the Kawanakajima area, prompting some to question whether or not even the traditional setting for these opening moves is accurate). Shingen camped at the Amenomiya Ford for a period of about a week before making his way to Kaizu. Kenshin had made no movement as yet and continued to remain inactive, apparently determined to let Shingen make the first move. The Takeda decided after another week of idleness that a battle would have to be forced, as it was unlikely that Kenshin would leave Kaizu alone if Shingen withdrew without bloodying him.

Kenshin and Shingen would face each other again, at Kawanakajima ([[1564]]) and in a number of stand-offs in Kozuke as the latter moved to scarf up castles there in the early 1560’s. Yet the enemy who most absorbed Kenshin’s attention for the rest of his life was the Hojo clan. Kenshin evidently took his Kanto-Kanrei title seriously, and resolved to restore the Kanto to the Uesugi. In almost every year of the 1560’s (starting, as mentioned, almost immediately after the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima]]), he raided the Hojo’s lands and fought for various castles in [[Kozuke province|Kozuke]], [[Musashi province|Musashi]], and Shimosa - although without lasting effect. At the same time, the Uesugi came into conflict with the Ashina of [[Mutsu province|Mutsu]].

Kenshin and Shingen would face each other again, at Kawanakajima ([[1564]]) and in a number of stand-offs in Kozuke as the latter moved to scarf up castles there in the early 1560’s. Yet the enemy who most absorbed Kenshin’s attention for the rest of his life was the Hojo clan. Kenshin evidently took his Kanto-Kanrei title seriously, and resolved to restore the Kanto to the Uesugi. In almost every year of the 1560’s (starting, as mentioned, almost immediately after the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima]]), he raided the Hojo’s lands and fought for various castles in [[Kozuke province|Kozuke]], [[Musashi province|Musashi]], and Shimosa - although without lasting effect. At the same time, the Uesugi came into conflict with the Ashina of [[Mutsu province|Mutsu]].

It should be mentioned here that as much as Kenshin may have liked to fight, he also worked hard to increase the economic strength of Echigo. He pursued a number of initiatives designed to stimulate trade, including making the most of Echigo’s lucrative hemp trade, building [[Kasugayama castle]] (which acted as his headquarters and a prosperous castle town) and in [[1564]] revitalizing the seaport of Kashiwazaki. Like many daimyo, Kenshin offered merchants special privileges, including tax reductions, to entice them to do business in his domain.  

It should be mentioned here that as much as Kenshin may have liked to fight, he also worked hard to increase the economic strength of Echigo. He pursued a number of initiatives designed to stimulate trade, including making the most of Echigo’s lucrative hemp trade, building [[Kasugayama castle]] (which acted as his headquarters and a prosperous castle town) and in [[1564]] revitalizing the seaport of Kashiwazaki. Like many daimyo, Kenshin offered merchants special privileges, including tax reductions, to entice them to do business in his domain.

==Kenshin and Nobunaga==

==Kenshin and Nobunaga==

[[Image:Bi_kanji.jpg|thumb|right|Uesugi Kenshin's Battle Standard - 'BI' The First Character of 'Bishamonten', the God of War]]

[[Image:Bi_kanji.jpg|thumb|right|Uesugi Kenshin's Battle Standard - 'BI' The First Character of 'Bishamonten', the God of War]]

By [[1576]] Kenshin had finally begun to look westward. In [[1565]] [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] had asked him to come to Kyoto and drive out Shogun Yoshiteru’s murderers, a request Kenshin had been in no position to fulfill in those days. Now, with both Takeda Shingen and [[Hojo Ujiyasu]] dead, Kenshin could consider an expansion in the direction of the capital. At this time, the capital and all the land around it was controlled by [[Oda Nobunaga]], the rising ‘super-daimyo’ who had been the one to install Ashikaga Yoshiaki into the shogunate in [[1568]]. Afterwards, Nobunaga had courted Kenshin’s favor with a series of gifts and letters that resulted in a pact against Takeda Shingen. Among the gifts Nobunaga sent to Kenshin were a pair of screens depicting life in Kyoto, known as the Rakuchu rakugai zu, which would later assist historians in gathering a sense of life in the capital at the time.  

By [[1576]] Kenshin had finally begun to look westward. In [[1565]] [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki (Shogun)|Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] had asked him to come to Kyoto and drive out Shogun Yoshiteru’s murderers, a request Kenshin had been in no position to fulfill in those days. Now, with both Takeda Shingen and [[Hojo Ujiyasu]] dead, Kenshin could consider an expansion in the direction of the capital. At this time, the capital and all the land around it was controlled by [[Oda Nobunaga]], the rising ‘super-daimyo’ who had been the one to install Ashikaga Yoshiaki into the shogunate in [[1568]]. Afterwards, Nobunaga had courted Kenshin’s favor with a series of gifts and letters that resulted in a pact against Takeda Shingen. Among the gifts Nobunaga sent to Kenshin were a pair of screens depicting life in Kyoto, known as the Rakuchu rakugai zu, which would later assist historians in gathering a sense of life in the capital at the time.  

Once Shingen was dead, Kenshin’s interest in any further cooperation with the Oda waned. Perhaps goaded on by the news that Nobunaga was constructing a great castle in [[Omi province|Omi]] (to be known as Azuchi), Kenshin finished his subjugation of Etchu in the spring of 1576 by killing [[Shiina Yasutane]]. Earlier, more tentative moves westward on Kenshin’s part had been frustrated by the activities of the Ikko-Ikki; by 1576 the attentions of the Ikko were squarely centered on Nobunaga and a peace of sorts was struck up with the Uesugi.<ref>He had some years before defeated [[Jinbo Nagamoto]] and forced the submission of the [[Jinbo clan]], Lords of castle.</ref>

Once Shingen was dead, Kenshin’s interest in any further cooperation with the Oda waned. Perhaps goaded on by the news that Nobunaga was constructing a great castle in [[Omi province|Omi]] (to be known as Azuchi), Kenshin finished his subjugation of Etchu in the spring of 1576 by killing [[Shiina Yasutane]]. Earlier, more tentative moves westward on Kenshin’s part had been frustrated by the activities of the Ikko-Ikki; by 1576 the attentions of the Ikko were squarely centered on Nobunaga and a peace of sorts was struck up with the Uesugi.<ref>He had some years before defeated [[Jinbo Nagamoto]] and forced the submission of the [[Jinbo clan]], Lords of castle.</ref>