So Yoshishige (1532-1588)
- Born: 1532
- Died: 1588
- Titles: Sanuki no kami
- Distinction: Lord of Tsushima
- Japanese: 宗 義調 (Sou Yoshishige)
Sô Yoshishige was the 16th head of the Sô clan. He is known for submitting to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and for successfully negotiating with the Korean court for better trading terms.
Yoshishige succeeded his father Sô Haruyasu to become head of the clan and ruler of Tsushima Island. At age 36 (around 1568), he stepped down in favor of Sô Shigehisa, but continued to wield power as Shigehisa's guardian and strengthened their power over the clan's retainers.
He notably clashed with the Matsura clan. In 1587, along with Sô Yoshitoshi, he submitted to Toyotomi Hideyoshi at an audience at Hakozaki (in Hakata). Yoshishige then initiated negotiations with the Korean court on behalf of Hideyoshi, with the intentions of securing passage for Hideyoshi's armies to pass through Korea in order to invade Ming dynasty China. Yoshishige died in 1588 while these negotiations were underway, and ultimately the negotiations failed.
| Preceded by: Sô Haruyasu |
Head of Sô clan | Succeeded by: Sô Shigehisa |
References
- Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005
- "The Sô clan as Rulers of Tsushima Island," gallery label, Tsushima Museum.[1]
