Sakakibara Yasumasa
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was a Japanese ''
daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji era, Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and no ...
'' of the late
Sengoku period The was the period in History of Japan, Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Kyōtoku incident (1454), Ōnin War (1467), or (1493) are generally chosen as th ...
through early
Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
, who served the
Tokugawa clan The is a Japanese dynasty which produced the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868 during the Edo period. It was formerly a powerful ''daimyō'' family. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa (850–880) and were a branch of ...
. As one of the Tokugawa family's foremost military commanders, he was considered one of its "Four Guardian Kings" (''shitennō'' 四天王) along with
Sakai Tadatsugu was one of the most favored and most successful military commanders serving Tokugawa Ieyasu in the late Sengoku period. Serving as the highest-ranking general in the Tokugawa clan along with Ishikawa Kazumasa, Tadatsugu is also regarded as o ...
,
Honda Tadakatsu , also called Honda Heihachirō (本多 平八郎) was a Japanese samurai, general, and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) a ...
and
Ii Naomasa was a general under the Sengoku period ''daimyō'', and later ''shōgun'', Tokugawa Ieyasu.Battle of Anegawa The Sengoku period (30 July 1570) occurred near Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province, Japan, between the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, against the combined forces of the Azai and Asakura clans. It is notable as the first battle t ...
when he changed the tide of the battle with a flanking maneuver. He is also famous for conquering many
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
castles in
Tōtōmi Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Tōtōmi''" in . Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa Province, Mikawa, Suruga Province, S ...
from 1574-1579. His court title during
Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...
's government was ''
Shikibu-Shō The was one of eight ministries of the Japanese imperial court. History It was established by the Taihō Code of early 8th century. The ministry was replaced in the Meiji period. The ministry was renamed ''Mombushō'' for a brief number of yea ...
'' (式部大輔).Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al.'' (2005). "Sakakibara Yasumasa" in ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ''see'
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File
.
During
Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...
, he was appointed as
Rōjū The , usually translated as ''Elder (administrative title), Elder'', was one of the highest-ranking government posts under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. The term refers either to individual Elders, or to the Council of Elders as a wh ...
, or elder councilor.


Biography

Sakakibara Yasumasa was born in the year Tenmon-17 (1548), the second son of Sakakibara Nagamasa, in the Ueno district of Mikawa Province. The Sakakibara clan branch from which Yasumasa hailed, traditionally served the
Sakai clan The was a Japanese clan, Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Nitta clan, Nitta branch of the Minamoto clan, who were in turn descendants of Emperor Seiwa. Serata (Nitta) Arichika, a samurai of the 14th century, was the common a ...
, a '' fudai'' clan whose lord was Sakai Tadanao, who was in turn a vassal of the Matsudaira clan. This classified the Sakaibara as baishin, or " rear vassals." The young Yasumasa interacted with
Matsudaira Motoyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
(later Tokugawa Ieyasu) often from a young age and was soon appointed his page. Due to his valor at the Battle of Batogahara in 1564 against the ''
Ikkō-ikki were armed military leagues that formed in several regions of Japan in the 15th-16th centuries, composed entirely of members of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism. In the early phases, these ''ikki'' leagues opposed the rule of local Shugo, go ...
'' rebels in Mikawa, he was allowed to use the "yasu" from Motoyasu's name. From then on, he would use "Yasumasa" as his name. In
Eiroku was a after '' Kōji'' and before '' Genki.'' This period spanned the years from February 1558 through April 1570. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1558 : The era name was changed to mark the enthronement of Emperor Ōgimachi. The ...
-9 (1566), at age 19, Yasumasa had reached adulthood, and soon after, he and
Honda Tadakatsu , also called Honda Heihachirō (本多 平八郎) was a Japanese samurai, general, and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) a ...
were appointed as ''
hatamoto A was a high ranking samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the Shōgun, shogunates in History of Japan, Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred ...
'' and each granted the command of 50 cavalrymen. From that point on, they would function as Ieyasu's unit commanders. In 1568. Ieyasu was eager to expand eastward to
Tōtōmi Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture.Louis-Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Tōtōmi''" in . Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa Province, Mikawa, Suruga Province, S ...
. Ieyasu and
Takeda Shingen was daimyō, daimyo of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. Known as "the Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and credited with exceptional military prestige. Shingen was based in a p ...
, the head of the
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
in Kai Province, made an alliance for the purpose of conquering all the
Imagawa was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji by way of the Kawachi Genji. It was a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Ashikaga clan. Origins Ashikaga Kuniuji, grandson of Ashikaga Yoshiuji, established himself in t ...
territory. However, on January 8, 1569, the Takeda vassal
Akiyama Nobutomo was a samurai during the Sengoku period in Japan. He is known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". Nobutomo also served under Shingen's son, Takeda Katsuyori. Biography In 1527, Akiyama Nobutomo was born at in Kai provi ...
invaded the Tōtōmi province from Shinano Province. The Takeda clan, through Oda Nobunaga, with whom they had a friendly relationship, asked Ieyasu, who was Nobunaga's ally, to reconsider cooperation with the Takeda, but Ieyasu rejected the idea, and Ieyasu is considered to have been in a position of independence from Nobunaga to a certain extent. However, until around April of the first year of the Genki era, diplomatic negotiations were being conducted between Yasumasa and
Tsuchiya Masatsugu was a Japanese samurai warrior in the Sengoku period. he is known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". In 1573, he fought at Battle of Mikatagahara against Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1575, he was killed at the Battle of Nagashino ...
, who acted as intermediaries between the two sides. In 1570, Yasumasa fought at the
Battle of Anegawa The Sengoku period (30 July 1570) occurred near Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province, Japan, between the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, against the combined forces of the Azai and Asakura clans. It is notable as the first battle t ...
, he was in the second division, along with Honda Tadakatsu, who fought the
Asakura Kagetake was a Japanese samurai commander of the Sengoku era from Asakura clan. In the 1570, he defended against an invasion by Oda Nobunaga into Echizen at Siege of Kanegasaki. In the same year, at the Battle of Anegawa, Kagetake was an Asakura Yosh ...
's left flank. After Tokugawa force was done dealing with Asakura force, they immediately dispatch Yasumasa and Honda Tadakatsu troops to assist Oda Nobunaga's forces who still struggling against the Azai army. As Yasumasa and Tadakatsu struck the right flank of Azai Nagamasa's force, while subsequently followed with
Inaba Yoshimichi , also known as Inaba Ittetsu (稲葉 一鉄), was a Japanese samurai warrior during the Sengoku period. He served the Saitō clan of Mino province. Later, he became a retainer of Oda Nobunaga. His childhood name was Hikoshiro () later Hikoroku ...
wo struck Azai clan's left flank, they finally manage to overcame the Azai army. Later in 1573, He fought at the
Battle of Mikatagahara The took place during the Sengoku period of Japan between Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu in Hamamatsu, Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province on 25 January 1573. Shingen attacked Ieyasu at the plain of Mikatagahara north of Hamamatsu during hi ...
, where he was recorded fighting alongside Honda Tadakatsu engaging
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
general named Oyamada Masayuki, while
Ishikawa Kazumasa was a Japanese notable retainer under Tokugawa Ieyasu, who served him since childhood, when they were both hostages under the Imagawa in 1551. Biography Kazumasa, also accompanied Ieyasu in the Siege of Terabe 1558, and later at Siege of Maru ...
were busy covering the retreat of Ieyasu from the battle. Later in the same year Yasumasa and Honda Tadakatsu were tasked to capture the Nagashino Castle. Both of them manage to defeat the Takeda clan armies which guarded the castle and completed their mission to capture it. For the rest of the year service, he competed with Tadakatsu in capturing many of Takeda clan castles. In 1575, During the conflict between Oda-Tokugawa alliance against
Takeda Katsuyori was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (military lord) of the Sengoku period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu, ''daimyō'' of Hojo clan. Early life H ...
, when the latter invaded Enshū province, Yasumasa and Honda Tadakatsu fought under the Tokugawa forces against Katsuyori, where they captured the Komyo castle in June. Later, Yasumasa also participate in the
Battle of Nagashino The was a famous battle in History of Japan, Japanese history, fought in 1575 at Nagashino Castle, Nagashino in Mikawa Province (present-day Nagashino, Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture). The allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu (38,000) ...
when Oda-Tokugawa forces claimed victory against Katsuyori. Immediately after the Nagashino battle, he and Tadakatsu captured the Suwahara Castle, and was awarded by Ieyasu a famous sword which crafted by Takagi Sadamune. Following that in July, Yasumasa and Osuga Yasutaka also besiege the Koyama castle. Later in 1581, Yasumasa were recorded has stormed Tanaka castle which guarded by Takeda clan general named
Ichijō Nobutatsu was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, who was the younger brother of Takeda Shingen, the ruler and ''daimyo'' of Kai Province. He is known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen".Internet Movie Database (IMDb) "Shingen Ta ...
. In this battle, Yasumasa fought together with Matsudaira Ietada, Ii Naomasa, and Honda Tadakatsu as they all climbed to Tanaka castle wall and fought Nobutatsu's soldiers.


Head of Sakakibara clan

In 1579, Yasumasa was appointed to be the head of Sakakibara clan, succeeding his older brother, Sakakibara Kiyomasa. Kiyomasa decided to retire from his position after the incident of
Matsudaira Nobuyasu was the eldest son of Matsudaira Ieyasu. His ''tsūshō'' ("common name") was . He was also called , because he had become the lord of in 1570. Because he was a son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he is often referred to, retroactively, as . Biography ...
who ordered to commit
seppuku , also known as , is a form of Japanese ritualistic suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honor, but was also practiced by other Japanese people during the Shōwa era (particularly officers near ...
for treason accusation. Before his ascension to lead the Sakakibara clan, historical recorded the Yasumasa only commanded very few of Samurai warriors under him, with only one clan has been identified, which is the Takeo clan. In 1581, Yasumasa participated in the Tokugawa army attack on Tanaka castle which guarded by Takeda clan general named
Ichijō Nobutatsu was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, who was the younger brother of Takeda Shingen, the ruler and ''daimyo'' of Kai Province. He is known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen".Internet Movie Database (IMDb) "Shingen Ta ...
. In this battle, Yasumasa fought together with Matsudaira Ietada, Honda Tadakatsu, and Ii Naomasa as they all climbed to Tanaka castle wall and fighting Nobutatsu's soldiers. In the same year, he also participated in the Siege of Takatenjin castle, where he took 41 enemy heads in combat. In 1582, after the
Honnō-ji Incident The was the assassination of Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga at Honnō-ji, a temple in Kyoto, on 21 June 1582 (2nd day of the sixth month, Tenshō 10). Nobunaga was on the verge of unifying the country, but died in the unexpected rebellion of ...
, Yasumasa accompanied Ieyasu in an arduous journey to escape the enemies of Nobunaga in
Sakai is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its '' kofun'', keyhole-shaped burial mounds dating from the fifth century. The ''kofun ...
and returning to Mikawa. However, their journey was very dangerous due to the existence of "Ochimusha-gari" groups across the route. The '' Ietada nikki'' journal has recorded that the escorts of Ieyasu has suffered around 200 casualties and only 34 person left when they finally arrived at Ietada residence in Mikawa. Later in the same year, the Tenshō-Jingo War broke out between the Tokugawa clan and
Hōjō clan The was a Japanese samurai family who controlled the hereditary title of '' shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate between 1203 and 1333. Despite the title, in practice the family wielded actual political power in Japan during this perio ...
in a contest to gain control the area of
Shinano Province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...
, Ueno region, and Kai Province Kai Province (currently Gunma Prefecture), which has been vacant since the destruction of
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
and the death of Oda Nobunaga. Ieyasu lead an army of 8,000 soldiers entering Kai,
Shinano Province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...
, and Ueno, to annex it. However, the
Hōjō clan The was a Japanese samurai family who controlled the hereditary title of '' shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate between 1203 and 1333. Despite the title, in practice the family wielded actual political power in Japan during this perio ...
in the
Kantō region The is a geography, geographical region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. In a common definition, the region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures of Japan, prefectures: Chiba Prefecture, Chiba, Gunma Prefe ...
also led an army of 55,000 men and crossed the Usui Pass to invade Shinano Province. During this conflict, Yasumasa once stormed one of a castle belongs to the Hōjō, while Matsudaira Ietada harassing the Hōjō food supplies. Later, in the battle of Kurokoma, Yasumasa fought together with Okabe Motonobu and Mizuno Katsunari to repel the Hōjō army attempt to sneak into the rear of Tokugawa army. In March of the same year, according to the Meishō genkō-roku record, after the destruction of the war against Hojo clan ended in truce, Ieyasu organized a kishōmon(blood oath) with many samurai clans that formerly were vassals of the Takeda clan assigned under the command of Tokugawa clan retainers. Ieyasu Tokugawa planned to subduct the largest portions of former Takeda samurai under Naomasa's command, having consulted and reached agreement with Sakai Tadatsugu, a senior Tokugawa clan vassal. However, Ieyasu's decision garnered protest from Sakakibara Yasumasa, who went so far as to threaten Naomasa. Tadatsugu immediately defended the decision of Ieyasu in response and warned Yasumasa that if he did any harm to Naomasa, Tadatsugu himself would exact retribution by slaughtering the
Sakakibara clan The was a Japanese samurai clan who rose to prominence during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate.Alpert, Georges. (1888). Before the Meiji Restoration, the clan served as ''daimyō'' of Takada Domain in Echigo Province. The Sakakibara ...
; thus, Yasumasa heeded Tadatsugu and did not protest further. Then Tokugawa decided assigned 70 members of former Takeda samurais from
Tsuchiya clan is a Japanese samurai kin group. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Yūki," ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 66 retrieved 2013-5-17. History The Tsuchiya clan descend from ...
under the command of Ii Naomasa. Meanwhile, Yasumasa himself received the command over 11 former Takeda samurai from Komai clan led by Komai Masanao, who later promoted as Hatamoto retainer of Yasumasa. In 1584, when Ieyasu chose to defy
Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: ...
, Yasumasa Ieyasu to serve in the campaign of Komaki and Nagakute. Yasumasa suggesting to Ieyasu that the region of
Komaki is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 148,872 in 68,174 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city was . Komaki is commonly associated with the former Komaki Airport, whi ...
would be suitable for the ensuing campaign. Then as a Toyotomi troops under command of
Toyotomi Hidetsugu was a during the Sengoku period of Japan. He was the nephew and retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the unifier and ruler of Japan from 1590 to 1598. Despite being Hideyoshi's closest adult, male relative, Hidetsugu was accused of atrocities and at ...
start entering the area of Komaki, Yasumasa join another Tokugawa general named Osuga Yasutaka to launch a surprise attack against unprepared Hidetsugu, where they inflicting heavy losses to Hidetsugu army. However, Yasumasa and Yasutaka advance were held back by reinforcement forces led by
Hori Hidemasa , also known as Hori Kyūtarō (堀 久太郎), was a samurai retainer of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi during Japan's Sengoku period. He was Nobunaga page, and one of Hideyoshi's greatest generals. He commanded Hideyoshi forces in severa ...
, thus they retreat from the battle. On the wake of Ieyasu victory in Komaki and Nagakute, Yasumasa circulates a derogatory manifesto proclamations which condemn Hideyoshi conduct which Yasumasa view as betrayal towards the will of Oda Nobunaga and also insulting Hideyoshi origin from humble peasant class. Hideyoshi were reportedly furious when hearing this and issuing order that he will reward of 100,000 ''Kan'' (Japanese gold ingot) to anyone who could bring him the head of Yasumasa. Later in April, the front line in northern Owari reached stalemate. At this time, Kanie Castle was located about three miles between Ieyasu's Kiyosu Castle and Nobuo's Nagashima Castle, and was connected to the Mie moat and three castles: Ono Castle, Shimojima Castle, and Maeda Castle. At that time, Kanie castle were facing the sea and was one of the leading ports in Owari, along with Atsuta and Tsushima. Then in June 18, Ieyasu and Nobuo led 20,000 soldiers and besieged three castles: Kanie Castle, Maeda Castle, and Shimojima Castle. The Kanie castle were defended by
Maeda Nagatane was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period. He served the Maeda clan of Kaga as one of its senior retainers. He married Ko, daughter of Maeda Toshiie was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga follo ...
and
Takigawa Kazumasu or Takikawa Sakon was a Japanese samurai lord and daimyo of the Sengoku period. He was a retainer and military commander of Oda Nobunaga, and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His biological son, Toshimasu, was adopted by Maeda Toshihisa, the older b ...
. Tadatsugu, Okanabe Mori, and Yamaguchi Shigemasa spearheading the attack towards Shimojima castle, while Sakakibara Yasumasa, Osuga Yasutaka were deployed to capture any fleeing defenders. After the fall of Shimojima castle, On June 22, Oda Nobuo and Tokugawa Ieyasu launch an all-out attack on Kanie Castle. The soldiers led by Tadatsugu, who has been deployed at the major entrance, were exhausted after days of fierce fighting, and in the evening, the soldiers of Yasumasa Sakakibara and Ietada Matsudaira entered Kaimonjiguchi in their place. On June 23, Ieyasu entered the castle with Sakakibara Yasumasa, thus the castle were subdued.


Became famous as ''Tokugawa-Shitennō''

on November 13, 1585,
Ishikawa Kazumasa was a Japanese notable retainer under Tokugawa Ieyasu, who served him since childhood, when they were both hostages under the Imagawa in 1551. Biography Kazumasa, also accompanied Ieyasu in the Siege of Terabe 1558, and later at Siege of Maru ...
, senior vassal of the Tokugawa clan, has defected from Ieyasu to Hideyoshi. This accident caused Ieyasu to undergone massive reforms of the structures of Tokugawa clan military government. At first, Ieyasu ordered Torii Mototada, who served as the county magistrate of Kai, to collect military laws, weapons, and military equipment from the time of Takeda Shingen and bring them to Hamamatsu Castle (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture). Later, he also appointed two former Takeda vassals, Naruse Masakazu and Okabe Masatsuna, as magistrates under authority of Ii Naomasa and Honda Tadakatsu, while he also ordered all of former Takeda vassals who now serve him to impart any military doctrines and structures they knew during their service under Takeda clan., and lastly, he ordered the three of his prime generals, the so-called " Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings," Ii Naomasa, Honda Tadakatsu, and Sakakibara Yasumasa, to serve as supreme commander of this new military regiments. In 1586, according to "
Sakakibara clan The was a Japanese samurai clan who rose to prominence during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate.Alpert, Georges. (1888). Before the Meiji Restoration, the clan served as ''daimyō'' of Takada Domain in Echigo Province. The Sakakibara ...
historical records", Ieyasu sent Yasumasa, Honda Tadakatsu, and Ii Naomasa as representatives to
Kyoto Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
, where three of them being regarded as "''Tokugawa Sanketsu''"(Three great nobles of Tokugawa). Then in following month, the three of them joined by Sakai Tadatsugu to accompany Ieyasu in his personal trip to Kyoto, where the four of them became famous as ''Tokugawa-Shitennō''(Tokugawa's Four Guardians". Later, Yasumasa was given the title of "'
Shikibu-shō The was one of eight ministries of the Japanese imperial court. History It was established by the Taihō Code of early 8th century. The ministry was replaced in the Meiji period. The ministry was renamed ''Mombushō'' for a brief number of yea ...
'", when accompanying Ieyasu to
Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
to meet with Hideyoshi. In 1590, Yasumasa participated in Siege of Odawara, where he led the vanguard troops ambushing
Hōjō Ujimasa was the fourth head of the later Hōjō clan, and ''daimyō'' of Odawara. Ujimasa succeeded the territory expansion policy from his father, Hōjō Ujiyasu, and achieved the biggest territory in the clan's history. Early life and rise In 1538 ...
forces. In the end of this campaign, Ieyasu sent Yasumasa and Ii Naomasa with 1,500 soldiers to witness the
Seppuku , also known as , is a form of Japanese ritualistic suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honor, but was also practiced by other Japanese people during the Shōwa era (particularly officers near ...
suicide ritual procession of the defeated enemy generals,
Hōjō Ujimasa was the fourth head of the later Hōjō clan, and ''daimyō'' of Odawara. Ujimasa succeeded the territory expansion policy from his father, Hōjō Ujiyasu, and achieved the biggest territory in the clan's history. Early life and rise In 1538 ...
and
Hōjō Ujiteru (1540? – August 10, 1590) was a Japanese samurai, who was the son of Hōjō Ujiyasu and lord of Hachiōji Castle in what is now Tokyo. He fought in the Siege of Odawara (1561) and Battle of Konodai (1564). In 1568, Ujiteru defended Takiyama ...
. Later in the same year, as the Tokugawa moved to the
Kantō region The is a geography, geographical region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. In a common definition, the region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures of Japan, prefectures: Chiba Prefecture, Chiba, Gunma Prefe ...
following the campaign of Odawara. Shortly after his assignment in Tatebayashi, Ieyasu also assigned Yasumasa as supervisor of administration team which tasked to manage the revenue incomes of
Edo Edo (), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the '' de facto'' capital of Japan from 1603 as the seat of the Tokugawa shogu ...
domain, which have roughly 1,000,000 kokus. In addition of the sons and son-in-laws of Sakakibara Kiyomasa as part of Yasumasa administration team, Ieyasu also transferred another Tokugawa clan officer named Otsuke to assist the team. Furthermore, Ieyasu viewed Yasumasa needed more manpower to manage vast domains, so he transferred three of other senior retainers Nagashige Nakane, Tanemasa Harada, and Katsushige Murakami to join the administration team. In 1591, Ieyasu Tokugawa brought Yasumasa, Honda Tadakatsu, and Ii Naomasa to participate in the suppression of
Kunohe rebellion The was an insurrection of the Sengoku period of Japan that occurred in Mutsu Province from 13 March to 4 September 1591. The Kunohe Rebellion was the final battle in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns during the Sengoku period and completed the ...
. In 1598, after the death of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Yasumasa mobilize a Tokugawa army from Kanto and marched to Seta in
Ōmi Province was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō Circuit (subnational entity), circuit. Its nickname is . Under the ''Engishiki'' classification system, ...
on the orders from Ieyasu. This was meant as anticipation against any possible hostility from
Ishida Mitsunari was a Japanese samurai and military commander of the late Sengoku period of Japan. He is probably best remembered as the commander of the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi–Momoyama period of the 16th century. He ...
. the actual number of Yasumasa's troops was approximately 3,000. However, Yasumasa deliberately spread rumors that his army which came from Kanto were larger by setting up many checkpoints in Seta to control information within the area, while also ordering massive amounts of food supplies which far larger than his factual troops requirement. Those acts of Yasumasa has deceived Mitsunari, as he believed the circulated rumors about huge army from Kanto were coming to Ōmi Province, thus Mitsunari did not dare to order his soldiers to harm Ieyasu. In 1599, Yasumasa and
Ōtani Yoshitsugu was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. He was also known by his court title ''Junior Assistant Minister of Justice'' or . He was born in 1558 to a father who was said to be a retainer of either Ōtom ...
, were appointed as inspectors to mediate an incident within
Ukita clan The Ukita clan (宇喜多氏, ''Ukita-shi'') was a Japanese samurai clan of daimyos. The Ukita clan ruled Bizen Province and Bingo Province, in the late Sengoku period. History The Ukita were a local samurai clan in Bizen but became powerful da ...
, when some of
Ukita Hideie was the ''daimyō'' of Bizen and Mimasaka Provinces (modern Okayama Prefecture), and one of the council of Five Elders appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Son of Ukita Naoie, he married Gōhime, a daughter of Maeda Toshiie. Having fought a ...
vassals incited riots due to internal disputes. In the end, Yasumasa were ordered to leave the matter to Ieyasu himself who successfully reconcile the case and averted the civil war between two faction. However, the aftermath of this incident causing many of Hideie retainers such as
Sakazaki Naomori (1563 – October 21, 1616) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period, who served as lord of the Tsuwano Domain. Originally called Ukita Akiie (宇喜多 詮家) he first served his uncle Ukita Naoie and then his son Ukita Hideie. He ...
to change their allegiance into the master of Yasumasa, which is Ieyasu Tokugawa. This defections has caused massive setback for the Ukita clan politically and militarily while strengthening Ieyasu. In 1600, as Ieyasu led a punitive expedition against the
Uesugi clan The is a Japanese samurai clan which was at its peak one of the most powerful during the Muromachi period, Muromachi and Sengoku periods (14th to 17th centuries).Georges Appert, Appert, Georges. (1888) ''Ancien Japon,'' p. 79./ref> At its heigh ...
, Yasumasa participated, where he engaged in diplomacy with the local clans at Nasu so they would cooperate with the Tokugawa forces and not siding with the Uesugi. In July 27, Yasumasa sent a letter to Akita Muneki informing him that Ishida Mitsunari and Otani Yoshitsugu had "parted ways," and that Yodo-dono, the three Toyotomi magistrates (Maeda Gen'i, Masuda Nagamori, and Nagatsuka Masaie), and Maeda Toshinaga had requested Ieyasu to come to Kyoto, and that command over the Aizu region had been transferred from Ieyasu to Hidetada. Later, as Ieyasu lead the main forces of Eastern Army to confront Mitsunari in the
Battle of Sekigahara The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was an important battle in Japan which occurred on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu Prefecture, ...
, Yasumasa accompanied a detachment forces led by
Tokugawa Hidetada was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Early life (1579–1593) Tokugawa Hidetada was born to Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Lady Saigō on May ...
for the march along the
Nakasendō The , also called the ,Richard Lane, ''Images from the Floating World'' (1978) Chartwell, Secaucus ; pg. 285 was one of the centrally administered Edo Five Routes, five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected the ''de facto'' ...
to besiege Ueda castle. In the aftermath of Sekigahara victory of the Eastern Army led by Ieyasu, Hidetada incurred the wrath of Ieyasu due to Hidetada's tardiness to arrive and participate in the main battle, due to the Siege of Ueda castle being dragged too long. However, Yasumasa was said being able to mediate the situation and convinced Ieyasu to give pardon for his son. After the war, Ieyasu offered Yasumasa 250,000 koku of
Mito Domain was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was associated with Hitachi Province in modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture.Tatebayashi Domain was a Han (Japan), feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Kōzuke Province (modern-day Gunma Prefecture), Japan. It was centered on Tatebayashi Castle in what is now the city of Tatebayashi, Gunma. History Fol ...
worth 100,000 koku, following the Tokugawa victory at the
Battle of Sekigahara The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was an important battle in Japan which occurred on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu Prefecture, ...
.


Death

Yasumasa himself died in 1606, at the age of 59, and is buried at Zendoji Temple in Tatebayashi, where his grave still stands. His son
Sakakibara Yasukatsu was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period who ruled the Tatebayashi Domain. His court title was '' Tōtōmi no kami''. Yasukatsu was the third son of Sakakibara Yasumasa, who was one of the four chief generals of Tokugawa Ieyasu. As ...
fought at the
Osaka Campaign is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population ...
. Yasumasa's descendants in 18th century were known to govern 150,000
koku The is a Chinese-based Japanese unit of volume. One koku is equivalent to 10 or approximately , or about of rice. It converts, in turn, to 100 shō and 1,000 gō. One ''gō'' is the traditional volume of a single serving of rice (before co ...
of fief in
Takada Domain , was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. It was located in Echigo Province, in the Hokuriku region of Honshū. The domain was centered at Takada Castle, located in what is now part of the city of Jōetsu in Nii ...
,
Echigo Province was an old provinces of Japan, old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It bordered on Uzen Province, Uzen, Iwashiro Province, Iwashiro, Kōzuke Province, Kōzuke, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Etchū Province, ...
as Daimyo. After the death of Ieyasu, the original members of Yasumasa administration team, Nagashige Nakane, Tanemasa Harada, and Katsushige Murakami, seeking permission to leave their posts and return to serve the Tokugawa clan directly as
Hatamoto A was a high ranking samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the Shōgun, shogunates in History of Japan, Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred ...
. However, their request were denied by shogun
Tokugawa Hidetada was the second ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Early life (1579–1593) Tokugawa Hidetada was born to Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Lady Saigō on May ...
. Hidetada instead ordering them to keep serving the Sakakibara clan, while in exchange, each of their clans were awarded with hereditary domains with 1,000 worth of koku as appreciation for their service to the Sakakibara clan. Descendants of Yasumasa continues to control Tatebayashi, until Sakakibara Tadatsugu transferred was transferred to the
Shirakawa Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in southern Mutsu Province. It was centered on Komine Castle in what is now the city of Shirakawa, Fukushima. Its most famous ruler was Matsudaira Sadanobu, the arc ...
in Mutsu Province on July 4, 1643, the Tatebayashi domain was abolished and the domain became ''Tenryō''(territory under the direct control of the shogunate).


Personal Info

In unspecified time, Yasumasa has acquired a ''Gusoku'' style armor from
Mizuno Nobumoto was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku period. He was Tokugawa Ieyasu's uncle through Matsudaira Hirotada's marriage to his sister, Odai no Kata. Biography He was a son of Mizuno Tadamasa, and brother of Mizuno Tadashige. In 1542, Nobumoto ...
, uncle of Ieyasu, which Yasumasa always wearing during battles under the service of Ieyasu out of respect to Nobumoto. Yasumasa also own ''Gusoku'' armor with Nanban-
Dō may refer to: * Dō (architecture) * Dō (armour) * Dō (martial arts) * Dō (philosophy) The Tao or Dao is the natural way of the universe, primarily as conceived in East Asian philosophy and East Asian religions, religion. This seeing ...
(european style armor). Yasumasa was the owner of a sword named ''Sakakibara-Masamune'', which he presented to
Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
. The sword is preserved for centuries by
Matsudaira clan The was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the Minamoto clan. It originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture). During the Sengoku period, the chieftain of the main line of the ...
. However, it was destroyed during
Bombing of Tokyo The was a series of air raids on Japan by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), primarily launched during the closing campaigns of the Pacific War, Pacific Theatre of World War II in 1944–1945, prior to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima ...
. According to Yasuo Hagiwara, he was known for his clever mind and brilliant strategy, which shown when he tricked Ishida Mitsunari into believing there are huge army of 100,000 soldiers under Yasumasa came to Ōmi, despite Yasumasa himself bringing only 3,000 soldiers. There is anecdote in a record from a descendant of
Sakakibara clan The was a Japanese samurai clan who rose to prominence during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate.Alpert, Georges. (1888). Before the Meiji Restoration, the clan served as ''daimyō'' of Takada Domain in Echigo Province. The Sakakibara ...
, and ''Bubijin Mokusho'', that stated despite Tadakatsu exceeding Sakakibara Yasumasa in terms of valor and combat, Yasumasa is better than Tadakatsu in the field leadership skill. Kazuto Hongō, history professor of
University of Tokyo The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...
, gave his assessment that Yasumasa was an example of particularly talented general of Tokugawa clan who also possess an expertise in administration. The Sakakibara clan under Yasumasa has their Bannerman carrying flag with a kanji character "無" which translates into Mu (emptiness/void/nothingness). There is no historical record to indicate the meaning of Yasumasa choice of his flag. However, Japanese writer and culturalist Shigezane Okaya citing the ''"Record of Famous General's Words; Volume 55: Yasumasa Sakakibara"'' that it was indicating the level headed and straightforward personality of Yasumasa. Alternatively, modern era popular theories regarding the meaning of Yasumasa's choice of the character, which though as "Entering the Battlefield with clear mind", or "Serve their master without selfish desire". However, there was several other figures aside from Yasumasa who also used "Mu" as their character of warbanner, such as
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
,
Hōjō Ujinao was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the late Sengoku period, and the final head of the Later Hōjō clan. An important figure in the history of Azuchi–Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite t ...
, and
Sengoku Hidehisa , childhood name Gonbei (権兵衛) was a samurai warrior of the Sengoku period and the Edo period. He was the head of the Komoro Domain in Shinano Province. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du ...
. One of the most famous quote from Yasumasa is: "(when) senior vassals began to compete for position, (then) it is the sign of the decline of a nation".
Conrad Totman Conrad Davis Totman (born January 5, 1934) is an American environmental historian, Japanologist, and translator.Conrad Totman Papers (MS 447). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amhers ...
noted that after Sekigahara campaign, Ieyasu seems does not willing to include his original retainers, including Yasumasa, Honda Tadakatsu, and Ii Naomasa, in larger administration of the state. However,
Harold Bolitho Harold Bolitho (3 January 1939 – 23 October 2010) was an Australian academic, historian, author and professor emeritus in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. The name Bolitho is of Cornish origin. ...
pointed out that this is instead their own decision to not involve themselves in Shogunate administrations and rather focusing on governing their own respective military domains. By appointed as
Rōjū The , usually translated as ''Elder (administrative title), Elder'', was one of the highest-ranking government posts under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. The term refers either to individual Elders, or to the Council of Elders as a wh ...
along with
Ōkubo Tadachika , or also known as , was ''daimyō'' of Odawara Domain in Sagami Province in early Edo period, Japan. Ōkubo Tadachika was the son of Ōkubo Tadayo, a Fudai daimyō hereditary vassal to the Tokugawa clan in what is now part of the city of Okaza ...
and
Honda Masazumi (1566 – April 5, 1637) was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi–Momoyama period through early Edo period, who served the Tokugawa clan. He later became a ''daimyō'', and one of the first rōjū of the Tokugawa shogunate. Masazumi was born in 15 ...
, Yasumasa held one of highest position in Tokugawa shogunate.


Appendix


Footnotes


References


Bibliography

* * Bolitho, Harold. (1974). ''Treasures Among Men: The Fudai Daimyo in Tokugawa Japan.'' New Haven: Yale University Press.
OCLC 185685588
* * Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). ''Japan Encyclopedia.'' Cambridge:
Harvard University Press Harvard University Press (HUP) is an academic publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University. It is a member of the Association of University Presses. Its director since 2017 is George Andreou. The pres ...
.
OCLC 48943301
* * * ISBN 978-4-642-03468-5 * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sakakibara, Yasumasa 1548 births 1606 deaths People from Shizuoka Prefecture Sakakibara clan Fudai daimyo