Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Article
August 8, 2022
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi / Toyotomi no Hideyoshi, old style: Toyotomi Hideyoshi) was a Japanese warlord and Sengoku daimyo from the Sengoku period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Tenkabito, (first generation) Samurai Kanpaku, Taiko. He is one of the Three Heroes. He succeeded Oda Nobunaga and unified the world, laying the foundation for modern feudal society. Son of Kinoshita Yaemon of Owari Nakamura. His childhood name was Hiyoshimaru. He called himself Tokichiro Kinoshita. He served Nobunaga Oda as a second son of Matsushita no Tsuna, and gradually distinguished himself with novel and unprecedented tactics and policies, and changed his name to Hashiba Hideyoshi (He is Hideyoshi). During the attack on China, when Nobunaga was killed by Mitsuhide AKECHI in the Honnoji Incident, he quickly reconciled with Terumoto MORI, returned to Kyoto, and defeated Mitsuhide in the Battle of Yamazaki. He defeated Katsuie Shibata at the Battle of Shizugatake, cementing his position as Nobunaga's successor. Based in Osaka Castle, he made Ieyasu Tokugawa his vassal in the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, defeated Motochika Chosokabe, and conquered Shikoku. He became Kanpaku and Dajodaijin (Grand Minister of State), and was given the surname of Toyotomi by the Imperial Court. He defeated Yoshihisa Shimazu, pacified Kyushu, established a government, and issued sword hunting orders and piracy orders. He defeated the Hojo clan, conquered Kanto and Ou, and unified the country. He promoted domestic integration with many nationwide policies such as the Taiko kenchi, the Katanagari edict, the Sou no edict, and the Kokudaka system. Based on his strong power and financial base, he started to build gorgeous buildings such as Jurakudai and Hokoji Daibutsu (Kyoto Daibutsu), contributing to the development of Momoyama culture. In his later years, he decided to conquer Ming and sent troops to Korea (Bunroku-Keicho War), but in the midst of that, he died of illness while entrusting his heir, Hideyori, to the Five Elders including Ieyasu TOKUGAWA.