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Uesugi Kenshin

Nagao Kagetora (長尾 景虎, February 18, 1530 – April 19, 1578[1]), later known as Uesugi Kenshin (上杉 謙信), was a Japanese daimyō. He was born in Nagao clan,[2] and after adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan.[3] He was one of the most powerful daimyō of the Sengoku period. Known as the "Dragon of Echigo", while chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield as a military genius, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade, and his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo.

Uesugi Kenshin
上杉 謙信
Portrait from Uesugi Shrine
Head of Uesugi clan
In office
1561–1578
Preceded byUesugi Norimasa
Succeeded byUesugi Kagekatsu
Head of Nagao clan
In office
1548–1578
Preceded byNagao Harukage
Succeeded byUesugi Kagekatsu
Personal details
Born
Nagao Kagetora

February 18, 1530 (1530-02-18)
Echigo Province, Japan
DiedApril 19, 1578(1578-04-19) (aged 48)
Echigo Province, Japan
Parents
Relatives
Nicknames
  • "Dragon of Echigo"
  • "God of War"
  • "Bishamonten no Keshin"
Military service
AllegianceNagao clan
Uesugi clan
RankLord (Daimyō), Kanrei
CommandsKasugayama Castle
Battles/warsSiege of Tochio (1544)
Battle of Fuse (1553)
Battle of Saigawa (1555)
Battle of Uenohara (1557)
Siege of Odawara (1561)
Battle of Kawanakajima (1561)
Siege of Karasawa (1563)
Battle of Shiozaki (1564)
Siege of Matsukura (1568)
Battle of Tonegawa (1571)
Siege of Kanayama (1574)
Siege of Nanao (1576, 1577)
Battle of Tedorigawa (1577)

Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen, his numerous defensive campaigns to restore order in the Kantō region as the Kanto Kanrei, and his belief in the Buddhist god of war Bishamonten. Many of his followers and others believed him to be the avatar of Bishamonten, and called Kenshin the "God of War".

Name edit

 
Depiction of Kenshin in a monk-like image with two ministers, from Muromachi period (1336–1573)

His original name was Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎).[4] He changed his name to Uesugi Masatora (上杉政虎) when he inherited the Uesugi clan, and in order to accept the official title of Kantō Kanrei (関東管領) he changed his name again to Uesugi Terutora (上杉輝虎) to honor the 13th shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru (足利義輝), and finally to Kenshin (上杉謙信) after he vowed to become a Zen-Buddhist; in particular, he would become renowned for being a devotee of Bishamonten.[5][6][7]

Kenshin was born in the Tiger year (Chinese zodiac) and always kept the word "tora" (虎, tiger) in his names. He is respected as "The Tiger of Echigo" for his intelligent capabilities and excellent contributions.

Kenshin is also referred to as "The Dragon of Echigo" (越後の龍) because of his Kakarimidareryuu (懸かり亂れ龍) ensign displayed on the battlefield.[8] His rival Takeda Shingen was called "The Tiger of Kai". They fought several times at Battles of Kawanakajima.[9] In some versions of Chinese mythology (Shingen and Kenshin had always been interested in Chinese culture, especially the works of Sun Tzu), the Dragon and Tiger have always been bitter rivals who try to defeat one another, but neither is ever able to gain the upper hand. Kenshin and Shingen were also known to harbour a deep respect for the other's military prowess and strategic foresight with Kenshin even going so far as to express remorse and weep at news of Shingen's death.

His ceremony of departure to war started with praying at the shrine of Bishamonten, a traditional farewell meal with the generals with three dishes (symbolizing good fortune) and three cups, which also symbolized good luck and onmyōdō's heaven, earth and man. It was followed by two shouts "Ei!" (Glory") and "O!" (Yes!) with the assembled troops, also repeated three times, and the army standard lowered to the generals as a way of respect. In the end, Kenshin re-dedicated to the war god with the "bow of Hachiman", and mounted his horse surrounded by three flag banners; first with the first character of the Bishamonten's name, second with the red rising sun on blue (Emperor's gift), and the warring dragon flag.[10]

Early life and rise edit

 
Kasugayama Castle was Kenshin's primary fortress

Kenshin born as Kagetora, he was the third or fourth son of the noted warrior Nagao Tamekage (長尾為景),[2] and his life presents a unique story – he was not from the Uesugi, but Nagao clan.[4] His father's family were the retainers of the Yamanouchi branch of the Uesugi clan,[11] and his father has gained some renown with his military victories over his lords Uesugi Akisada, Uesugi Sadanori and Uesugi Funayoshi. However, in later years, Tamekage found himself at odds with the neighboring Ikkō-ikki of Hokuriku, and as the political power in the region started to shift in favor of the Ikkō-ikki (due largely to the sudden rise of Hongan-ji), the situation for Echigo quickly deteriorated. It came to a peak in 1536, when Kenshin's father gathered up an army and marched westward. However, upon arriving at Sendanno (December 1536) in Etchū, his forces were suddenly attacked by Enami Kazuyori, and in the resulting fracas Tamekage himself was slain, and his army put to flight.[12]

The impact back at Echigo was immediate. Nagao Harukage, Tamekage's eldest son, immediately made his bid for control of the Nagao, and succeeded in this claim after a power struggle which resulted in the death of one of his brothers, Kageyasu. Kenshin was removed from the conflict and relocated to Rinsen-ji temple, where he spent his life from 7 to 14 dedicated to study, martial arts and Zen.[13]

At the age of 14, Kenshin was suddenly contacted by Usami Sadamitsu and a number of other acquaintances of his late father. They urged the young Nagao son to go to Echigo and contest his older brother's rule. It would seem that Harukage hadn't proven the most effective or inspiring leader (probably due to ill health[14]), and his failure to exert control and gain support of the powerful kokujin families had resulted in a situation which was nearly to the point of tearing the province apart. As the story is told, at first Kenshin was reluctant to take the field against his own brother, but was eventually convinced that it was necessary to the survival of Echigo.

At the age of 15 he was placed in joint command of Tochio Castle, making a reputation for himself by successfully defending it against the rebels who were plotting against the Uesugi,[4] and Kenshin succeeded in wresting control of the Nagao clan from Nagao Harukage in 1548. Nagao Harukage stepped down from the lead of the clan and provincial government and gave the titles to his younger brother. Harukage died five years later in 1553.[15]

At the age of 19 Kenshin became the head of the Nagao clan and entered the Kasugayama Castle, but still as the retainer of the Uesugi clan.[4]

In the year 1551, Kenshin was called upon to provide refuge in his castle for his nominal lord, Uesugi Norimasa, who had been forced to flee there due to the expansion into the Kantō region by the lord Hōjō Ujiyasu from the Hōjō clan. He agreed to give the warlord shelter, under specific terms, but was not in a position at the time to move against the Hōjō.[3] The terms were Norimasa's adoption of Kenshin as his heir, the title Lord of Echigo, and the Kantō Kanrei post as shōgun's deputy.[11][16] Uesugi Norimasa, passed on the Uesugi name to Nagao Kagetora of the Nagao clan, become Uesugi Masatora who was gaining power as the Governor of Echigo.

In 1552, the Uesugi started to wage war against the Hōjō clan.[4] Though his rule over the Nagao and Uesugi clans were now unquestioned, much of Echigo was still independent of this young warlord's grasp. Kenshin immediately set out to cement his power in the region, but these efforts were still in their infant stages when far more pressing concerns appeared.

In 1553, Ogasawara Nagatoki and Murakami Yoshikiyo, two Shinano lords, both appeared before Kenshin requesting his help in halting the advances of the powerful warlord Takeda Shingen.[16] Around the time Kenshin became the new lord of Echigo, Shingen had won major victories in Shinano Province. With the Takeda's conquests taking them remarkably close to the borders of Echigo, Kenshin agreed to take the field on two fronts,[4] against Hojo and Takeda, however the conflicts between the three lords showed also various alliances and treaties.[17]

In 1561, Masatora took the name of Uesugi Terutora, upon succeeding as head of the Yamanouchi-Uesugi family and assuming the position of Kanto Kanrei. Later, he changed his name again, finally to 'Kenshin' after he became a Buddhist monk.

Conflict with Takeda edit

 
Depiction of the legendary personal conflict between Kenshin and Shingen at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima

What followed after the triple alliance of Kenshin was the beginning of a rivalry which became legendary in the history of Japan and the Sengoku period. In the first conflict between the two, both Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen were very cautious, only committing themselves to indecisive skirmishes. Over the years, there would be a total of five such engagements at the famous site of Kawanakajima (1553, 1555, 1557, 1561, 1564),[18] though only the fourth battle would prove to be a serious all-out battle between the two.[19]

4th Battle of Kawanakajima edit

In 1561, Kenshin and Shingen fought the biggest battle they would fight, the fourth battle of Kawanakajima. Kenshin used an ingenious tactic: a special formation where the soldiers in the front would switch with their comrades in the rear, as those in the frontline became tired or wounded. This allowed the tired soldiers to take a break, while the soldiers who had not seen action would fight on the front lines. This was extremely effective and because of this Kenshin nearly defeated Shingen. In Kōyō Gunkan there is one of the most famous instances of single combat in samurai history; during this battle, Kenshin managed to ride up to Shingen and slashed at him with his sword. Shingen fended off the blows with his iron war fan or tessen. Kenshin failed to finish Shingen off before a Takeda retainer drove him away. Shingen made a counter-attack and the Uesugi army retreated.[20][21] The result of the fourth battle of Kawanakajima is still uncertain. Many scholars are divided on who the actual victor was, if the battle was actually decisive enough to even declare one, thus is generally considered a draw.[22][23] It is considered to be the largest casualty battle in the Sengoku period,[24] with loss of estimated 72 percent of Kenshin's army and 62 percent of Shingen's army, but Shingen also lost two of his most important generals during the battle, namely his advisor Yamamoto Kansuke and younger brother Takeda Nobushige. Some more conservative estimates place the casualties around 20 percent.[23]

In 1563, Shingen allied with Hōjō Ujiyasu against the Uesugi clan, they captured Matsuyama Castle in Musashi Province. In 1565, Shingen then took Kuragano Castle and Minowa Castle in Kōzuke province. In 1571, Kenshin attacked Shingen's satellite Ishikura Castle in Kōzuke province, and they again faced each other at the Battle of Tonegawa, to once again disengage.[25]

In addition, after Shingen broke with the Hōjō, there was an incident when the Hōjō boycotted salt supplies to Kai Province. When Kenshin heard of Shingen's problem, he sent salt to Shingen from his own province. Kenshin commented that the Hōjō had "performed a very mean act". Kenshin added, "I do not fight with salt, but with the sword".[12][19]

Kenshin's respect for Shingen is evident from his reaction to Shingen's death: he privately wept and stated, "I have lost my good rival. We won't have a hero like that again!"[12]

Conflict with Hōjō edit

Though his rivalry with Takeda Shingen was legendary, Uesugi Kenshin actually had a number of other ventures occurring around the times of these famous battles (1553–1564).

In the year 1559, he made a trip with escort of 5,000 men to pay homage to the shōgun in Kyoto.[26] This served to heighten his reputation considerably, and added to his image as a cultured leader as well as a warlord. This same year he was pushed once again by Uesugi Norimasa to take control of the Kantō back from the Hōjō, and in 1560 he was able to comply. In August of the same year, he put southern Echigo under control of a five-man council for broad mobilization, as well formed a small investigative council for any kind of unrest.[27]

1st Siege of Odawara edit

Heading a campaign against Hōjō Ujiyasu from fall 1560 to the summer of 1561, Kenshin was successful in taking a number of castles from the clan, like Numata Castle and Umayabashi Castle,[28] which ended with the first siege of Odawara Castle in Sagami Province. He managed to break the defenses and burn the town, but the castle itself remained unconquered due to threats from Shingen,[29] and thus seized Kamakura.[30]

In 1563, Kenshin saved his ally Ōta Sukemasa who was under siege by both Hōjō Ujiyasu and Takeda Shingen, while in November 1569 when Shingen sieged Odawara Castle, Ujiyasu requested help from Kenshin.[11]

In 1566, after Yura clan of Kozuke Province changed their allegiance to Hojo clan. Later in 1574, Kenshin ordered the Satake clan to attack Yura clan Kanayama Castle, and participated in the siege himself, but Kanayama castle withstood the attack.

Uesugi expansion edit

 
Uesugi Kenshin Armor

In 1563, Kenshin occupied Sano Domain of Kōzuke Province. He besieged Karasawa Castle against Sano Masatsune and made strong inroads into the region, forcing many of the smaller warlords to submit to him. At this point, by 1564 Kenshin controlled Echizen Province and Kōzuke Province.[4]

The other main area which interested Uesugi Kenshin was Etchū Province in the west, and Kenshin would spend nearly half his life involved in the politics of that province. The land was inhabited by two feuding clans, the Jinbō [ja] and the Shiina. Kenshin first entered the dispute as a mediator in the early 1560s between rivals Shiina Yasutane and Jinbō Nagamoto, but he later sided with the Shiina and took over the Jinbo clan. Decades later, Kenshin turned against the Shiina clan, taking their main castle in 1570 and having Shiina Yasutane assassinated in 1576 by Kojima Motoshige.[citation needed]

By the 1570s, after Kenshin took Toyama Castle and Matsukura Castle, Kenshin governed Echigo Province, controlled Kōzuke Province, Etchū Province and some adjacent provinces, all Hokuriku seaboard, and routed Oda Nobunaga's forces in Echizen Province.[31]

Conflict with Oda edit

In 1568, when Oda Nobunaga installed Ashikaga Yoshiaki as the shogun, Kenshin praised Nobunaga. Their good relationship continued for a while, but in 1573, when Nobunaga expelled Yoshiaki, their relationship became delicate.

Under the protection of the Mōri clan, Yoshiaki, began frequently requesting Uesugi, Takeda, and Hōjō to join forces and overthrow Nobunaga.

Kenshin broke his alliance with Nobunaga. Through the mediation of Yoshiaki, he reconciled with Kennyo, formed an alliance, and became a member of the power opposed to Nobunaga. When the death of Hatakeyama Yoshitaka, a lord in Noto Province, sparked up confusion and conflict, Kenshin was quick to use the opportunity, taking land from the weakened clan and successfully besieged Nanao Castle,[32] which put him in a position to threaten Nobunaga and his allies. In response, Nobunaga pulled together his own forces and those of his two best generals, Shibata Katsuie and Maeda Toshiie, to meet Kenshin at the Battle of Tedorigawa (1577) in Kaga Province.

Battle of Tedorigawa edit

Kenshin based his 30,000 strong army at the castle of Matsuto, while Oda Nobunaga's forces arrived with 50,000 troops led by many famous generals.[33] Despite Nobunaga's superior numbers, Kenshin managed to score a solid victory on the field. At first, Kenshin anticipated that Nobunaga would try to move by night over the river for dawn attack and thus refused to engage the Nobunaga army. Then he pretended to send forth a small unit to attack Nobunaga's main force from behind and gave his enemy a great opportunity to crush his remaining force. Nobunaga took the bait. Nobunaga's force attacked at night expecting a weakened opponent at the front; instead Kenshin's full military might was waiting.[33][4] Having lost 1,000 men in combat and some more as the Oda troops attempted to escape across the Tedori River, Nobunaga ordered a retreat into Ōmi Province.[34][35] However, Kenshin, who described the opponent's performance as "surprisingly weak", had a false impression to have defeated Nobunaga, as the Oda army was actually led by Shibata Katsuie.[36] Eventually, Kenshin secured the Noto Province from the Oda clan.

Death edit

 
Uesugi Kenshin's grave at the Rinsen-ji temple, Jōetsu, Niigata

In October 1577, Uesugi Kenshin arranged to put forth a grand army to continue his assaults into Nobunaga's land. In 1578, he entered alliance with Takeda Katsuyori against Nobunaga,[28] but held up by bad weather and died of an esophageal cancer in the spring of 1578.[37] His death poem was:

Even a life-long prosperity is but one cup of sake; A life of forty-nine years is passed in a dream; I know not what life is, nor death. Year in year out-all but a dream. Both Heaven and Hell are left behind; I stand in the moonlit dawn, Free from clouds of attachment.[38]

[dubious ]

The cause of Kenshin's death has been questioned throughout the years. The theory accepted by most scholars is that early sources record his deterioration of health condition, his complaints of pain in the chest "like an iron ball", and as Kenshin Gunki (1582) records "on the 9th day of the 3rd month he had a stomach ache in his toilet. This unfortunately persisted until the 13th day when he died".[37] However, it is also speculated that he was victim of one of the most famous ninja assassinations, by a ninja concealed in the cesspool beneath the latrine at Kenshin's camp with a short spear or sword.[39] The theories are not mutually exclusive — the assassin, if he existed, might simply have fatally wounded an already-dying man. However, as his anticipation of his own death is recorded in the death poem, the possibility of the assassination is less likely.[37]

Domestically, Kenshin left behind a succession crisis. While he never had any children of his own, Kenshin adopted two boys during his lifetime. His nephew, Uesugi Kagekatsu, was probably adopted for deflection of the antagonism by Kagekatsu's father, Nagao Masakage, relatives and supporters. Another adopted son, Uesugi Kagetora, who was originally the son of Hōjō Ujiyasu,[4] was adopted to secure the Echigo's borders.[40] Some suppose that Kagekatsu was intended to be gradually set up as his heir,[40] while others that Kenshin decided to divide the estates between the two.[41]

 
Letter from Uesugi Kenshin to Uesugi Kagekatsu

Both sons had external blood ties, and reasonable claims. Kagetora was besieged at Otate in 1578, and although contacted for aid Hōjō Ujimasa and Takeda Katsuyori, the former backed down. Kagekatsu married Takeda's sister, and eventually was able to secure his succession. Kagetora fled to a castle near the Echigo-Shinano border where he committed suicide in 1579.[41][42]

The death caused local power struggles, with the result of almost decade long infighting in Echigo between 1578 and 1587, usually divided into "Otate Disturbance" (1578–1582) and "Shibata rebellion" (1582–1587).[43] The resistance of the Kagetora's supporters continued for few years in north-central Echigo.[42] In 1582, Shibata Shigeie, who was a vassal of Kagekatsu, led a rebellion in north Echigo, probably due to low rewards for his support of Kagekatsu, but even more the Kagekatsu's granting control over the toll barriers in the port of Niigata to Takemata Yoshitsuna.[44]

However, in the aftermath of the costly internal struggle, the Oda clan exploited rebellions against Kagekatsu to advance right up to the border of Echigo, having captured Noto and Kaga while the Uesugi brothers were busy with the infighting. This combined with the destruction of the Takeda clan, Uesugi's then ally and long time Oda enemy, would come close to destroying the Uesugi clan before Oda Nobunaga's own death once again shattered the balance of power in Japan.[45]

Legacy edit

 
Uesugi Kenshin portrait close-up Rinsenji Temple

Kenshin's military success is related to his successful reform efforts on trade, market, transportation network (taxing mechanism in the port towns), and revenues generated by the cloth trade.[46] The result was control over commerce which the previous government did not have. He also established feudal ties with the warrior population by land grants.[47] The so-called Funai Statutes show the provisions that apply to the traditional elites and common folk, tax breaks due to war exhaustion, with intent to centralize and consolidate the lands around his capital, which were followed by further reforms for the consolidation of the imperial lands prior the 1560–1562 Kantō campaign. However, despite Kenshin's control over agriculture and the economy, he did not thoroughly implement key reforms such as cadastral surveys, important for military obligations, implying Kenshin's focus on commerce. The management of the administration, military organization, as well in some minor battles in Echigo Funai were handed by vassal Kurata Gorōzaemon. [48][49] Kenshin is said to have been undefeated in over 50 open battles, hence being dubbed the “God of War” by his followers.

Kenshin festivals edit

 
Gackt as Kenshin at the Kenshin Festival in Jōetsu, Niigata, 2008

The Kenshin Festival 謙信公祭 (Kenshin Kousai) takes place every August in Jōetsu since 1926. The procession starts at Kasugayama Castle for the reenactment of the fourth Kawanakajima battle, with an army of 400–1,000 soldiers.[50][51] Japanese singer-songwriter Gackt portrayed Kenshin on several occasions since 2007, and thanks to his participation, the festival in 2015 reached record high attendance of 243,000 people.[52][53]

The Echigo Kenshin Sake Festival is held every October and reaches attendance of roughly 100,000 visitors.[54]

In popular culture edit

Kenshin is the main protagonist of Chōgorō Kaionji's epic historical novel Ten to Chi to ("Heaven and Earth") and NHK taiga drama adaptation Ten to Chi to (1969) where was played by Kōji Ishizaka. Kenshin, played by Isao Natsuyagi is featured in 1979 film G.I. Samurai, and played by Eiichi Kanakubo is a minor character in Akira Kurosawa's 1980 jidaigeki Kagemusha. The 1990 movie adaptation of Kaionji's novel, Heaven and Earth directed by Haruki Kadokawa, where's Kenshin played by Takaaki Enoki, covers the rivalry between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, focusing mainly on the character of Kenshin who is referred to by his original name Kagetora. The film has been praised for its realistic depictions of warfare and battles of the period. Being a box office success in Japan, it is also famous for holding the world record for most saddled horses used in one sequence — 800 horses were in a battle segment.[55] Kaionji's novel was also adapted by TV Asahi for their 50th anniversary as 2008 TV drama special where Kenshin was played by Masahiro Matsuoka.[56] In the 2007 NHK taiga drama, Fūrin Kazan, Uesugi Kenshin is portrayed by Japanese singer-songwriter Gackt.[57] Gackt recalls that Kenshin was always portrayed as a very tough man, but wanted to play him with the female myth in the mind, which presented him clean-shaven and with long hair,[58] although received some harsh criticism, co-actor Ken Ogata expressed his approval of Gackt's work and audience demanded the increase of his role in the series.[59][60] The 2009 NHK Taiga drama Tenchijin partly re-tells the story of Uesugi Kenshin, played by Hiroshi Abe, although its main focus is on Naoe Kanetsugu, the page and later advisor to Uesugi Kenshin's adopted son and heir Kagekatsu.[61] Kenshin was again voiced by Gackt in the anime of the gag manga, Tono to Issho (2010–2011).[62] The live-action drama Sengoku Basara: Moonlight Party cast actress Mayuko Arisue as Kenshin. Gackt participated in the production, but voiced Oda Nobunaga.[63] In Cobra Kai, Season 5 episode 2, Terry Silver shows Chozen a samurai sword that he purchased at an auction, telling Chozen that it was used by Kenshin in the fourth battle of Kawanakajima.[citation needed]

Kenshin has been featured in many video games, such as the Koei's Samurai Warriors and Warriors Orochi and Capcom's Sengoku Basara series. He is a playable character in Pokémon Conquest (Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan), where he is the warlord of Illusio with his partner Pokémon being Gallade and Mewtwo.[64] Kenshin also appears in a gender bender parallel universe anime series Battle Girls: Time Paradox.[citation needed] A female Kenshin, as Nagao Kagetora, also appears in the mobile game Fate/Grand Order, voiced by actress and singer Nana Mizuki.[65] Similarly appearing as a female character, Kenshin is found in the Rance series most notably in Sengoku Rance. The manga Yukibana no Tora by Akiko Higashimura, serialised in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Hibana from March 2015 to August 2017, also portrays its main protagonist Kenshin as a woman. Tomeo Yagiri's theory, known as the Female Uesugi Kenshin Theory, served as the basis for the portrayal of female versions of Kenshin in popular culture. Yagiri proposed that Kenshin was a woman, inspiring various adaptations and interpretations in media.

Kenshin was portrayed by Japanese figure skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu in his Olympic free skate program Heaven and Earth (天と地と), using the soundtrack of the two taiga dramas Ten to Chi to and Shin Heike Monogatari. Hanyu's motivation behind the music choice was his strong resonance with Kenshin's situation as well as his values and approach towards battle.[66][67] The program was debuted in December 2020 at Big Hat arena in Nagano, near the historical location of the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima in 1961.[66] It earned Hanyu two of his six titles at the Japan Figure Skating Championships, tying Takeshi Honda's record of most national titles in 50 years.[68]

Quotes edit

Fate is in heaven, armor is on the chest, accomplishment is in the feet; always fight with your opponent in the palm of your hand, and you won't get wounded. If you fight willing to die, you'll survive; if you fight trying to survive, you'll die. If you think you'll never go home again, you will; if you hope to make it back, you won't. While it is not incorrect to consider the world uncertain, as a warrior one should not think of it as uncertain but as totally certain.[69]

Gallery edit

Honours edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Uesugi Kenshin at the Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. ^ a b Dupuy, Johnson & Bongard 1992, p. 765.
  3. ^ a b Turnbull 1987, pp. 41, 44.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Turnbull 2012, p. 53.
  5. ^ Turnbull 1998, p. 13, 89, 295.
  6. ^ Cleary 2008, p. 268.
  7. ^ Ōta 2011, p. XV.
  8. ^ According to the descriptions in Kōyō Gunkan (甲陽軍鑑), Hokuetsu Taiheiki (北越太平記) and Hokuetsu military talk (北越軍談).
  9. ^ Sansom 1961, pp. 246, 288.
  10. ^ Turnbull 1998, p. 153.
  11. ^ a b c Turnbull 1998, p. 13.
  12. ^ a b c Sato 1995, pp. 210–213, 225, 221.
  13. ^ "Rinsenji Temple". Japan National Tourism Organization. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 182.
  15. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 183.
  16. ^ a b Turnbull 2013, p. 119.
  17. ^ Turnbull 1998, pp. 12–13.
  18. ^ Turnbull 1998, pp. 212–217.
  19. ^ a b Turnbull 2013, p. 120.
  20. ^ Turnbull 1998, pp. 269–272.
  21. ^ Charles & Tzu 2012, p. 124.
  22. ^ Turnbull 1998, p. 272.
  23. ^ a b Goldsmith 2008, p. 219.
  24. ^ Turnbull 1998, p. 269.
  25. ^ Turnbull 1998, p. 221.
  26. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 196.
  27. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 211.
  28. ^ a b Turnbull 1998, p. 89.
  29. ^ Turnbull 1998, p. 216.
  30. ^ Goldsmith 2008, pp. 197–215.
  31. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 230.
  32. ^ Ōta 2011, p. 403.
  33. ^ a b Turnbull 1998, p. 228.
  34. ^ Uesugi Kenshin
  35. ^ Rekishi Gunzô Shirizu , Uesugi Kenshin Japan: Gakken, 1999
  36. ^ Ōta 2011, p. 37.
  37. ^ a b c Turnbull 2012, p. 32.
  38. ^ Suzuki 1993, p. 82.
  39. ^ Turnbull 2012, pp. 53–54.
  40. ^ a b Goldsmith 2008, p. 233.
  41. ^ a b Turnbull 1998, p. 230.
  42. ^ a b Goldsmith 2008, p. 234.
  43. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 231.
  44. ^ Goldsmith 2008, p. 235.
  45. ^ Ōta 2011, pp. 9–15.
  46. ^ Goldsmith 2008, pp. 179–181, 186, 192, 194.
  47. ^ Goldsmith 2008, pp. 186–187, 230.
  48. ^ Goldsmith 2008, pp. 197–221, 230, 248.
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Sources edit

External links edit

  • Samurai Archives – Uesugi Kenshin
Preceded by Uesugi family head
1548–1578
Succeeded by

uesugi, kenshin, this, japanese, name, surname, uesugi, nagao, kagetora, 長尾, 景虎, february, 1530, april, 1578, later, known, 上杉, 謙信, japanese, daimyō, born, nagao, clan, after, adoption, into, uesugi, clan, ruled, echigo, province, sengoku, period, japan, most,. In this Japanese name the surname is Uesugi Nagao Kagetora 長尾 景虎 February 18 1530 April 19 1578 1 later known as Uesugi Kenshin 上杉 謙信 was a Japanese daimyō He was born in Nagao clan 2 and after adoption into the Uesugi clan ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan 3 He was one of the most powerful daimyō of the Sengoku period Known as the Dragon of Echigo while chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield as a military genius Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade and his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo Uesugi Kenshin上杉 謙信Portrait from Uesugi ShrineHead of Uesugi clanIn office 1561 1578Preceded byUesugi NorimasaSucceeded byUesugi KagekatsuHead of Nagao clanIn office 1548 1578Preceded byNagao HarukageSucceeded byUesugi KagekatsuPersonal detailsBornNagao KagetoraFebruary 18 1530 1530 02 18 Echigo Province JapanDiedApril 19 1578 1578 04 19 aged 48 Echigo Province JapanParentsNagao Tamekage father Tora Gozen ja mother RelativesUesugi Norimasa adopted father Nagao Harukage brother Aya Gozen sister Nagao Masakage brother in law Uesugi Kagekatsu adopted son Uesugi Kagetora adopted son Nicknames Dragon of Echigo God of War Bishamonten no Keshin Military serviceAllegianceNagao clanUesugi clanRankLord Daimyō KanreiCommandsKasugayama CastleBattles warsSiege of Tochio 1544 Battle of Fuse 1553 Battle of Saigawa 1555 Battle of Uenohara 1557 Siege of Odawara 1561 Battle of Kawanakajima 1561 Siege of Karasawa 1563 Battle of Shiozaki 1564 Siege of Matsukura 1568 Battle of Tonegawa 1571 Siege of Kanayama 1574 Siege of Nanao 1576 1577 Battle of Tedorigawa 1577 Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct his military expertise a long standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen his numerous defensive campaigns to restore order in the Kantō region as the Kanto Kanrei and his belief in the Buddhist god of war Bishamonten Many of his followers and others believed him to be the avatar of Bishamonten and called Kenshin the God of War Contents 1 Name 2 Early life and rise 3 Conflict with Takeda 3 1 4th Battle of Kawanakajima 4 Conflict with Hōjō 4 1 1st Siege of Odawara 5 Uesugi expansion 6 Conflict with Oda 6 1 Battle of Tedorigawa 7 Death 8 Legacy 9 Kenshin festivals 10 In popular culture 11 Quotes 12 Gallery 13 Honours 14 See also 15 References 15 1 Sources 16 External linksName edit nbsp Depiction of Kenshin in a monk like image with two ministers from Muromachi period 1336 1573 His original name was Nagao Kagetora 長尾景虎 4 He changed his name to Uesugi Masatora 上杉政虎 when he inherited the Uesugi clan and in order to accept the official title of Kantō Kanrei 関東管領 he changed his name again to Uesugi Terutora 上杉輝虎 to honor the 13th shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru 足利義輝 and finally to Kenshin 上杉謙信 after he vowed to become a Zen Buddhist in particular he would become renowned for being a devotee of Bishamonten 5 6 7 Kenshin was born in the Tiger year Chinese zodiac and always kept the word tora 虎 tiger in his names He is respected as The Tiger of Echigo for his intelligent capabilities and excellent contributions Kenshin is also referred to as The Dragon of Echigo 越後の龍 because of his Kakarimidareryuu 懸かり亂れ龍 ensign displayed on the battlefield 8 His rival Takeda Shingen was called The Tiger of Kai They fought several times at Battles of Kawanakajima 9 In some versions of Chinese mythology Shingen and Kenshin had always been interested in Chinese culture especially the works of Sun Tzu the Dragon and Tiger have always been bitter rivals who try to defeat one another but neither is ever able to gain the upper hand Kenshin and Shingen were also known to harbour a deep respect for the other s military prowess and strategic foresight with Kenshin even going so far as to express remorse and weep at news of Shingen s death His ceremony of departure to war started with praying at the shrine of Bishamonten a traditional farewell meal with the generals with three dishes symbolizing good fortune and three cups which also symbolized good luck and onmyōdō s heaven earth and man It was followed by two shouts Ei Glory and O Yes with the assembled troops also repeated three times and the army standard lowered to the generals as a way of respect In the end Kenshin re dedicated to the war god with the bow of Hachiman and mounted his horse surrounded by three flag banners first with the first character of the Bishamonten s name second with the red rising sun on blue Emperor s gift and the warring dragon flag 10 Early life and rise edit nbsp Kasugayama Castle was Kenshin s primary fortress Kenshin born as Kagetora he was the third or fourth son of the noted warrior Nagao Tamekage 長尾為景 2 and his life presents a unique story he was not from the Uesugi but Nagao clan 4 His father s family were the retainers of the Yamanouchi branch of the Uesugi clan 11 and his father has gained some renown with his military victories over his lords Uesugi Akisada Uesugi Sadanori and Uesugi Funayoshi However in later years Tamekage found himself at odds with the neighboring Ikkō ikki of Hokuriku and as the political power in the region started to shift in favor of the Ikkō ikki due largely to the sudden rise of Hongan ji the situation for Echigo quickly deteriorated It came to a peak in 1536 when Kenshin s father gathered up an army and marched westward However upon arriving at Sendanno December 1536 in Etchu his forces were suddenly attacked by Enami Kazuyori and in the resulting fracas Tamekage himself was slain and his army put to flight 12 The impact back at Echigo was immediate Nagao Harukage Tamekage s eldest son immediately made his bid for control of the Nagao and succeeded in this claim after a power struggle which resulted in the death of one of his brothers Kageyasu Kenshin was removed from the conflict and relocated to Rinsen ji temple where he spent his life from 7 to 14 dedicated to study martial arts and Zen 13 At the age of 14 Kenshin was suddenly contacted by Usami Sadamitsu and a number of other acquaintances of his late father They urged the young Nagao son to go to Echigo and contest his older brother s rule It would seem that Harukage hadn t proven the most effective or inspiring leader probably due to ill health 14 and his failure to exert control and gain support of the powerful kokujin families had resulted in a situation which was nearly to the point of tearing the province apart As the story is told at first Kenshin was reluctant to take the field against his own brother but was eventually convinced that it was necessary to the survival of Echigo At the age of 15 he was placed in joint command of Tochio Castle making a reputation for himself by successfully defending it against the rebels who were plotting against the Uesugi 4 and Kenshin succeeded in wresting control of the Nagao clan from Nagao Harukage in 1548 Nagao Harukage stepped down from the lead of the clan and provincial government and gave the titles to his younger brother Harukage died five years later in 1553 15 At the age of 19 Kenshin became the head of the Nagao clan and entered the Kasugayama Castle but still as the retainer of the Uesugi clan 4 In the year 1551 Kenshin was called upon to provide refuge in his castle for his nominal lord Uesugi Norimasa who had been forced to flee there due to the expansion into the Kantō region by the lord Hōjō Ujiyasu from the Hōjō clan He agreed to give the warlord shelter under specific terms but was not in a position at the time to move against the Hōjō 3 The terms were Norimasa s adoption of Kenshin as his heir the title Lord of Echigo and the Kantō Kanrei post as shōgun s deputy 11 16 Uesugi Norimasa passed on the Uesugi name to Nagao Kagetora of the Nagao clan become Uesugi Masatora who was gaining power as the Governor of Echigo In 1552 the Uesugi started to wage war against the Hōjō clan 4 Though his rule over the Nagao and Uesugi clans were now unquestioned much of Echigo was still independent of this young warlord s grasp Kenshin immediately set out to cement his power in the region but these efforts were still in their infant stages when far more pressing concerns appeared In 1553 Ogasawara Nagatoki and Murakami Yoshikiyo two Shinano lords both appeared before Kenshin requesting his help in halting the advances of the powerful warlord Takeda Shingen 16 Around the time Kenshin became the new lord of Echigo Shingen had won major victories in Shinano Province With the Takeda s conquests taking them remarkably close to the borders of Echigo Kenshin agreed to take the field on two fronts 4 against Hojo and Takeda however the conflicts between the three lords showed also various alliances and treaties 17 In 1561 Masatora took the name of Uesugi Terutora upon succeeding as head of the Yamanouchi Uesugi family and assuming the position of Kanto Kanrei Later he changed his name again finally to Kenshin after he became a Buddhist monk Conflict with Takeda edit nbsp Depiction of the legendary personal conflict between Kenshin and Shingen at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima What followed after the triple alliance of Kenshin was the beginning of a rivalry which became legendary in the history of Japan and the Sengoku period In the first conflict between the two both Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen were very cautious only committing themselves to indecisive skirmishes Over the years there would be a total of five such engagements at the famous site of Kawanakajima 1553 1555 1557 1561 1564 18 though only the fourth battle would prove to be a serious all out battle between the two 19 4th Battle of Kawanakajima edit Main article Battle of Kawanakajima In 1561 Kenshin and Shingen fought the biggest battle they would fight the fourth battle of Kawanakajima Kenshin used an ingenious tactic a special formation where the soldiers in the front would switch with their comrades in the rear as those in the frontline became tired or wounded This allowed the tired soldiers to take a break while the soldiers who had not seen action would fight on the front lines This was extremely effective and because of this Kenshin nearly defeated Shingen In Kōyō Gunkan there is one of the most famous instances of single combat in samurai history during this battle Kenshin managed to ride up to Shingen and slashed at him with his sword Shingen fended off the blows with his iron war fan or tessen Kenshin failed to finish Shingen off before a Takeda retainer drove him away Shingen made a counter attack and the Uesugi army retreated 20 21 The result of the fourth battle of Kawanakajima is still uncertain Many scholars are divided on who the actual victor was if the battle was actually decisive enough to even declare one thus is generally considered a draw 22 23 It is considered to be the largest casualty battle in the Sengoku period 24 with loss of estimated 72 percent of Kenshin s army and 62 percent of Shingen s army but Shingen also lost two of his most important generals during the battle namely his advisor Yamamoto Kansuke and younger brother Takeda Nobushige Some more conservative estimates place the casualties around 20 percent 23 In 1563 Shingen allied with Hōjō Ujiyasu against the Uesugi clan they captured Matsuyama Castle in Musashi Province In 1565 Shingen then took Kuragano Castle and Minowa Castle in Kōzuke province In 1571 Kenshin attacked Shingen s satellite Ishikura Castle in Kōzuke province and they again faced each other at the Battle of Tonegawa to once again disengage 25 In addition after Shingen broke with the Hōjō there was an incident when the Hōjō boycotted salt supplies to Kai Province When Kenshin heard of Shingen s problem he sent salt to Shingen from his own province Kenshin commented that the Hōjō had performed a very mean act Kenshin added I do not fight with salt but with the sword 12 19 Kenshin s respect for Shingen is evident from his reaction to Shingen s death he privately wept and stated I have lost my good rival We won t have a hero like that again 12 Conflict with Hōjō editThough his rivalry with Takeda Shingen was legendary Uesugi Kenshin actually had a number of other ventures occurring around the times of these famous battles 1553 1564 In the year 1559 he made a trip with escort of 5 000 men to pay homage to the shōgun in Kyoto 26 This served to heighten his reputation considerably and added to his image as a cultured leader as well as a warlord This same year he was pushed once again by Uesugi Norimasa to take control of the Kantō back from the Hōjō and in 1560 he was able to comply In August of the same year he put southern Echigo under control of a five man council for broad mobilization as well formed a small investigative council for any kind of unrest 27 1st Siege of Odawara edit Main article Siege of Odawara 1561 Heading a campaign against Hōjō Ujiyasu from fall 1560 to the summer of 1561 Kenshin was successful in taking a number of castles from the clan like Numata Castle and Umayabashi Castle 28 which ended with the first siege of Odawara Castle in Sagami Province He managed to break the defenses and burn the town but the castle itself remained unconquered due to threats from Shingen 29 and thus seized Kamakura 30 In 1563 Kenshin saved his ally Ōta Sukemasa who was under siege by both Hōjō Ujiyasu and Takeda Shingen while in November 1569 when Shingen sieged Odawara Castle Ujiyasu requested help from Kenshin 11 In 1566 after Yura clan of Kozuke Province changed their allegiance to Hojo clan Later in 1574 Kenshin ordered the Satake clan to attack Yura clan Kanayama Castle and participated in the siege himself but Kanayama castle withstood the attack Uesugi expansion edit nbsp Uesugi Kenshin Armor In 1563 Kenshin occupied Sano Domain of Kōzuke Province He besieged Karasawa Castle against Sano Masatsune and made strong inroads into the region forcing many of the smaller warlords to submit to him At this point by 1564 Kenshin controlled Echizen Province and Kōzuke Province 4 The other main area which interested Uesugi Kenshin was Etchu Province in the west and Kenshin would spend nearly half his life involved in the politics of that province The land was inhabited by two feuding clans the Jinbō ja and the Shiina Kenshin first entered the dispute as a mediator in the early 1560s between rivals Shiina Yasutane and Jinbō Nagamoto but he later sided with the Shiina and took over the Jinbo clan Decades later Kenshin turned against the Shiina clan taking their main castle in 1570 and having Shiina Yasutane assassinated in 1576 by Kojima Motoshige citation needed By the 1570s after Kenshin took Toyama Castle and Matsukura Castle Kenshin governed Echigo Province controlled Kōzuke Province Etchu Province and some adjacent provinces all Hokuriku seaboard and routed Oda Nobunaga s forces in Echizen Province 31 Conflict with Oda editIn 1568 when Oda Nobunaga installed Ashikaga Yoshiaki as the shogun Kenshin praised Nobunaga Their good relationship continued for a while but in 1573 when Nobunaga expelled Yoshiaki their relationship became delicate Under the protection of the Mōri clan Yoshiaki began frequently requesting Uesugi Takeda and Hōjō to join forces and overthrow Nobunaga Kenshin broke his alliance with Nobunaga Through the mediation of Yoshiaki he reconciled with Kennyo formed an alliance and became a member of the power opposed to Nobunaga When the death of Hatakeyama Yoshitaka a lord in Noto Province sparked up confusion and conflict Kenshin was quick to use the opportunity taking land from the weakened clan and successfully besieged Nanao Castle 32 which put him in a position to threaten Nobunaga and his allies In response Nobunaga pulled together his own forces and those of his two best generals Shibata Katsuie and Maeda Toshiie to meet Kenshin at the Battle of Tedorigawa 1577 in Kaga Province Battle of Tedorigawa edit Main article Battle of Tedorigawa Kenshin based his 30 000 strong army at the castle of Matsuto while Oda Nobunaga s forces arrived with 50 000 troops led by many famous generals 33 Despite Nobunaga s superior numbers Kenshin managed to score a solid victory on the field At first Kenshin anticipated that Nobunaga would try to move by night over the river for dawn attack and thus refused to engage the Nobunaga army Then he pretended to send forth a small unit to attack Nobunaga s main force from behind and gave his enemy a great opportunity to crush his remaining force Nobunaga took the bait Nobunaga s force attacked at night expecting a weakened opponent at the front instead Kenshin s full military might was waiting 33 4 Having lost 1 000 men in combat and some more as the Oda troops attempted to escape across the Tedori River Nobunaga ordered a retreat into Ōmi Province 34 35 However Kenshin who described the opponent s performance as surprisingly weak had a false impression to have defeated Nobunaga as the Oda army was actually led by Shibata Katsuie 36 Eventually Kenshin secured the Noto Province from the Oda clan Death edit nbsp Uesugi Kenshin s grave at the Rinsen ji temple Jōetsu NiigataIn October 1577 Uesugi Kenshin arranged to put forth a grand army to continue his assaults into Nobunaga s land In 1578 he entered alliance with Takeda Katsuyori against Nobunaga 28 but held up by bad weather and died of an esophageal cancer in the spring of 1578 37 His death poem was Even a life long prosperity is but one cup of sake A life of forty nine years is passed in a dream I know not what life is nor death Year in year out all but a dream Both Heaven and Hell are left behind I stand in the moonlit dawn Free from clouds of attachment 38 dubious discuss The cause of Kenshin s death has been questioned throughout the years The theory accepted by most scholars is that early sources record his deterioration of health condition his complaints of pain in the chest like an iron ball and as Kenshin Gunki 1582 records on the 9th day of the 3rd month he had a stomach ache in his toilet This unfortunately persisted until the 13th day when he died 37 However it is also speculated that he was victim of one of the most famous ninja assassinations by a ninja concealed in the cesspool beneath the latrine at Kenshin s camp with a short spear or sword 39 The theories are not mutually exclusive the assassin if he existed might simply have fatally wounded an already dying man However as his anticipation of his own death is recorded in the death poem the possibility of the assassination is less likely 37 Domestically Kenshin left behind a succession crisis While he never had any children of his own Kenshin adopted two boys during his lifetime His nephew Uesugi Kagekatsu was probably adopted for deflection of the antagonism by Kagekatsu s father Nagao Masakage relatives and supporters Another adopted son Uesugi Kagetora who was originally the son of Hōjō Ujiyasu 4 was adopted to secure the Echigo s borders 40 Some suppose that Kagekatsu was intended to be gradually set up as his heir 40 while others that Kenshin decided to divide the estates between the two 41 nbsp Letter from Uesugi Kenshin to Uesugi Kagekatsu Both sons had external blood ties and reasonable claims Kagetora was besieged at Otate in 1578 and although contacted for aid Hōjō Ujimasa and Takeda Katsuyori the former backed down Kagekatsu married Takeda s sister and eventually was able to secure his succession Kagetora fled to a castle near the Echigo Shinano border where he committed suicide in 1579 41 42 The death caused local power struggles with the result of almost decade long infighting in Echigo between 1578 and 1587 usually divided into Otate Disturbance 1578 1582 and Shibata rebellion 1582 1587 43 The resistance of the Kagetora s supporters continued for few years in north central Echigo 42 In 1582 Shibata Shigeie who was a vassal of Kagekatsu led a rebellion in north Echigo probably due to low rewards for his support of Kagekatsu but even more the Kagekatsu s granting control over the toll barriers in the port of Niigata to Takemata Yoshitsuna 44 However in the aftermath of the costly internal struggle the Oda clan exploited rebellions against Kagekatsu to advance right up to the border of Echigo having captured Noto and Kaga while the Uesugi brothers were busy with the infighting This combined with the destruction of the Takeda clan Uesugi s then ally and long time Oda enemy would come close to destroying the Uesugi clan before Oda Nobunaga s own death once again shattered the balance of power in Japan 45 Legacy edit nbsp Uesugi Kenshin portrait close up Rinsenji Temple Kenshin s military success is related to his successful reform efforts on trade market transportation network taxing mechanism in the port towns and revenues generated by the cloth trade 46 The result was control over commerce which the previous government did not have He also established feudal ties with the warrior population by land grants 47 The so called Funai Statutes show the provisions that apply to the traditional elites and common folk tax breaks due to war exhaustion with intent to centralize and consolidate the lands around his capital which were followed by further reforms for the consolidation of the imperial lands prior the 1560 1562 Kantō campaign However despite Kenshin s control over agriculture and the economy he did not thoroughly implement key reforms such as cadastral surveys important for military obligations implying Kenshin s focus on commerce The management of the administration military organization as well in some minor battles in Echigo Funai were handed by vassal Kurata Gorōzaemon 48 49 Kenshin is said to have been undefeated in over 50 open battles hence being dubbed the God of War by his followers Kenshin festivals edit nbsp Gackt as Kenshin at the Kenshin Festival in Jōetsu Niigata 2008 The Kenshin Festival 謙信公祭 Kenshin Kousai takes place every August in Jōetsu since 1926 The procession starts at Kasugayama Castle for the reenactment of the fourth Kawanakajima battle with an army of 400 1 000 soldiers 50 51 Japanese singer songwriter Gackt portrayed Kenshin on several occasions since 2007 and thanks to his participation the festival in 2015 reached record high attendance of 243 000 people 52 53 The Echigo Kenshin Sake Festival is held every October and reaches attendance of roughly 100 000 visitors 54 In popular culture editMain article People of the Sengoku period in popular culture Uesugi Kenshin Kenshin is the main protagonist of Chōgorō Kaionji s epic historical novel Ten to Chi to Heaven and Earth and NHK taiga drama adaptation Ten to Chi to 1969 where was played by Kōji Ishizaka Kenshin played by Isao Natsuyagi is featured in 1979 film G I Samurai and played by Eiichi Kanakubo is a minor character in Akira Kurosawa s 1980 jidaigeki Kagemusha The 1990 movie adaptation of Kaionji s novel Heaven and Earth directed by Haruki Kadokawa where s Kenshin played by Takaaki Enoki covers the rivalry between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen focusing mainly on the character of Kenshin who is referred to by his original name Kagetora The film has been praised for its realistic depictions of warfare and battles of the period Being a box office success in Japan it is also famous for holding the world record for most saddled horses used in one sequence 800 horses were in a battle segment 55 Kaionji s novel was also adapted by TV Asahi for their 50th anniversary as 2008 TV drama special where Kenshin was played by Masahiro Matsuoka 56 In the 2007 NHK taiga drama Furin Kazan Uesugi Kenshin is portrayed by Japanese singer songwriter Gackt 57 Gackt recalls that Kenshin was always portrayed as a very tough man but wanted to play him with the female myth in the mind which presented him clean shaven and with long hair 58 although received some harsh criticism co actor Ken Ogata expressed his approval of Gackt s work and audience demanded the increase of his role in the series 59 60 The 2009 NHK Taiga drama Tenchijin partly re tells the story of Uesugi Kenshin played by Hiroshi Abe although its main focus is on Naoe Kanetsugu the page and later advisor to Uesugi Kenshin s adopted son and heir Kagekatsu 61 Kenshin was again voiced by Gackt in the anime of the gag manga Tono to Issho 2010 2011 62 The live action drama Sengoku Basara Moonlight Party cast actress Mayuko Arisue as Kenshin Gackt participated in the production but voiced Oda Nobunaga 63 In Cobra Kai Season 5 episode 2 Terry Silver shows Chozen a samurai sword that he purchased at an auction telling Chozen that it was used by Kenshin in the fourth battle of Kawanakajima citation needed Kenshin has been featured in many video games such as the Koei s Samurai Warriors and Warriors Orochi and Capcom s Sengoku Basara series He is a playable character in Pokemon Conquest Pokemon Nobunaga s Ambition in Japan where he is the warlord of Illusio with his partner Pokemon being Gallade and Mewtwo 64 Kenshin also appears in a gender bender parallel universe anime series Battle Girls Time Paradox citation needed A female Kenshin as Nagao Kagetora also appears in the mobile game Fate Grand Order voiced by actress and singer Nana Mizuki 65 Similarly appearing as a female character Kenshin is found in the Rance series most notably in Sengoku Rance The manga Yukibana no Tora by Akiko Higashimura serialised in Shogakukan s seinen manga magazine Hibana from March 2015 to August 2017 also portrays its main protagonist Kenshin as a woman Tomeo Yagiri s theory known as the Female Uesugi Kenshin Theory served as the basis for the portrayal of female versions of Kenshin in popular culture Yagiri proposed that Kenshin was a woman inspiring various adaptations and interpretations in media Kenshin was portrayed by Japanese figure skater and two time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu in his Olympic free skate program Heaven and Earth 天と地と using the soundtrack of the two taiga dramas Ten to Chi to and Shin Heike Monogatari Hanyu s motivation behind the music choice was his strong resonance with Kenshin s situation as well as his values and approach towards battle 66 67 The program was debuted in December 2020 at Big Hat arena in Nagano near the historical location of the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima in 1961 66 It earned Hanyu two of his six titles at the Japan Figure Skating Championships tying Takeshi Honda s record of most national titles in 50 years 68 Quotes editFate is in heaven armor is on the chest accomplishment is in the feet always fight with your opponent in the palm of your hand and you won t get wounded If you fight willing to die you ll survive if you fight trying to survive you ll die If you think you ll never go home again you will if you hope to make it back you won t While it is not incorrect to consider the world uncertain as a warrior one should not think of it as uncertain but as totally certain 69 Gallery edit nbsp Kenshin s mythical riding into battle by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1883 nbsp Kenshin writing his death poem by Yoshitoshi 1839 1892 nbsp Kenshin depicted by Utagawa Kuniyoshi 1843 1844 nbsp Kenshin depicted by Utagawa Yoshitora 1866 nbsp Kenshin depicted by Utagawa Kuniyoshi 1845 Honours editJunior Second Rank September 9 1908 posthumous 70 See also editFemale Uesugi Kenshin theory Naoe Kanetsugu Aya GozenReferences edit Uesugi Kenshin at the Encyclopaedia Britannica a b Dupuy Johnson amp Bongard 1992 p 765 a b Turnbull 1987 pp 41 44 a b c d e f g h i Turnbull 2012 p 53 sfn error no target CITEREFTurnbull2012 help Turnbull 1998 p 13 89 295 Cleary 2008 p 268 Ōta 2011 p XV According to the descriptions in Kōyō Gunkan 甲陽軍鑑 Hokuetsu Taiheiki 北越太平記 and Hokuetsu military talk 北越軍談 Sansom 1961 pp 246 288 Turnbull 1998 p 153 a b c Turnbull 1998 p 13 a b c Sato 1995 pp 210 213 225 221 Rinsenji Temple Japan National Tourism Organization Retrieved February 18 2021 Goldsmith 2008 p 182 Goldsmith 2008 p 183 a b Turnbull 2013 p 119 Turnbull 1998 pp 12 13 Turnbull 1998 pp 212 217 a b Turnbull 2013 p 120 Turnbull 1998 pp 269 272 Charles amp Tzu 2012 p 124 Turnbull 1998 p 272 a b Goldsmith 2008 p 219 Turnbull 1998 p 269 Turnbull 1998 p 221 Goldsmith 2008 p 196 Goldsmith 2008 p 211 a b Turnbull 1998 p 89 Turnbull 1998 p 216 Goldsmith 2008 pp 197 215 Goldsmith 2008 p 230 Ōta 2011 p 403 a b Turnbull 1998 p 228 Uesugi Kenshin Rekishi Gunzo Shirizu Uesugi Kenshin Japan Gakken 1999 Ōta 2011 p 37 a b c Turnbull 2012 p 32 sfn error no target CITEREFTurnbull2012 help Suzuki 1993 p 82 Turnbull 2012 pp 53 54 sfn error no target CITEREFTurnbull2012 help a b Goldsmith 2008 p 233 a b Turnbull 1998 p 230 a b Goldsmith 2008 p 234 Goldsmith 2008 p 231 Goldsmith 2008 p 235 Ōta 2011 pp 9 15 Goldsmith 2008 pp 179 181 186 192 194 Goldsmith 2008 pp 186 187 230 Goldsmith 2008 pp 197 221 230 248 Hall amp Jansen 2015 p 191 GACKT謙信 400人の武者を引き連れ出陣 上越市 謙信公祭 in Japanese Oricon August 23 2015 Retrieved September 4 2016 イベントレポート 出陣行列 川中島合戦の再現に GACKT謙信登場 Barks in Japanese Japan Music Network August 23 2015 Retrieved September 4 2016 過去最高24万3000人 第90回謙信公祭の入り込み発表 Joetsu Town Journal in Japanese August 24 2015 Retrieved September 4 2016 謙信公祭入り込み数 過去最多24万3200人GACKTさんメッセージ 来年も楽しみに Joetsu Times in Japanese August 24 2015 Retrieved September 4 2016 Williamson Claire November 23 2019 Joetsu A historic town braces for the first snowfall of winter The Japan Times Retrieved June 24 2020 The annual Echigo Kenshin Sake Festival in October which has more than 100 tasting booths of sake wine and local culinary specialties stretching down Honcho dori draws another 100 000 plus visitors Ten To Chi To Trivia IMDB 天と地と 新聞ラテ欄表記 天と地と 謙信VS信玄 戦国最大の戦い 川中島の合戦 神秘のベールに包まれた無敵の男上杉謙信の真実 出生の秘密 運命に翻弄される恋 空前のスケールで描く歴史巨編 TVdrama db com 風林火山 情報 Furin Kazan information in Japanese NHK Archived from the original on September 30 2013 Retrieved April 17 2018 GACKTさんもびっくり 上杉謙信は女だった joetsutj com June 19 2014 Retrieved June 24 2020 GACKTさんが2007年にNHK大河ドラマ 風林火山 で上杉謙信役を務めた際 女性説があるという人物像を感じさせるような演技をしたい と述べており 長い髪で役に臨んだ GACKTさんはこのドラマを契機に上杉謙信ファンとなり 謙信公祭の出陣行列などで謙信公役を務めることになった Erin Efrus April 4 17 2014 GACKT Perennial idol looks back on triumphs and tragedies Metropolis No 1045 p 8 Archived from the original on September 20 2016 Gackt古装剧扮演上杉謙信 形象迷倒日本师奶 Sina Corp October 13 2007 天地人 放送前情報 Tenchjin pre broadcast information in Japanese NHK Archived from the original on February 10 2010 殿といっしょ Staff and Cast Tono Anime Retrieved April 17 2018 Loo Egan July 3 2012 Live Action Sengoku Basara Show s Cast Revealed in Costume Anime News Network Retrieved April 17 2018 Kenshin Mewtwo Pokemon Conquest Retrieved June 17 2012 Nagao Kagetora Gamepress June 20 2021 Retrieved April 29 2022 a b Russell Susan D May 2 2021 Hanyu takes fresh approach International Figure Skating Denville Township New Jersey Archived from the original on May 6 2021 羽生結弦 語る フリー編 1 みんなが光 Yuzuru Hanyu free skate interview 1 Everyone is the light Sports Nippon in Japanese Chiyoda Tokyo April 16 2021 Archived from the original on October 9 2021 Yuzuru Hanyu attempts quadruple Axel wins Japan figure skating nationals NBC Sports Stamford Connecticut December 26 2021 Archived from the original on December 26 2021 Cleary 2008 p 196 侯爵 桂太郎 ed 故上杉輝虎外四名贈位ノ件 Japan Center for Asian Historical Records ja Ref A10110299500 Sources edit Charles Victoria Tzu Sun 2012 Art of War Parkstone International ISBN 9781780428765 Cleary Thomas F 2008 Training the Samurai Mind A Bushido Sourcebook Shambhala Publications ISBN 9781590305720 Dupuy Trevor Nevitt Johnson Curt Bongard David L 1992 Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography HarperCollins ISBN 978 0 06270 015 5 Goldsmith Brian 2008 Amassing Economies The Medieval Origins of Early Modern Japan 1450 1700 ISBN 9780549851158 Ōta Gyuichi 2011 The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga BRILL ISBN 9789004201620 Sansom George 1961 A History of Japan 1334 1615 Stanford University Press ISBN 0804705259 Sato Hiroaki 1995 Legends of the Samurai Overlook Duckworth ISBN 9781590207307 Suzuki Daisetsu Teitaro 1993 Zen and Japanese Culture Princeton ISBN 9780691017709 Turnbull Stephen 1987 Battles of the Samurai Arms and Armour Press ISBN 0853688265 Turnbull Stephen 1998 The Samurai Sourcebook Cassell amp Co ISBN 1854095234 Turnbull Stephen 2012a Samurai Commanders 1 940 1576 Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 9781782000426 Turnbull Stephen 2012b Ninja AD 1460 1650 Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 9781782002567 Turnbull Stephen 2013 The Samurai A Military History Routledge ISBN 9781134243693 Hall John Whitney Jansen Marius B 2015 Studies in the Institutional History of Early Modern Japan Princeton University Press ISBN 9781400868957 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Uesugi Kenshin Samurai Archives Uesugi Kenshin nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Uesugi Kenshin Preceded byUesugi Norimasa Uesugi family head1548 1578 Succeeded byUesugi Kagekatsu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uesugi Kenshin amp oldid 1221871943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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