Sekigahara Town (関ケ原町), Fuwa County (不破郡) is located in the western edge of Gifu Prefecture, abutting Ogaki City (大垣市) in the east and Maibara City (米原市) of Shiga Prefecture in the west. It has been a important strategic point of intercommunication surrounded by Mt. Ibuki (伊吹山, 1377 m) in the west and Mt. Suzuka (鈴鹿山, 1247 m) in the east. The place "Sekigahara" was named after the ancient "Fuwa-no-seki" (不破関; lit. the never-broken barrier) which was set as the barrier on the Tosan-do highway (東山道) for defending Kyoto and the Omi Province (近江国). Sekigahara is known as the battlefield of the two great wars: "Jinshin-no-ran" (壬申の乱; Battle of Jinshin in AD 672 between Prince Otomo (大友皇子 [also known as his posthumous title Emperor Kobun (弘文天皇)] and his brother Prince Oama (大海人皇子; later Emperor Temmu [天武天皇], r.673-686) and the Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い, 1600).
In 1928 (3rd year of Showa) the government organized former Sekigahara Village (関ケ原村) as Sekigahara Town. In 1954 (29th year of Showa) it included Tama Village (玉村), Imasu Village (今須村) and a part of Tarui Town (垂井町). It has an area of 49.29 sq. km and the population is 8,367 (March 1, 2008): the density is 170/sq. km.
The Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い), popularly known as "Tenka Wakeme no Tatakai" (天下分け目の戦い; the Realm Divide), was a decisive battle on September 15, 1600 (on the lunar calendar: October 21 on the solar [current] calendar) that cleared the path to the Shogunate for Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康, 1542-1616). Though it would take three more years for Tokugawa to consolidate his position of power over the Toyotomi clan and other "daimyo" (大名; feudal lords), Sekigahara is widely considered to be the unofficial beginning of the Tokugawa-bakufu (徳川幕府), the last shogunate to control Japan.
At what is now Sekigahara, Ieyasu Tokugawa's forces battled those led by Mitsunari Ishida (石田 三成, 1560-1600), who was loyal to Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣秀吉, 1537-1598) and his designated heir, Hideyori (豊臣 秀頼, 1593-1615). The tide of the battle turned when Hideaki Kobayakawa (小早川秀秋, 1582-1602; former son-in-law of Hideyoshi) on Ishida's side betrayed his allies during the fight. Although at first Kobayakawa merely stood on the sidelines of the battle, not taking part in the battle, Tokugawa eventually ordered his harquebusiers to fire at Kobayakawa's troops, after which Kobayakawa began fighting on Tokugawa's side. It was in fact this betrayal that led to Tokugawa's decisive victory and the end of the fighting amongst the council of the five regents (五大老).
Background
Even though Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣秀吉, 1537-1598) unified Japan and consolidated his power, his ill-fated two invasions of Korea (in 1592 and 1596) significantly weakened the Toyotomi clan's power as well as the loyalists that continued to serve and support the Toyotomi clan after Hideyoshi's death. The war also worsened the continuous conflict between the army commanders and the bureaucrats under Hideyoshi. The presence of Hideyoshi and his brother, Hidenaga kept the two sides from anything more than quarrelling, but when both of them died, the conflicts exacerbated and developed into open hostilities. Later on, Toshiie Maeda (前田 利家, 1538-1599)'s death all but removed any trace or pretense of friendliness between the two factions. Most notably, Kiyomasa Kato (加藤 清正, 1562-1611) and Masanori Fukushima (福島 正則, 1561-1624) were publicly critical of the bureaucrats, especially Mitsunari Ishida (石田 三成, 1560-1600) and Konishi Yukinaga (小西 行長, ?-1600). Tokugawa Ieyasu took advantage of this situation, and recruited them, redirecting the animosity to weaken the Toyotomi clan.
Beginning
The death of Toshiie Maeda (前田 利家, 1538-1599) meant that there was no one to rival Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康, 1542-1616) anymore, in terms of seniority, rank, and overall influence within the Toyotomi clan. Thus, many were worried that Tokugawa would take over Toyotomi's legacy just as Toyotomi had with Nobunaga Oda (織田 信長, 1534-1582)'s. This worry was especially evident amongst the loyalist bureaucrats, who suspected Tokugawa of agitating unrest amongst Toyotomi's former vassals.
Later, a supposed conspiracy to assassinate Ieyasu Tokugawa surfaced, and many Toyotomi loyalists, including Toshiie Maeda's son, Toshinaga (前田 利長, 1562-1614), were accused of taking part and forced to submit to Ieyasu's authority. However, Kagekatsu Uesugi (上杉 景勝, 1555-1623), one of Hideyoshi's appointed regents, defied Ieyasu by building up his military. When Tokugawa officially condemned him and demanded that he come to Kyoto to explain himself before the emperor, Uesugi's chief advisor, Kanetsugu Naoe (直江 兼続, 1560-1619) responded with a counter-condemnation that mocked Tokugawa's abuses and violations of Toyotomi's rules, in such a way that Tokugawa was infuriated. Thus, Tokugawa summoned the help of various supporters and led forces northward to attack Uesugi, who was accused by Tokugawa of treason against the Toyotomi clan, but Mitsunari Ishida (石田 三成, 1560-1600), grasping the opportunity, rose up in response and created an alliance to challenge the Tokugawa supporters. Ishida, collaborating with Yoshitsugu Otani (大谷 吉継, ?-1600) and Ekei Ankokuji (安国寺 恵瓊, 1538?-1600), seized many lords' hostages in Osaka-jo Castle (大阪城) and raised an army to fight Tokugawa. This western alliance was officially headed by Terumoto Mori (毛利 輝元, 1553-1625), although Mori distanced himself from most of the fight. Tokugawa then left some forces to keep Uesugi in check and marched west to confront the western forces. A few daimyo, most notably Masayuki Sanada (真田 昌幸, 1547-1611), left Tokugawa's alliance, although most, either bearing grudges against Ishida or being loyal to Tokugawa, stayed with him. The Toyotomi clan did not take part in this battle, nor did it officially condone any side.
Battle
Ishida, in his home Sawayama Castle (佐和山城), met with Yoshitsugu Otani (大谷 吉継, ?-1600), Nagamori Mashita (増田 長盛, 1545-1615), and Ekei Ankokuji (安国寺 恵瓊, 1538?-1600). Here, they forged the alliance, and invited Terumoto Mori (毛利 輝元, 1553-1625) to be its head. Ishida then officially declared war on Tokugawa and lay siege to the Fushimi Castle, garrisoned by Tokugawa retainer Mototada Torii (鳥居 元忠, 1539-1600) on July 19. Afterwards, the western forces captured various Tokugawa bases in the Kansai region. Within a month, the western forces had moved into the Mino province (美濃国), where Sekigahara was located. Back in Edo, Tokugawa received news of the situation in Kansai and decided to deploy his forces. He had some former Toyotomi lords engage with the western forces while he split his troops and marched west toward the Osaka-jo Castle (大阪城). Ieyasu Tokugawa's main forces marched on Tokai-do (東海道) whilst his son, Hidetada (徳川 秀忠, 1579-1632), led another group through Nakasen-do (中山道). However, Hidetada's forces were bogged down as he attempted to besiege Masayuki Sanada (真田 昌幸, 1547-1611)'s Ueda Castle (上田城). Even though the Tokugawa forces numbered some 38,000, an overwhelming advantage over Sanada's mere 2,000, they were still unable to capture the strategist's well-defended position. As a result, Hidetada's forces never arrived on the battlefield at Sekigahara.
Knowing that Tokugawa was heading toward Osaka, Ishida decided to abandon his positions and marched to Sekigahara. On September 15, the two sides started to deploy their forces. The eastern forces had 88,888 men, whilst the western forces numbered 81,890. Even though the western forces had tremendous tactical advantages, Tokugawa had already contacted many daimyo on Ishida's side, promising them land and leniency after the battle should they switch sides. This led some western commanders holding key positions to hesitate when pressed to send in reinforcements or join the battle that was already in progress. Hidemoto Mori (毛利 秀元) and Hideaki Kobayakawa (小早川秀秋, 1582-1602) were two such daimyo. They were in such positions that if they decided to close in on Tokugawa forces, the western forces would in fact have Tokugawa surrounded on three sides. Hidemoto Mori (毛利 秀元), shaken by Tokugawa's promises, also persuaded Hiroie Kikkawa (吉川 広家, 1561-1625) not to take part in the battle.
Even though Kobayakawa had responded to Tokugawa's call, he remained hesitant and neutral. As the battle grew more intense, Tokugawa Ieyasu finally ordered harquebusiers (火縄銃) to fire at Kobayakawa's direction, a move that forced Kobayakawa to join the battle on Tokugawa's side. His forces assaulted Yoshitsugu Otani (大谷 吉継, ?-1600)'s position, which quickly fell apart as Otani was already engaging Todo Takatora's forces. Seeing this act of treachery, western generals such as Yasuharu Wakisaka (脇坂 安治, 1554～1626), Suketada Ogawa (小川 祐忠), Naoyasu Akaza (赤座 直保), and Mototsuna Tsuki (朽木 元綱) immediately switched sides, turning the tide of battle. The western forces disintegrated afterwards, and the commanders scattered and fled. Some committed suicide (such as Otani), some were captured (e.g. Ishida, Konishi, and Ankokuji), and others were able to return to their home provinces (e.g. Yoshihiro Shimazu [島津義弘, 1535-1619] and Terumoto Mori [毛利 輝元, 1553-1625]).
Aftermath
Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康, 1542-1616) redistributed the lands and fiefs of the participants, generally rewarding those who assisted him and displacing, punishing, or exiling those who fought against him. In doing so, Tokugawa gained control of many former Toyotomi territories. Mitsunori Ishida (石田 三成, 1560-1600), Yukinaga Konishi (小西 行長, ?-1600), and Ekei Ankokuji (安国寺 恵瓊, 1538?-1600) were publicly executed. The influence and reputation of the Toyotomi clan (豊臣家) and its remaining loyalists drastically decreased, although from the Toyotomi clan's point of view, the battle was technically only an internal conflict between Toyotomi vassals. However, in fact, Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康, 1542-1616) was later made "Seii-Tai-Shogun" (征夷大将軍) or Shogun, a position that had been left vacant since the fall of the Ashikaga Shogunate (足利幕府). This change in official ranks also reversed the subordinate position of the Tokugawa clan. In any case, Tokugawa did not gain any casus belli to take action against the frail Toyotomi clan; rather, it would take more political maneuvers for Tokugawa to destroy Toyotomi once and for all.
Even though the battle demonstrated Tokugawa's authority, many clans, especially those on the western side, became bitter about their displacement or what they saw as a dishonorable defeat or punishment. For example, the Mori clan (毛利家), which was displaced from its home provinces to Choshu-han (長州藩), remained angry toward the Tokugawa Shogunate (徳川幕府), because the clan never actually took part in the battle. The Shimazu clan (島津家) blamed the defeat on its poor intelligence-gathering. Whilst they were not displaced from their home province, Satsuma (薩摩), they did not become completely loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate either. Taking advantage of its distance from the capital as well as its improved espionage, Satsuma-han (薩摩藩), near the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, demonstrated that it was virtually an autonomous kingdom independent from the Tokugawa Shogunate. Tosa (土佐)'s ruling clan, the Chosokabe clan (長宗我部家), was stripped of its title and domain and sent into exile. Former Chosokabe retainers never quite came to terms with the new ruling family, the Yamauchi clan (山内家). In fact, the Yamauchi clan made a distinction between its own retainers and former Chosokabe retainers, giving them lesser status as well as discriminating treatment. This class distinction continued even generations after the fall of the Chosokabe clan. The three of these disgruntled groups would in two centuries collaborate to bring down the Tokugawa Shogunate.
(Extracted and edited from the "KurashikiBattle of Sekigahara - Sword Arts Wiki" with some corrections and additional information (Accessed: 8 May, 2008)
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| JR Sekigahara Station (JR 関ヶ原駅) | ||
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(Sunday 16 March) JR Sekigahara Station | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Map of JR Sekigahara Station | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Information Board of the Battle of Sekigahara concerning about the list of major commanders of both the Eastern Army (Tokugawa Force) and the Western Army (Ishida Force), JR Sekigahara Station | |
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(Sunday 16 March) The Western Army (Ishida Force) side of the Monument of the Battle of Sekigahara, north of JR Sekigahara Station | |
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(Sunday 16 March) The Eastern Army (Tokugawa Force) side of the Monument of the Battle of Sekigahara, north of JR Sekigahara Station | |
| Rekishi Minzoku Shiryo-kan (歴史民族資料館) or Sekigahara Museum of History and People, north of JR Sekigahara Station | ||
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(Sunday 16 March) Sekigahara Museum of History and People (歴史民族資料館) | |
| Momokubari-yama (桃配山; Hill of Momokubari) where Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) pitched his first camp with his 30,000 soldiers. The name literally means the hill of serving peaches, which is based on the historical fact that Prince Oama (大海人皇子; later Emperor Temmu [天武天皇], r.673-686) gave peaches to his retainers praying for his victory over his brother Prince Otomo (大友皇子) at Battle of Jinshin (壬申の乱) in AD 762.
However, it does not seem to have been a good place for a commander because you cannot grasp the whole condition of the battle here due to the limited sight. |
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(Sunday 16 March) Momokubari-yama (桃配山) with the signpost and a Tokugawa flag indicating that Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) pitched his first camp. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument indicating that Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) pitched his first camp in Momokubari-yama (桃配山). | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument indicating that Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) pitched his first camp in Momokubari-yama (桃配山). | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument indicating that Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) pitched his first camp in Momokubari-yama (桃配山). | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Reportedly Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) sat either of these two stones and opened the operational map with his retainers in Momokubari-yama (桃配山). | |
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(Sunday 16 March) The northern view from Momokubari-yama (桃配山) where Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) pitched his first camp. In this direction, Ieyasu only saw some of his army, Yotaka Arima (有馬 豊)'s, Kazutoyo Yamanouchi (山内 一豊)'s and Yukinaga Asano (浅野 幸長)'s. | |
| Sasao-yama (笹尾山; Hill of Sasao) where Mitsunari Ishida (石田光成), the chief commander of the Western Army, pitched his camp with his 6,000 soldiers. In contrast to Momokubari-yama, this location seems to have been very appropriate for the chief commander with the wide view. | ||
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(Sunday 16 March) Information map of Sekigahara Yoro National Park (関ヶ原養老国定公園), Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Signpost of the decisive battlefield of Sekigahara with the two flags of the Ishida troops on the left and the Tokugawa troops on the right at Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Matsuo-yama (松尾山; Hill of Matsuo, 293 m), viewed from Sasao-yama. During the battle, Matsuo-yama was occupied by Hideaki Kobayakawa (小早川 秀秋)'s army (16,000 men). The Kobayakawa troops belonged to the Western Army who stayed neutral and just saw what happened in the beginning, but Kobayakawa suddenly ordered his 16,000 soldiers to attack the Western Army immediately after the Tokugawa's harquebusiers' fire to urge him to join the Eastern Army. The battle was advancing and retreating and the chances were even until then. However, reinforced by the Kobayakawa's support, the Eastern Army became superior to the Western Army in numbers. In fact, it was Kobayakawa who broke the battle. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) A southern view from Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) The entrance to the Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) The entrance to the Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument of the Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitsunari Ishida's camp site, Sasao-yama | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Matsuo-yama (松尾山; Hill of Matsuo, 293 m), viewed from Sasao-yama. During the battle, Matsuo-yama was occupied by Hideaki Kobayakawa (小早川 秀秋)'s army (16,000 men). The Kobayakawa troops belonged to the Western Army who stayed neutral and just saw what happened in the beginning, but Kobayakawa suddenly ordered his 16,000 soldiers to attack the Western Army immediately after the Tokugawa's harquebusiers' fire to urge him to join the Eastern Army. The battle was advancing and retreating and the chances were even until then. However, reinforced by the Kobayakawa's support, the Eastern Army became superior to the Western Army in numbers. In fact, it was Kobayakawa who broke the battle. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Matsuo-yama (松尾山; Hill of Matsuo, 293 m), viewed from Sasao-yama. During the battle, Matsuo-yama was occupied by Hideaki Kobayakawa (小早川 秀秋)'s army (16,000 men). The Kobayakawa troops belonged to the Western Army who stayed neutral and just saw what happened in the beginning, but Kobayakawa suddenly ordered his 16,000 soldiers to attack the Western Army immediately after the Tokugawa's harquebusiers' fire to urge him to join the Eastern Army. The battle was advancing and retreating and the chances were even until then. However, reinforced by the Kobayakawa's support, the Eastern Army became superior to the Western Army in numbers. In fact, it was Kobayakawa who broke the battle. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) A monument titled "Mugen Jiku" (無限時空; "Space--time Continuum") by Yoshin Ogata (緒方 良信) made in 2000 (400th anniversary of the battle), Sasao-yama | |
| Koike (小池),Yoshihiro Shimazu (島津義弘) 's camp site. Yoshihiro came to Sekigahara with his nephew Toyohisa (島津豊久) with their 800 soldiers standing for the Western Army. Howebver, they just saw what happened in the battle. It was when they saw the Western Amry's defeat that they had the courage to retreat, surprisingly, in the direction of the Tokugawa's camp. Although Toyohisa was dead in retreat, Yoshihiro managed to hauled to his country Satsuma with only 80 soldiers out of 800. Most soldiers were died for Yoshihiro's retreat. | ||
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(Sunday 16 March) Signpost of Yoshihiro Shimazu's camp site, Koike | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument of Yoshihiro Shimazu's camp site, Koike | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Yoshihiro Shimazu's camp site, Koike | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument of Yoshihiro Shimazu's camp site, Koike | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Matsuo-san (松尾山; hill of Matsuo, 293 m), the site of Hideaki Kobayakawa's camp, viewed from Koike | |
| The place of the outbreak of Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い開戦地); now in Nishida-undo-hiroba (西田運動広場) with Kita-Tenman-san (北天満山; Hill of Kitatenman) in the background | ||
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(Sunday 16 March) The place of the outbreak of Battle of Sekigahara (開戦地) | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Yukinaga Konishi (小西行長)'s camp site, now in Nishida-undo-hiroba (西田運動広場) | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Yukinaga Konishi (小西行長)'s camp site, now in Nishida-undo-hiroba (西田運動広場) | |
| Shogiba (床几場), Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康)'s last camp site, west of Rekishi Minzoku Shiryo-kan (歴史民族資料館) or Sekigahara Museum of History and People. At 11:00 a.m. on October 21, 1600, Ieyasu moved his troops here from Momokubari-yama to improve the morale of the Eastern Army.
After the battle, Ieyasu encamped here and attended to identify the heads cut off (首実検). |
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(Sunday 16 March) ;Illustration board of Shogiba (床几場), Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康)'s last camp site where they identified numerous heads cut off. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Shogiba (床几場), Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康)'s last camp site where they identified numerous heads cut off. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Shogiba (床几場), Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康)'s last camp site where they identified numerous heads cut off. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Signpost of Shogiba (床几場), Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康)'s last camp site where they identified numerous heads cut off. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument of Shogiba (床几場), Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康)'s last camp site where they identified numerous heads cut off. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitama-jinjya Shrine (御霊神社), Shogiba. The shrine was built in April 1980 for the repose of the tens of thousands of soldiers' souls. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitama-jinjya Shrine (御霊神社), Shogiba. The shrine was built in April 1980 for the repose of the tens of thousands of soldiers' souls. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Mitama-jinjya Shrine (御霊神社), Shogiba. The shrine was built in April 1980 for the repose of the tens of thousands of soldiers' souls. | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument of Shogiba | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monuments of Shogiba | |
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(Sunday 16 March) A Buddhist monument (a statue of Avalokitesvara [Kuan Yin]) in Shogiba | |
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(Sunday 16 March) A Buddhist monument (a statue of Avalokitesvara [Kuan Yin]) in Shogiba | |
| Higashi-Kubizuka (東首塚; the East Burial Mound), halfway between JR Sekigahara Station and Rekishi Minzoku Shiryo-kan (歴史民族資料館) or Sekigahara Museum of History and People.
After the battle, Ieyasu Tokugawa ordered to bury all the dead of both the Eastern Army and the Western Army in two places, now known as the Higashi-Kubizuka and the Nishi-Kubizuka (西首塚; the West Burial Mound). |
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(Sunday 16 March) Signpost of the Higashi-Kubizuka, north west of JR Sekigahara Station | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Monument of the Higashi-Kubizuka, north west of JR Sekigahara Station | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Red Gate to the Higashi-Kubizuka | |
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(Sunday 16 March) The red hall called "Kuyo-do" (供養堂; the hall erected for the repose of the victims' souls) of the Higashi-Kubizuka | |
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(Sunday 16 March) A small hall of Higashi-Kubizuka | |
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(Sunday 16 March) "Kubi-arai-no-Furu-ido" (首洗いの古井戸; the Old Well of Cleaning Heads Cut off), Higashi-Kubizuka. It is said that the well was used for cleaning the heads cut off for identification after the battle. After identification, the heads and the bodies of both sides were buried together in burial mounds following the tradition at that time. | |
| Tadayoshi Matsudaira (松平忠吉) and Naomasa Ii (井伊直政)'s camp site, east of Higashi-Kubuzuka | ||
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(Sunday 16 March) Tadayoshi Matsudaira (松平忠吉) and Naomasa Ii (井伊直政)'s camp site, east of Higashi-Kubuzuka | |
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(Sunday 16 March) Tadayoshi Matsudaira (松平忠吉) and Naomasa Ii (井伊直政)'s camp site, east of Higashi-Kubuzuka |
