Nobunaga Was Not Always Ruthless
While Oda Nobunaga is often portrayed as a ruthless conqueror in game and anime, he sometimes showed his compassions for people.
The following account is from Ohta Gyuichi [1], a retainer
of Nobunaga. His book is considered relatively reliable.
Fig. Oda Nobunaga (wood sculpture)
Photo courtesy of Gifu Castle
This is a replica of a 16th-century wood sculpture. Among the many depictions of Nobunaga, this one aligns with descriptions I’ve read, featuring his small mouth, well-defined nose, wrinkles between the eyebrows, and a nervous disposition.
Fig.
Yamanaka
This is a
schematic picture. The interested reader can visit the Wikipedia site at
http://shmz1975.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2014/08/post-9b49.html
In the late 1570’s CE, Nobunaga often commuted from Mino to
Kyoto. Along the way, there was a place called Yamanaka, where a physically
disabled man was always begging by the roadside. Nobunaga, seeing this man on
commuting, he asked the townspeople why this man was begging always at the same
place, because a beggar usually doesn’t have a fixed place to live. They
replied,
“Long ago, this
man’s ancestor killed Tokiwa Gozen [2] in Yamanaka. As retribution, the descendants
of the killer are born with disabilities and live as beggars. This is he who
the towners call ‘the monkey of Yamanaka’.”
He was physically disabled such that he couldn’t go
anywhere else. On June 26th, 1575 CE, Nobunaga had to urgently travel to Kyoto.
Remembering this man, he had his retainers prepare 20 tans [3] of
cotton. It should be noted that cotton in those days was a precious good mainly
imported from abroad. [4]
Passing through Yamanaka, he saw this man as usual. Nobunaga
issued a proclamation:
“All people, both men and women, must appear. There is
something to be announced.”
The people, fearful of what might be said, reluctantly
gathered. Nobunaga entrusted the townspeople with the 20 tans of cotton,
saying,
“Use half of this cotton to cover the costs of building a
hut nearby for this man, and ensure he does not starve.”
Nobunaga said to the villagers,
“It would be appreciated if the nearby villagers could give
him some wheat when there is harvest, and some rice after the autumn harvest. Twice
a year, in small amounts as long as it would not be a burden on their part.”
Not only the disabled man but also the people wept.
Nobunaga’s retainers also shed tears and made some donations.
It is unclear whether Nobunaga’s actions had any political
connotation. The author Ohta’s description feels too real to have been
fabricated.
If Nobunaga resided in Kyoto instead of commuting, the Honnoji
incident [5] could not have happened and he might have completed his goal: unification
of Japan.
[1] Ohta, G., Shincho Koki (modern translation by Nakata, T.), Shin Jinbutsu Bunko, Tokyo, 2015, tenth printing.
Ota Gyūichi (1527-1613) was a retainer of Oda Nobunaga, and his extensive materials and detailed explanations make his book a relatively reliable source. English translation:
"Chronicles of Lord Nobunaga",
https://brill.com/display/title/19759
[2] Tokiwa Gozen was the mother of Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-1189), younger
brother of Minamoto Yoritomo, the first Shogun.
[4] In mid-16th century Japan, cotton was highly valued for making cloths. It was especially important for samurai garments, because cotton was good in absorbing sweat. It was also good for daily undergarments and summer clothing. Cotton was also used to produce futons (bedding) and other household textiles. Because of its rarity and cost, cotton items were often reserved for the wealthy and were considered luxury goods. Additionally, cotton was sometimes used in religious and ceremonial contexts, where its quality and purity were appreciated. 20 tans of cotton in the 16th century could be highly valuable because as Nobunaga says, half of it suffices to build a hut.
[5] In 1582, when Nobunaga was staying at Honnoji temple, Kyoto with only 150 soldiers, his own general Akichi Mitsuhide revolted with 13000 soldiers. Nobunaga committed seppuku.
Comments
Post a Comment