• First Ruler: –
• Final Ruler: Takeda Katusyori
• Dissolution: Suicide of Katsuyori in 1582.
• Cadet Branches: Aki, Kai, Wakasa
• For a full list of Japanese Clans see: Clans.

Takeda Clan

The Takeda Clan (武田氏) was a prominent clan and military house during the Kamakura, Muromachi and Azuchi-Momoyama Periods, taking their name from Takeda in Kai Province.¹

Kamakura Period

The Clan fought during the Taira-Minamoto war (1180) for Minamoto no Yorimoto, as well as taking part in the Jōkyū Disturbance of 1221. Takeda Nobumitsu became shugo of Aki Province for his involvement in the 1221 disturbance, establishing the Aki Branch of the family.¹

Muromachi Period

During the Eikyō Disturbance in 1438 they helped the shogunate in destroying Ashikaga Mochiuji.¹

Takeda Shingen, after displacing his father Nobutora in 1541 aimed to conquer much territory, attacking the provinces of Shinano and Echigo Province. A series of later attempts at failed alliences led to the Battle of Mitakagahara in 1573 against Oda Nobunaga, of which the Takeda were victorious.²

During the Sengoku Period, to help fuel their battles and other exploits, the Takeda gained much of their money from a secret mine located in the Kurokawa Kinzan Mountain (see Oiran Buchi). The gold mining peaked during Takeda Shingen, who used the gold to build a large spy network, adept at using female ninja ‘ku-no-ichi‘. These women posed as anything from, holy women, to servants, to prostitutes who gained intel from his rivals.³

Azuchi-Momoyama Period

After Shingen’s death, his work was left to his son Katsuyori. Katsuyori would eventually fail as his allies left to side with Nobunaga, causing him to eventually flee and commit suicide in 1582.¹

Both main branches of the Takeda (the Kai and Wakasa branches) were destroyed within four months and one week of one another^,1 with the death of Takeda Katusyori marking the end of the family.²

Branch Families

Aki

There were at least 10 Takeda shugo during the Muromachi Shogunate from Aki Province, this lineage started by Takeda Nobumitsu after his involvement in the Jōkyū Disturbance.¹

Kai

This branch fell to Oda Nobunaga in 1582 folowing the exploits of Shingen and his son Katsuyori.¹

Wakasa

An offshoot of the Aki Branch, this lineage of military governors dwelled in Wakasa Province from 1440. These Takeda were known for cultural pursuits, including a compiled set of rules of chivalrous bearing, especially of mounted archery (yabusame). This branch developed a Takeda school of military ettiquette (kyūba kojitsu).

By the late 16th century they fall under the sway of Oda Nobunaga, with the exploits of Takeda Motoaki leading to the destruction of the Wakasa branch.¹

Members of the House

Aki Branch

• Takeda Nobumitsu – d.1248

Kai Branch

• Takeda Katusyori – 1546-82
• Takeda Nobutora – 1498-1574
• Takeda Nobuyoshi – d.1186
• Takeda Shingen – 1521-73

Wakasa Branch

• Takeda Motoaki – 1552-1582

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
3. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Yurei Attack: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

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Provinces

The Japanese provinces (国 kuni or koku) were geographical areas which were establsihed by the Kokugun System and the Taika Reforms came into being in 645AD.

Initially they comprised of 58 kuni with 3 islands provinces, however by 822AD this had changed to 66 kuni and 2 islands provinces.

These areas existed under the Meiji Restoration and were offically abolished in 1871 and replaced with the current Prefectural System.¹ When the Prefectures were established the old provinces were grouped by geographical location into the ‘Five Provinces of Kinai’ and the ‘Seven Circuits.²

During their existence they were lead by Kokushi (Provisional Governors) and Gunji (District Officials).¹

Here follows a list of Provinces on our site. This is not yet completely and will continued to be added to over time.

Provinces of the Kinai

• • Izumi Province
  • Kawachi Province
  • Settsu Province
  • Yamashiro Province
  • Yamato Province

Tōsandō Circuit

• • Dewa Province
  • Hida Province
  • Kōzuke Province
  • Mino Province
  • Mutsu Province
  • Omi Province
  • Shimotsuke Province
  • Shinano Province

Hokurikudō Circuit

• • Echigo Province
  • Echizen Province
  • Etchū Province
  • Kaga Province
  • Koshi Province
  • Wakasa Province

San’indō Circuit

• • Hōki Province (also called Hahaki Province)
  • Inaba Province
  • Izumo Province
  • Tajima Province
  • Tamba Province
  • Tango Province

Tōkaidō Circuit

• • Ise Province
  • Kai Province
  • Kazusa Province
  • Mikawa Province
  • Owari Province
  • Sagami Province
  • Shimōsa Province
  • Suruga Province
  • Tōtōmi Province

Nankaidō Circuit

• • Awa Province
  • Iyo Province
  • Kii Province
  • Sanuki Province
  • Tosa Province

San’yōdō Circuit

• • Aki Province
  • Harima Province (also called Banshu Province)
  • Mimasaka Province

Saikaidaō Circuit

• • Bungo Province
  • Chikuzen Province
  • Hizen Province
  • Hyūga Province (also called Himuka Province)
  • Iki Province
  • Tsushima Province

Pre-Taihō Code

• • Kibi Province

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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Hear about Yamanoue no Okura on Episode 8A of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Nara Period
• Occupation: Waka Poet, Governor
• Family: –
• Birth: –
• Death: 733AD?

Yamanoue no Okura

Yamanoue no Okura (山上 憶良) was a waka poet and lived during the Nara period. He is said to have died at the age of 74 in 733AD¹, and inspired Ōtomo no Tabito to persue his poetic endeavors.³

It is known that in 701AD he was sent to China, as part of an embassy which was led by a man known as Awata Mahito.

By 721 he had become tutor to the Crown Prince and went on to become Governor of the Chikuzen Province. He is also thought to be the compiler of the Ruiji-Karin (Forest of Classified Verses). This document though no longer in existence, is often cited and metioned in the original notes of the Manyōshū.

As a poet his poems are well known, and some of them are of Chinese composition. Most notably his poems on his children and of the suffering of the poor are famous.¹

One of his poems from the Manyōshū (Book 5, poem 893) goes as follows:

Footnotes

1. Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai. (2005) “1000 Poems from the Manyōshū: The Complete Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai Translation”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
2. WakaPoetry.net. Online depository of Japanese Poetry.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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• • Reign: 642-645 (Kōgyoku) 655-661 (Saimei)
  • Period: Asuka Period
  • Family: Emperor Jomei (husband) Prince Naka (son) Emperor Kotoku (brother)
  • Burial Place: –
  • Order of Succession:
    • 1st Reign Predecessor Emperor Jomei * Successor Emperor Kōtoku
    • 2nd Reign Predecessor Emperor Kōtoku * Sucessor Emperor Tenji

Empress Kōgyoku

Empress Kōgyoku (皇極天皇) was the thirty-fifth Emperor of Japan. She was the wife of Emperor Jomei and mother to Prince Naka who would later become Emperor Tenji.¹² She would rule again as the Empress Saimei (斉明天皇) and be the thirty-seventh Emperor of Japan.¹

Prior to her Reign

Before her reign began she held a reputation for being a Shaman and as such communicated with kami. She was not politically active prior to her rule.²

Her son Prince Naka should have come to the throne instead of Kōgyoku, however Soga no Emishi and his son Soga no Iruka placed instead Kōgyoku on the throne.

Reign as Kōgyoku

She came to the throne aged 49² and during her reign, hatred for the Soga Clan reached it’s peak leading to a coup d`etat ending with Iruka being killed in front of the Empress. This in turn led to the subsequent destruction of the Soga House and Clan.¹

After this due to pressure from political figures she abdicated for her brother Emperor Kōtoku.²

Reign as Saimei

The Empress came back to rule aged 60 from 655-661, renaming herself as Saimei to ‘alleviate tension’ created during her brother’s reigns, and to ensure her son; Crown Prince Naka could succeed. He appears to have been the one to hold power during her second reign and she was more a political puppet.²

Between the years of 658 and 660 Abe no Hirafu was sent north three times to subdue the Ezo People.³

She joins the Crown Prince on an expedition to aid the leader of Paekche (Korea) who requested help to fight against Silla. During this she fell ill and died on active service in Chikuzen Province aged 67.²

Footnotes

1. Martin, P. (1997) ”The Chrysanthemum Throne”. Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing Limited.
2. Tsurumi, P. (1981) “Early Female Emperors” Historical Reflections Vol.8 No.1 pp.41-49.
3. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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• See also: List of Provinces

Chikuzen Province

Chikuzen Province (筑前国) was an old Province of Japan. It is now in modern day Fukuoka Prefecture.¹

Around the 700’s AD the waka poet Yamanoue no Okura became Governor of this province.²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai. (2005) “1000 Poems from the Manyōshū: The Complete Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai Translation”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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