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Matsunaga Hisahide: Misunderstood Daimyo

Matsunaga Hisahide (松永久秀, c.1510–1577) remains one of the more enigmatic figures of the Sengoku Period. Rising from obscure origins, he became a daimyo, enforcer, cultural elite, and castle innovator. His sophistication, political aptitude and castle innovation won him respect — and perhaps jealousy — even from Oda Nobunaga. Yet he is more often remembered as one of the “Three Evil Daimyō” (三悪人), alongside Saitō Dōsan and Ukita Naoie. Today's historians, less colored by Edo Period chroniclers have painted a very different picture of this daimyo.

The Enforcer

Hisahide’s origins remain obscure, though recent research points to the Takatsuki area in Settsu, near the base of his later home Akutagawasan Castle, where maps record a “Matsunaga Yashiki.” When Miyoshi Nagayoshi returned to Settsu and began rebuilding his power base, he recruited promising samurai regardless of pedigree. Among them were Hisahide and his brother Nagayori, who would become key to the Miyoshi regime’s success.

Hisahide first appears in the records in Nagayoshi’s service in 1539/1540. Without a castle, domain, or hereditary vassals of his own, he relied entirely on ability. His earliest assignments involved relaying Nagayoshi’s orders to temples and merchants around Nishinomiya and the Hyogo ports, where he gained a reputation as an able negotiator and administrator. At the Battle of Eguchi (1549), his skill in combat earned him further distinction, and he was elevated to the rank of senior vassal, on par with members of the Miyoshi family such as Miyoshi Nagayasu.

By the early 1550s, Matsunaga Hisahide had become indispensable to the Miyoshi regime — not only as a battlefield commander but also in diplomacy and domestic governance. In recognition of his growing stature, he was granted Takiyama Castle (滝山城) and broad authority in Settsu Province around 1553. High on the mountains above the Kobe Port area, Takiyama commanded the trade routes and became Hisahide’s first power base. He renovated the fortress with advanced defenses such as double horikiri (moat cuts) and early stonework, while also cultivating his cultural side. he hosted Nagayoshi for renga (linked-verse poetry), Noh performances, and other refined gatherings as a warrior deeply attuned to high culture.

From this base, Hisahide emerged as the chief enforcer of the Miyoshi regime. He crushed Ashikaga attempts to retake Kyoto, mediated a succession dispute at Iwashimizu Hachimangū, and maintained uneasy peace with the Rokkaku in Ōmi (Ashikaga allies). He also worked tirelessly to build his own legacy. His marriage into the imperial family through the sister-in-law of the emperor gave him access to court circles, allowing him to act as a vital bridge between the court and the Miyoshi. He deepened his cultural pursuits under prominent scholars and hosted events that showcased his refinement. This carefully developed sophistication elevated his standing within the Miyoshi and gave legitimacy to his growing influence at court.

The Daimyo

Once the capital was secured in 1558 (see Miyoshi Nagayoshi), Miyoshi turned his attention to Yamato. To carry out this complex task he relied on his most trusted general and diplomat, Matsunaga Hisahide. At the time Yamato Province was a patchwork of powers: the warrior-monks of Kōfukuji and Tōdaiji dominated the land, the Tsutsui clan held nominal sway, and dozens of local samurai families held local autonomy. In 1559 Hisahide marched in with 20,000 Miyoshi troops. The campaign was swift. Many Yamato samurai including the Ochi, Furuichi, Fukuzumi, and Yagyu clans, who resented the Tsutsui, quickly allied with Matsunaga. The main target, Tsutsui Junkei at Tsutsui Castle, was also allied with Yasumi Munefusa, whom the Miyoshi were already attacking in Kawachi. By Hisahide neutralizing Tsutsui Junkei it both secured Yamato and prevented Tsutsui from supporting Yasumi.

With this victory Hisahide became the first warlord to bring Yamato under the unified control of a single daimyō. He ruled with a careful balance of force and diplomacy: forging ties with the wealthy merchants of Nara and Sakai, rewarding local allies, and coopting the military strength of Kofukuji’s warrior-monks. Under his governance, Nara shifted from a city dominated by temples to one governed by warrior authority — a change made visible in the rising silhouette of Tamon Castle, looming above the great temples.

After the invasion Hisahide fortified Shigisan Castle as his military base. The castle high up on the mountain range dividing Yamato and Kawachi allowed him to control both provinces while keeping his commercial networks intact. In 1561 he began work on his masterpiece: Tamon Castle. While Shigisan was the sword of his military, Tamon became the stage for his court, hosting tea ceremonies, poetry, and audiences with nobles.

This division of castles reflected Hisahide’s style of rule — military strength on one hand, cultured statecraft on the other. One might even see a parallel with his lord Miyoshi Nagayoshi, who divided his own power between courtly politics at Saiin Castle in Kyoto and the more practical governance centered at Iimori Castle.

That same year, Nagayoshi elevated him to the court rank of Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade (従四位下), and granted him use of the paulownia crest (桐紋) — honors normally reserved for the shogun or great lords. It was an extraordinary recognition, legitimizing Matsunaga Hisahide as a daimyō in his own right despite his uncertain and humble origins.

The Architect

Tamon Castle was constructed on the northern edge of Nara, overlooking the capital's great temples. Its architecture impressed contemporaries. The Portuguese missionary Luís de Almeida described its magnificent, white plastered walls and tiled roofs as something "not to be found in all of Christendom" and likened entering it to arriving in paradise.

Key innovations at Tamon included:

Four-story tower (yagura): Often called the "Taka Yagura" (High Turret), this structure is considered a direct forerunner of the iconic castle keeps (tenshu) that would define later castles.

Roof tiles : Borrowing from the advanced building techniques of Nara's temples, Hisahide used tiles and thick plaster walls (shikkui), making his castle far more resistant to fire and firearms than the wooden fortifications of the past.

Tamon-yagura: The castle featured long, house-like defensive structures built atop stone walls, a design so influential it became known as the Tamon-yagura ("Tamon turret") and a standard feature of later Japanese castles.

Hisahide’s defensive network in Yamato included Shigisan Castle and Tamon Castle as his two primary headquarters. This network was complemented by a dual strategy of control: he garrisoned key satellite castles such as Sawa Castle and Toichi Castle with his own trusted retainers, while also relying on the support of powerful local allies who remained in their own strongholds, such as the Yagyu clan at Yagyu Castle, long recognized as a key strategic position to control in Yamato. This system was further bolstered by fortifications like Kaseyama Castle, a brilliant mountaintop fortification (extensive yokobori and unejo tatebori) that was key to conflicts with the Miyoshi. Later, his son Hisamichi would fortify Ryuozan Castle as his base, and in the final conflict with Nobunaga, Kataoka Castle served as a key forward position. -- (good place for a table or map, maybe interactive map with mouseover highlights!?!)

The Survivor

Just as Matsunaga Hisahide seemed to have secured his place, his world collapsed. The deaths of several close retainers in the Miyoshi regime, including Nagayoshi's son and heir, Yoshioki, rocked the Miyoshi stability. Hisahide (Yoshioki's guardian) was so overcome with grief that he temporarily retired from public life. This was followed by Miyoshi Nagayoshi’s failing health and eventual death in 1564, forcing Hisahide into an unenviable role. For nearly two years he concealed Nagayoshi's decline, managing affairs in his name. Later chroniclers cast this as an attempted usurpation, but more likely it was Hisahide simply fulfilling his duty to preserve the regime. IF he really wanted to usurp Nagayoshi's role, he probably could have. The Miyoshi successors were weak. In truth, without Nagayoshi there would have been no Matsunaga Hisahide — and without Hisahide, Nagayoshi would never have become the first Tenkabito.

With Nagayoshi gone, the Miyoshi Triumvirate (see Miyoshi Nagayoshi) scrambled to assert control. Meanwhile the specter of Oda Nobunaga loomed larger on the horizon. In 1565 Hisahide’s son, Matsunaga Hisamichi, took part in the Eiroku Incident, the assassination of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Even though contemporary sources suggest Hisahide himself was not directly involved, later chroniclers attribute the death to Hisahide or his scheming.

The Three Crimes of Matsunaga Hisahide

This man committed three things no one else would dare do.
— Oda Nobunaga

According to later sources, Nobunaga once raised a cup at a banquet and toasted to Hisahide’s infamous deeds:

He overthrew his own lord
He killed a shogun
He burned the Great Buddha Hall

Nobunaga — destroyer of Enryakuji — admitted that these were acts beyond even his reach. It was a backhanded tribute to Hisahide’s reputation. In reality these myths are debunked and only reflect the fearful admiration of those who followed.

Relations with the Triumvirs soon soured. In 1567 Hisahide struck against them with a daring night raid on Tōdaiji, where they had taken refuge. During the fighting the Great Buddha Hall was engulfed in flames — almost certainly an accident, though later legend would brand Hisahide as the man who burned Nara’s sacred treasure. Ironically, he actually contributed to fundraising for its reconstruction.

In 1568 Hisahide pivoted from his uneasy ties with the Miyoshi, instead allying with Oda Nobunaga, who had entered Kyoto alongside Ashikaga Yoshiaki to drive the Miyoshi from power. To demonstrate his loyalty, he presented Nobunaga with the famed Tsukumo tea caddy, one of the prized utensils of the age. With Oda backing, Hisahide drove out the Miyoshi Triumvirs and reasserted his hold over Yamato. Even allied he remained uneasy, wary of Nobunaga’s tightening grip.

His first betrayal came in 1572, when he joined the anti-Nobunaga coalition formed as Takeda Shingen marched towards Kyoto. Shingen’s sudden death in 1573 shattered the alliance, and in a rare display of clemency Nobunaga pardoned Hisahide — likely because he still valued Hisahide’s remarkable talents. But the cost was high: he was forced to surrender Tamon Castle. Akechi Mitsuhide would become temporary castellan of Tamon Castle until Nobunaga had it dismantled in 157x. It is said the four story tower (main keep) and other structures were relocated to Azuchi Castle. (although historians like to claim many innovations by Nobunaga at Azuchi Castle, it is clear he also drew inspiration from others!)

By 1575 Hisahide had been stripped of Yamato altogether, humiliated further by Nobunaga’s promotion of his rival Tsutsui Junkei. When Uesugi Kenshin launched his own campaign against Nobunaga in 1577, Hisahide seized the chance and fortified himself in Shigisan Castle. But, Kenshin never advanced. Nobunaga’s army closed in. After his forward base at Kataoka Castle fell to Akechi Mitsuhide, Shigisan was besieged. On October 10, 1577, Hisahide set fire to the castle’s main tower and took his own life. A famous tale claims that he destroyed the priceless Hiragumo tea kettle, coveted by Nobunaga, in the flames. His sons Hisamichi and Nagayori also perished with him, along with and many retainers. The fall of Shigisan was not just the end of a rebellion, but the end of the Matsunaga clan.

Hisahide's death while in defiance of Nobunaga sealed his reputation as one of the great schemers of the age and later chroniclers vilified him for turning against his lord/ally. Yet, before the betrayal and rebellion, Matsunaga Hisahide had been something very different: a kingmaker, a deft politician, a renowned tea master, and a pioneer of castle architecture.

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+<div style="float:right; padding:30px"><div class="img-shadow">[[File:Matunaga_Hisahide.jpg|250px]]</div><div class="caption-center"></div></div>
 ==Matsunaga Hisahide: Misunderstood Daimyo==
-''Off the back of the Miyoshi Nagayoshi article, another figure who keeps appearing in connection to Miyoshi and the lead up to Nobunaga's accession of the Kinai region is Matsunaga Hisahide. I really debated whether to break this one out or just add a few paragraphs to Miyoshi Nagayoshi's story but it's one of those that needed to be told as more than just a sidebar. ''  His story is too compelling not to do more on it. He was a "dandy" a man of highly refined culture, he was an enforcer and fierce warlord in his own right, and a castle innovator. Lavish palaces, tile roods, stone walls and a main keep are innovations starting with Matsunaga that Oda would later claim.
+Matsunaga Hisahide (松永久秀, c.1510–1577) remains one of the more enigmatic figures of the Sengoku Period. Rising from obscure origins, he became a daimyo, enforcer, cultural elite, and castle innovator. His sophistication, political aptitude and castle innovation won him respect — and perhaps jealousy — even from Oda Nobunaga. Yet he is more often remembered as one of the “Three Evil Daimyō” (三悪人), alongside Saitō Dōsan and Ukita Naoie. Today's historians, less colored by Edo Period chroniclers have painted a very different picture of this daimyo.
-===A Brief History===
+=== The Enforcer ===
-(proposed only, outline for longer story, maybe delete when longer is done)
+Hisahide’s origins remain obscure, though recent research points to the Takatsuki area in Settsu, near the base of his later home [[Akutagawasan Castle]], where maps record a “Matsunaga Yashiki.” When Miyoshi Nagayoshi returned to Settsu and began rebuilding his power base, he recruited promising samurai regardless of pedigree. Among them were Hisahide and his brother Nagayori, who would become key to the Miyoshi regime’s success.
-Matsunaga Hisahide (松永久秀, c.1510–1577) was one of the most enigmatic figures of the Sengoku period. From humble origins he rose to become a daimyō, a cultured aesthete, political schemer, fierce warrior, and castle innovator. His castles and cultural accomplishments drew the admiration — and perhaps even the jealousy — of Oda Nobunaga himself. Yet despite these achievements, Hisahide is often vilified as one of the “Three Evil Daimyō” (三悪人), alongside Saitō Dōsan and Ukita Naoie.
+Hisahide first appears in the records in Nagayoshi’s service in 1539/1540. Without a castle, domain, or hereditary vassals of his own, he relied entirely on ability. His earliest assignments involved relaying Nagayoshi’s orders to temples and merchants around Nishinomiya and the Hyogo ports, where he gained a reputation as an able negotiator and administrator. At the Battle of Eguchi (1549), his skill in combat earned him further distinction, and he was elevated to the rank of senior vassal, on par with members of the Miyoshi family such as Miyoshi Nagayasu.
-Hisahide’s origins remain obscure, but recent research suggests he may have come from the Takatsuki area in modern-day Osaka, near the base of his future [[Akutagawasan Castle]]. Records and maps note the site of a “Matsunaga Yashiki,” leading historians to theorize that Hisahide’s family were modest local samurai with ties to this region.
+By the early 1550s, Matsunaga Hisahide had become indispensable to the Miyoshi regime — not only as a battlefield commander but also in diplomacy and domestic governance. In recognition of his growing stature, he was granted [[Takiyama Castle (Settsu)|Takiyama Castle (滝山城)]] and broad authority in Settsu Province around 1553. High on the mountains above the Kobe Port area, Takiyama commanded the trade routes and became Hisahide’s first power base. He renovated the fortress with advanced defenses such as double horikiri (moat cuts) and early stonework, while also cultivating his cultural side. he hosted Nagayoshi for ''renga'' (linked-verse poetry), Noh performances, and other refined gatherings as a warrior deeply attuned to high culture.
-When Miyoshi Nagayoshi (三好長慶, 1522–1564) returned to Settsu and began rebuilding his power base, he recruited promising samurai regardless of pedigree. Among them were Hisahide and his brother Nagayori, who would become key to the Miyoshi regime’s success. Hisahide first appears in the records in Nagayoshi’s service in the late 1530s or early 1540s. Without a castle, domain, or hereditary vassals of his own, he relied entirely on ability and cunning. His earliest assignments involved relaying Nagayoshi’s orders to temples and merchants around the Nishinomiya and Hyōgo ports, where he gained a reputation as an able negotiator and administrator. At the Battle of Eguchi, his skill in combat earned him further distinction, and he was elevated to the rank of senior vassal, on par with members of the Miyoshi family such as Miyoshi Nagayasu.
+From this base, Hisahide emerged as the chief enforcer of the Miyoshi regime. He crushed Ashikaga attempts to retake Kyoto, mediated a succession dispute at Iwashimizu Hachimangū, and maintained uneasy peace with the Rokkaku in Ōmi (Ashikaga allies). He also worked tirelessly to build his own legacy. His marriage into the imperial family through the sister-in-law of the emperor gave him access to court circles, allowing him to act as a vital bridge between the court and the Miyoshi. He deepened his cultural pursuits under prominent scholars and hosted events that showcased his refinement. This carefully developed sophistication elevated his standing within the Miyoshi and gave legitimacy to his growing influence at court.
-By the early 1550s, Hisahide had become indispensable not only in military affairs but also in diplomacy and domestic governance. In recognition of his service, he was granted Takiyama Castle (滝山城) and extensive control over Settsu Province around 1553. Perched above the port, Takiyama offered a commanding view of maritime traffic and became Hisahide’s first true power base. He renovated the castle extensively, introducing features such as double horikiri (moat cuts) and early stone walling. While Takiyama was his personal stronghold, Hisahide usually resided at Akutagawasan Castle with Nagayoshi, serving as one of his chief aides in both government and culture. Takiyama castle doubled as cultural venue where Hisahide hosted his lord for renga (linked-verse poetry), Noh performances, and gatherings that reflected the cultured image he carefully cultivated.
+=== The Daimyo ===
+Once the capital was secured in 1558 (see [[Miyoshi Nagayoshi]]), Miyoshi turned his attention to Yamato. To carry out this complex task he relied on his most trusted general and diplomat, Matsunaga Hisahide. At the time Yamato Province was a patchwork of powers: the warrior-monks of Kōfukuji and Tōdaiji dominated the land, the Tsutsui clan held nominal sway, and dozens of local samurai families held local autonomy. In 1559 Hisahide marched in with 20,000 Miyoshi troops. The campaign was swift. Many Yamato samurai including the Ochi, Furuichi, Fukuzumi, and Yagyu clans, who resented the Tsutsui, quickly allied with Matsunaga. The main target, Tsutsui Junkei at Tsutsui Castle, was also allied with Yasumi Munefusa, whom the Miyoshi were already attacking in Kawachi. By Hisahide neutralizing Tsutsui Junkei it both secured Yamato and prevented Tsutsui from supporting Yasumi.
-==== next ====
+With this victory Hisahide became the first warlord to bring Yamato under the unified control of a single daimyō. He ruled with a careful balance of force and diplomacy: forging ties with the wealthy merchants of Nara and Sakai, rewarding local allies, and coopting the military strength of Kofukuji’s warrior-monks. Under his governance, Nara shifted from a city dominated by temples to one governed by warrior authority — a change made visible in the rising silhouette of Tamon Castle, looming above the great temples.
-Hisahide served as Nagayoshi’s chief enforcer and advisor, suppressing rivals and consolidating Miyoshi control across Yamato, Settsu, Kawachi and even excursion into deep Tanba territory.
+After the invasion Hisahide fortified [[Shigisan Castle]] as his military base. The castle high up on the mountain range dividing Yamato and Kawachi allowed him to control both provinces while keeping his commercial networks intact. In 1561 he began work on his masterpiece: Tamon Castle. While Shigisan was the sword of his military, Tamon became the stage for his court, hosting tea ceremonies, poetry, and audiences with nobles.
-Following Nagayoshi’s death in 1564, Hisahide aligned briefly with the Miyoshi Triumvirate (三好三人衆), but soon betrayed them, carving out his own power base in Yamato (present day Nara Prefecture). He established [[Shigisan Castle]] (信貴山城) as his stronghold, asserting military and political autonomy. This maneuvering put him in direct competition with the rising Oda Nobunaga (織田信長), who initially tolerated Hisahide but later viewed him as a threat.
+This division of castles reflected Hisahide’s style of rule — military strength on one hand, cultured statecraft on the other. One might even see a parallel with his lord Miyoshi Nagayoshi, who divided his own power between courtly politics at [[Saiin Castle]] in Kyoto and the more practical governance centered at [[Iimori Castle]].
-Hisahide’s final years were marked by shifting allegiances. He submitted to Nobunaga, then rebelled again. In 1577, surrounded at Shigisan Castle, he chose to end his life rather than surrender. According to legend, he destroyed his prized tea kettle — the Hiragumo (平蜘蛛釜) — before committing seppuku, denying Nobunaga the symbolic prize.
+That same year, Nagayoshi elevated him to the court rank of Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade (従四位下), and granted him use of the paulownia crest (桐紋) — honors normally reserved for the shogun or great lords. It was an extraordinary recognition, legitimizing Matsunaga Hisahide as a daimyō in his own right despite his uncertain and humble origins.
-His death sealed his reputation as a cunning and dangerous man. But before the betrayals and rebellion, Hisahide had been something else entirely: a patron of the arts, a pioneer of castle architecture, and a cultural figure of remarkable sophistication.
+=== The Architect ===
+[[Tamon Castle]] was constructed on the northern edge of Nara, overlooking the capital's great temples. Its architecture impressed contemporaries. The Portuguese missionary Luís de Almeida described its magnificent, white plastered walls and tiled roofs as something "not to be found in all of Christendom" and likened entering it to arriving in paradise.
-Matsunaga Hisahide: The Innovator of Yamato
+Key innovations at Tamon included:
-Matsunaga Hisahide (1508?–1577) remains one of the most complex and controversial figures of the Sengoku period. For centuries, he has been branded as one of the era’s three great villains (kyōyū), a Machiavellian schemer infamous for committing the “Three Great Crimes”: assassinating the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, betraying his masters the Miyoshi clan, and burning the Great Buddha Hall at Tōdaiji Temple. This reputation, largely cemented by Edo-period tales like the Jōzan Kidan, has long overshadowed his reality. However, recent scholarship, drawing on contemporary records, has begun to re-evaluate this caricature, revealing a man of extraordinary talent—a brilliant administrator, a pioneer of castle architecture, and a refined man of culture whose career profoundly shaped the political landscape of the Kinai region and paved the way for Oda Nobunaga’s ascendancy.
-. Background and Rise to Power
-Matsunaga Hisahide’s early life is shrouded in mystery, a testament to his relatively humble origins in an age defined by pedigree. While several theories exist, recent research points to the Higashi-Yosumi district of Takatsuki, Settsu Province (modern-day Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture), as his most likely birthplace. Evidence from the Edo period, such as maps identifying a moated plot of land as the "Matsunaga residence ruins" (Matsunaga yashiki ato) and local guidebooks noting his former home, suggests his family was a local landholding clan, or dogō.
-Hisahide first appears in historical records around 1539–1540, already in his early thirties, as a retainer of Miyoshi Nagayoshi. Nagayoshi, himself an ambitious leader from Awa Province, was consolidating his power in Settsu Province and sought to rebuild his vassal band after his father was killed in a conflict instigated by his own lord, Hosokawa Harumoto. In this environment, Nagayoshi recruited talented men regardless of their social standing, and Hisahide and his younger brother Nagayori proved to be his most astute hires.
-Initially possessing no land, castle, or personal retinue, Hisahide's power was derived entirely from the trust and favor of Nagayoshi. He quickly distinguished himself through his exceptional skill in negotiation (kōshōryoku) and administration. Starting as a liaison (toritsugi), his influence surged after Nagayoshi’s victory at the Battle of Eguchi in 1549, which shattered Hosokawa Harumoto’s power and established the Miyoshi as the dominant force in the capital region. Hisahide became Nagayoshi's indispensable right-hand man, managing everything from military affairs to diplomacy with the imperial court, nobility, and powerful temples.
-His value to Nagayoshi cannot be overstated. Nagayoshi showered him with honors, allowing him to hold the same high court rank (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) and to use the prestigious paulownia (kiri) crest, a symbol of great authority. By 1553, Hisahide was entrusted with Takiyama Castle in Settsu (modern Kobe), where he not only governed but also hosted Nagayoshi with renga poetry gatherings and Noh performances. His rise from an obscure local warrior to a key pillar of the Miyoshi regime exemplifies the era of gekokujō—the overturning of the social order by those from below.
-. Lord of Yamato
-In 1559, Nagayoshi ordered Hisahide to invade Yamato Province, a region historically dominated by the powerful warrior-monks of Kōfukuji and Tōdaiji temples. The nominal power, the Tsutsui clan, was weakened by internal strife, and many local samurai, resentful of the Tsutsui's alliance with the Kawachi-based Yusa clan, sided with Hisahide's invading army of 20,000 men. This allowed him to swiftly capture Tsutsui Castle and subdue the Yamato Basin (kuninaka) and the eastern plateau (higashi yamauchi).
-Hisahide became the first warlord to truly transform Yamato into a unified domain under the control of a single daimyo, breaking centuries of clerical rule. His governance was a deft mix of military force and political accommodation. He established a network of castles garrisoned by his trusted retainers, such as the Takayama clan at Sawa Castle and the Mio clan at Tsutsui Castle. Simultaneously, he engaged with the existing power structure, being treated by Kōfukuji Temple as the head of their organized armed forces, the Kanpu-shūto.
-What set Hisahide apart was his effort to integrate himself into the economic and cultural life of the province. He established close ties with the wealthy merchants of Nara and Sakai, hosting lavish tea ceremonies in his newly built Tamon Castle. In a notable move, he granted a monopoly on the sale of manjū (sweet buns) in Nara to Hayashi Sōji, a respected scholar, demonstrating an understanding of the importance of commerce and local patronage. His rule marked a decisive shift in Nara's history from a city dominated by religious institutions to one governed by warrior authority, a change physically symbolized by the construction of Tamon Castle overlooking the great temples.
-. A Pioneer of Castle Architecture
-Hisahide’s strategic vision and aesthetic sense were most brilliantly expressed through his castles, which were revolutionary for their time. While he utilized and expanded existing fortifications, his designs introduced key features that would define the next era of castle architecture.
-His first major base in Yamato was Shigisan Castle, an existing mountain fortress on the border of Yamato and Kawachi that he occupied and extensively renovated in 1559. Its strategic location was ideal for exercising wide-area control over both provinces. The castle was a massive complex built on Mount Shigi, with a main bailey (honmaru) on the peak and extensive residential compounds, including one known as the "Matsunaga Yashiki," spreading down the radiating ridges. This arrangement, where vassals built their mansions within the fortress alongside their lord, created a fortified city in the mountains.
-Even more innovative was Tamon Castle, which he began constructing in 1561 on the northern edge of Nara, overlooking the capital's great temples. Tamon was conceived as a multi-functional hub: a military fortress, a political administration center, and a cultural salon. Its architecture stunned contemporaries, including the Portuguese missionary Luís de Almeida, who described its magnificent, white plastered walls and tiled roofs as something "not to be found in all of Christendom" and likened entering it to arriving in paradise. Key innovations at Tamon included:
-• The first four-story tower (yagura): Often called the "Taka Yagura" (High Turret), this structure is considered a direct forerunner of the iconic castle towers (tenshu) of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
-• Widespread use of roof tiles (kawara) and plaster (shikkui): Borrowing from the advanced building techniques of Nara's temples, Hisahide used tiles and thick plaster walls, making his castle far more resistant to fire and firearms than the wooden fortifications of the past.
-• The origin of the Tamon-yagura: The castle featured long, house-like defensive structures built atop stone walls, a design so influential it became known as the Tamon-yagura ("Tamon turret") and a standard feature of later Japanese castles.
-Hisahide’s defensive network in Yamato included Shigisan and Tamon as his two primary headquarters, complemented by satellite castles such as Sawa Castle and Toichi Castle garrisoned by retainers. Later, his son Hisamichi would use Ryūōsan Castle as his base, and in the final conflict with Nobunaga, Kataoka Castle served as a key forward position.
-. The Post-Miyoshi Years and Final Defeat
-The death of Miyoshi Nagayoshi in 1564 plunged the Miyoshi clan into a power struggle. Hisahide initially shared control with the "Miyoshi Triumvirs" (Miyoshi Nagayasu, Miyoshi Masayasu, and Iwanari Tomomichi). While Hisahide's son Hisamichi participated in the 1565 assassination of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru (the Eiroku Incident), contemporary sources suggest Hisahide himself was not present.
-Soon after, relations soured, and Hisahide found himself at war with the Triumvirs. It was during a battle in 1567, a night raid against the Triumvirs who had fortified themselves within Tōdaiji, that the Great Buddha Hall was accidentally burned down—it was not a deliberate act of arson as later tales claimed. Hisahide even supported fundraising for its reconstruction the following year.
-By 1568, Hisahide was in a precarious position. Astutely reading the political winds, he allied himself with Oda Nobunaga, who was marching on Kyoto with the shogun-aspirant Ashikaga Yoshiaki. He submitted to Nobunaga, presenting the famed "Tsukumo" tea caddy as a gift of loyalty. With Nobunaga's powerful backing, he drove the Triumvirs out of the capital region and re-established his control over Yamato. His relationship with key Nobunaga retainers like Akechi Mitsuhide was complex; Mitsuhide served as a mediator for Hisahide's rival Tsutsui Junkei and later acted as a castellan at Tamon Castle after Hisahide surrendered it.
-Hisahide, however, was a product of the age of gekokujō and adhered to the principle of following the powerful. He betrayed Nobunaga twice:
-. First Betrayal (1572): He joined the anti-Nobunaga coalition when Takeda Shingen began his march on Kyoto. When Shingen died unexpectedly in 1573, the coalition collapsed. Facing overwhelming odds, Hisahide surrendered Tamon Castle. In a rare display of mercy, Nobunaga pardoned him, likely because he still saw use for Hisahide's extraordinary talents.
-. Second Betrayal (1577): Stripped of his domain of Yamato in 1575 and angered by Nobunaga's promotion of his rival Tsutsui Junkei, Hisahide saw a final opportunity when Uesugi Kenshin began his own campaign against Nobunaga. He fortified himself in his stronghold of Shigisan Castle.
-This time, there was no escape. Kenshin did not advance, and Nobunaga sent a massive army under his son Nobutada, which included forces led by Akechi Mitsuhide and Hosokawa Fujitaka. After his forward base at Kataoka Castle fell, Shigisan was besieged. On October 10, 1577—coincidentally the tenth anniversary of the Tōdaiji fire—Hisahide set fire to the castle's main tower and committed suicide. The popular tale of him destroying the priceless Hiragumo tea kettle and blowing himself up with gunpowder is a dramatic embellishment from a later period. Many of his vassals fought fiercely to the end, a testament to the loyalty he commanded.
-. The Legacy of a "Villain"
-Matsunaga Hisahide's legacy is twofold. On one hand, he is the archetypal villain of the Sengoku period, a master of intrigue whose name is synonymous with betrayal. On the other, he was a pivotal figure who ushered in a new era of politics and warfare.
-His architectural innovations at Tamon and Shigisan castles, particularly the use of multi-story towers, tiled roofs, and the Tamon-yagura, were groundbreaking and directly influenced Nobunaga's own masterpiece, Azuchi Castle. He was also a leading cultural figure, a connoisseur of the tea ceremony whose aesthetic sensibilities were emulated by Nobunaga himself.
-Perhaps his most profound impact was political. By supporting the Miyoshi regime—a government that functioned effectively without a shogun in Kyoto—Hisahide helped demonstrate that the authority of the Ashikaga shogunate was no longer essential for governing Japan. This precedent was not lost on Oda Nobunaga, who built upon the foundations laid by predecessors like Hisahide. Far from being a mere villain, Matsunaga Hisahide was a complex and brilliant innovator whose life and actions were instrumental in dismantling the old medieval order and shaping the dawn of the early modern era.
-=== Castle Builder ===
+* ''Four-story tower (yagura)'': Often called the "Taka Yagura" (High Turret), this structure is considered a direct forerunner of the iconic castle keeps (tenshu) that would define later castles.
-Matsunaga’s legacy as a castle builder is often overshadowed by his political maneuvering, but his fortresses were among the more innovative of the pre-Azuchi era. He built some of the most expansive and well fortified mountaintop fortresses of the time, that rivaled Miyoshi's [[Iimori Catsle]] and [[Akutagawasan Castle]].
+* ''Roof tiles'' : Borrowing from the advanced building techniques of Nara's temples, Hisahide used tiles and thick plaster walls (shikkui), making his castle far more resistant to fire and firearms than the wooden fortifications of the past.
-==== Takiyama Castle (瀧山城) ====
+* ''Tamon-yagura'': The castle featured long, house-like defensive structures built atop stone walls, a design so influential it became known as the Tamon-yagura ("Tamon turret") and a standard feature of later Japanese castles.
-Overlooking Kobe Harbor. Opportunity to ally with nearby Miyoshi at [[Koshimizu Castle]].
+Hisahide’s defensive network in Yamato included [[Shigisan Castle]] and [[Tamon Castle]] as his two primary headquarters. This network was complemented by a dual strategy of control: he garrisoned key satellite castles such as [[Sawa Castle]] and [[Toichi Castle]] with his own trusted retainers, while also relying on the support of powerful local allies who remained in their own strongholds, such as the Yagyu clan at [[Yagyu Castle]], long recognized as a key strategic position to control in Yamato. This system was further bolstered by fortifications like [[Kaseyama Castle]], a brilliant mountaintop fortification (extensive yokobori and unejo tatebori) that was key to conflicts with the Miyoshi. Later, his son Hisamichi would fortify [[Ryuozan Castle]] as his base, and in the final conflict with Nobunaga, [[Kataoka Castle]] served as a key forward position.  -- (good place for a table or map, maybe interactive map with mouseover highlights!?!)
-Early stone walls, brilliant double horikiri, steep ascending path
-==== Shigisan Castle (信貴山城) ====
-Built atop a ridgeline between Yamato and Kawachi, Shigisan Castle became Hisahide’s main base. Expanded beginning around 1559, it featured multiple ridgelines fortified with terraced baileys and deep gates. Its location allowed command over three strategic routes — Tatsutagoe, Ikoma-jūsan-tōge, and Hegritani. The design was both militarily sound and symbolically dominant.
+=== The Survivor ===
-==== Tamon Castle (多聞城) ====
+Just as Matsunaga Hisahide seemed to have secured his place, his world collapsed. The deaths of several close retainers in the Miyoshi regime, including Nagayoshi's son and heir, Yoshioki, rocked the Miyoshi stability. Hisahide (Yoshioki's guardian) was so overcome with grief that he temporarily retired from public life. This was followed by Miyoshi Nagayoshi’s failing health and eventual death in 1564, forcing Hisahide into an unenviable role. For nearly two years he concealed Nagayoshi's decline, managing affairs in his name. Later chroniclers cast this as an attempted usurpation, but more likely it was Hisahide simply fulfilling his duty to preserve the regime. IF he really wanted to usurp Nagayoshi's role, he probably could have. The Miyoshi successors were weak. In truth, without Nagayoshi there would have been no Matsunaga Hisahide — and without Hisahide, Nagayoshi would never have become the first Tenkabito.
-Constructed in 1560 at the northern edge of Nara, Tamon Castle was Hisahide’s cultural and administrative center. Portuguese missionary Luís de Almeida described it as dazzling, with white walls, golden fittings, and painted fusuma. Its four-story tenshu, layered enclosures, and city-facing presence made it a prototype of the Azuchi-style castles that would come later. Nobunaga visited Tamon in 1574 — two years before Azuchi construction began.
+With Nagayoshi gone, the Miyoshi Triumvirate (see [[Miyoshi Nagayoshi]]) scrambled to assert control. Meanwhile the specter of Oda Nobunaga loomed larger on the horizon. In 1565 Hisahide’s son, Matsunaga Hisamichi, took part in the Eiroku Incident, the assassination of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Even though contemporary sources suggest Hisahide himself was not directly involved, later chroniclers attribute the death to Hisahide or his scheming.
-==== Ryūōzan Castle (龍王山城) ====
+<div class="card" style="max-width: 350px; float:right; margin-left: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
+<h5 class="card-header">
+<span class="mw-headline" style="text-align:center;">The Three Crimes of Matsunaga Hisahide</span>
+</h5>
+<div class="card-body small">
+    <p class="mb-2">
-A secondary fort along the Yamato–Kawachi border, Ryūōzan Castle utilized its ridgeline for observation and retreat. Likely functioning as a backup position to Shigisan, its remnants show careful adaptation to terrain and rapid communication with other sites.
+''This man committed three things no one else would dare do.'' <br />
+— '''Oda Nobunaga'''<br/>
-==== Kaseyama Castle (鹿背山城) ====
+<br/>
+According to later sources, Nobunaga once raised a cup at a banquet and toasted to Hisahide’s infamous deeds:
+# He overthrew his own lord
+# He killed a shogun
+# He burned the Great Buddha Hall
-Near Kyōtanabe in Yamashiro Province, this lesser-known but technically brilliant fortress features a sophisticated 畝城竪堀 (unejō tatebori) system — deep vertical trenches along narrow ridges. The castle guarded a vital corridor between Nara and Kyoto, and its preservation today is minimal, despite deserving national recognition. Focal point of battles with Miyoshi 3
+Nobunaga — destroyer of Enryakuji — admitted that these were acts beyond even his reach. It was a backhanded tribute to Hisahide’s reputation. In reality these myths are debunked and only reflect the fearful admiration of those who followed.
+	</p>
+    </div>
+</div>
-⸻
+Relations with the Triumvirs soon soured. In 1567 Hisahide struck against them with a daring night raid on Tōdaiji, where they had taken refuge. During the fighting the Great Buddha Hall was engulfed in flames — almost certainly an accident, though later legend would brand Hisahide as the man who burned Nara’s sacred treasure. Ironically, he actually contributed to fundraising for its reconstruction.
-Sidebar: “The Three Crimes of Matsunaga Hisahide”
+In 1568 Hisahide pivoted from his uneasy ties with the Miyoshi, instead allying with Oda Nobunaga, who had entered Kyoto alongside Ashikaga Yoshiaki to drive the Miyoshi from power. To demonstrate his loyalty, he presented Nobunaga with the famed Tsukumo tea caddy, one of the prized utensils of the age. With Oda backing, Hisahide drove out the Miyoshi Triumvirs and reasserted his hold over Yamato. Even allied he remained uneasy, wary of Nobunaga’s tightening grip.
-“This man committed three things no one else would dare do.” — Oda Nobunaga
+His first betrayal came in 1572, when he joined the anti-Nobunaga coalition formed as Takeda Shingen marched towards Kyoto. Shingen’s sudden death in 1573 shattered the alliance, and in a rare display of clemency Nobunaga pardoned Hisahide — likely because he still valued Hisahide’s remarkable talents. But the cost was high: he was forced to surrender [[Tamon Castle]]. Akechi Mitsuhide would become temporary castellan of [[Tamon Castle]] until Nobunaga had it dismantled in 157x. It is said the four story tower (main keep) and other structures were relocated to [[Azuchi Castle]]. (although historians like to claim many innovations by Nobunaga at Azuchi Castle, it is clear he also drew inspiration from others!)
-According to later sources, Nobunaga once raised a cup at a banquet and listed Hisahide’s infamous deeds:
+By 1575 Hisahide had been stripped of Yamato altogether, humiliated further by Nobunaga’s promotion of his rival Tsutsui Junkei. When Uesugi Kenshin launched his own campaign against Nobunaga in 1577, Hisahide seized the chance and fortified himself in [[Shigisan Castle]]. But, Kenshin never advanced. Nobunaga’s army closed in. After his forward base at [[Kataoka Castle]] fell to Akechi Mitsuhide, Shigisan was besieged. On October 10, 1577, Hisahide set fire to the castle’s main tower and took his own life. A famous tale claims that he destroyed the priceless Hiragumo tea kettle, coveted by Nobunaga, in the flames. His sons Hisamichi and Nagayori also perished with him, along with and many retainers. The fall of Shigisan was not just the end of a rebellion, but the end of the Matsunaga clan.
-.	He killed a shogun.  — Ashikaga Yoshiteru (足利義輝) was murdered in 1565 during a coup supported by Hisahide.
-.	He overthrew his own lord. — The Miyoshi clan, who had raised him, were dismantled through his betrayal.
-.	He burned the Great Buddha Hall. — The Daibutsuden at Tōdaiji (東大寺大仏殿) was destroyed during Hisahide’s conflict with the Miyoshi Triumvirate.
-Even Nobunaga — destroyer of Enryakuji — admitted that these were acts beyond even his reach. It was a backhanded tribute to Hisahide’s reputation as a man who combined ruthlessness with spectacle.
+Hisahide's death while in defiance of Nobunaga sealed his reputation as one of the great schemers of the age and later chroniclers vilified him for turning against his lord/ally. Yet, before the betrayal and rebellion, Matsunaga Hisahide had been something very different: a kingmaker, a deft politician, a renowned tea master, and a pioneer of castle architecture.
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