Shingen Takeda (武田信玄, ) (February 1st 1521 - May 13rd 1573) of the provinces of Shinano and Kai, is one of principal the Daimyō having fought for the control of the Japan during the Period Sengoku.

Notes on the name

Shingen Takeda is born under the name of Katsuchiyo Takeda . It takes the name of Harunobu Takeda with its ceremony of passage at the adulthood, and changes its name once again while becoming monk in 1551, this time for the name become famous of Shingen Takeda . This article announces such name changes, but uses mainly the name of Shingen Takeda to avoid any confusion.

Biography

Born Katsuchiyo Takeda , he is the oldest son of Nobutora Takeda, a lord of war impressing. He helps his father in many the oldest companies of Takeda, and acquires a certain value at a rather young age. However, with certain moment of its life with its majority (to be noted that at the time of the passage of this one it changes name for Harunobu Takeda), the young man rebels against its father and takes the control of the Clan Takeda. The events surrounding this passassion of capacities are not entirely clear, but it is supposed that his/her father had envisaged to make of his second wire Nobushige Takeda his heir in the place to Shingen. However, whatever were the reasons, the end result is that the father is forced to withdraw his position (although it is thought that it is not killed or is not forced to be made Seppuku, since this event is described as being without bloodshed) and that Shingen takes the control of Takeda. Yoshimoto Imagawa the assistance in its rebellion and an alliance is formed between the clans Takeda and Imagawa.

First expansion

The first action of Shingen is to gain the control of the zone which surrounds it. Its goal is to conquer the Province of Shinano. A certain number of Daimyō of the area of Shinano go on the border of Kai, hoping to neutralize the still young capacity of Shingen before it has a chance to extend on their grounds. However, whereas they plan to beat it with Fuchu (or one says that Shingen gathers its forces), they are not prepared with the sudden attack of the Takeda troops during the Bataille of Sezawa. Tie favors of their confusion, Shingen succeeds in carrying a fast victory, which prepares the way for its incursion into the grounds of Shinano the same year. The young lord of war carries out the considerable advanced ones in the area, conquering the general headquarters of Suwa with Kuwabara, before moving in the center of Shinano thanks to the double defeat of Yorichika Tozawa and Yoritsugu Takato. However, it is located in Uehara by Yoshioki Murakami and loses two of its generals in a battle with drawn knives gained by Murakami. Shingen takes its revenge and destroys the Murakami clan thereafter. Yoshioki Murakami flees the area and comes from there thereafter to beseech of the assistance of the Uesugi clan.

After its conquest of Shinano, Shingen (which took this name in 1551) faces a new rival: Kenshin Uesugi of Echigo. The enmity between them becomes almost legendary and they clash on the battle field five times at Kawanakajima in 1554, 1555, 1557, 1561 and 1564. These " batailles" are for the majority only controlled Escarmouche S, none of both daimyō not wanting to devote itself entirely to a decisive attack. The conflict between the two having the most baited combat, and which could have decided victory or defeat of one or the other side, is the fourth of these battles. It is at the time of this conflict that is formed the legend of the forces of Kenshin Uesugi inserting a way right through the troops of Takeda, and of the singular combat between Kenshin and Shingen. The legend speaks about Kenshin attacking Shingen with its sword, while this one defends with the assistance its flag of steel war or Gunpai . The two lords lose a considerable number men in this conflict, and Shingen in particular is found private of two of its principal generals, Kansuke Yamamoto and its young brother Nobushige Takeda.

Stop of the enlarging

At this period, the Takeda clan suffers from two internal treasons. Shingen discovers two threats on its life: the first of his/her cousin Nobumoto Katanuma, with whom it orders to be made seppuku, and the second, a few years later, of his/her own son, Yoshinobu Takeda. This one is confined in Tokoji, where he dies two years afterwards. The reason of its death remains dubious and one is unaware of if it is natural or if it were ordered by her father. This death leaves Shingen without heir temporarily. However, it will have others later wire, and it is in fact its fourth wire which will take its succession.

In 1564, after to have completely conquered the area of Shinano and to have taken a good number of the castles of its rivals of the clan Uesugi, Shingen maintains about the borders of its field, being satisfied with some raids and mainly with internal businesses. It benefits from this period to carry out the project of stopping on the Rivière Fuji, which constitutes one of principal installations of the time.

New expansion

After Yoshimoto Imagawa, an old ally of Takeda, is killed by Nobunaga Oda, Shingen goes on Imagawa weakened and directed by the inefficient son of Yoshimoto, Ujizane Imagawa. It is thought that he concluded a pact with Ieyasu Tokugawa for control from remaining the Imagawa territories, and both attack the heir to Yoshimoto. However, the agreement between the Takeda forces and Tokugawa quickly become null and void, and as soon as Imagawa are not any more one problem, Shingen goes on its former Tokugawa partner.

Final conflict

The future of all the Japan is now in the balance, because Shingen Takeda, at the 49 years age, is only the daimyō which has the capacity, the position and the talent necessary to stop the conquest of Japan by Nobunaga Oda. It engages the Tokugawa forces in 1572 and takes Futamata, then tackles in January with Mikata-Ga-Hara again. With the Battle of Mikata-Ga-Hara, Shingen overcomes easily the combined forces of Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa, but cannot overcome old age. After having overcome Ieyasu, Shingen must suspend its walk ahead because of external influences, and Ieyasu is seen offering a short respite. Surprisingly, whereas it takes again its projection in again 1573, Shingen Takeda dies (one is unaware of if its death is due to a disease, or a wound by ball mortal.)

After its death

Katsuyori Takeda takes the control of the Takeda clan. It is ambitious, and eager to continue the legacy of his father, it goes towards the Tokugawa fortresses. However, a combined force of Ieyasu Tokugawa and Nobunaga Oda give a devastating blow on Takeda to the Bataille of Nagashino, where the musketeers of Nobunaga destroy the Takeda cavalry. Ieyasu seizes the occasion which is offered to him and overcomes the Takeda clan very weakened with the battle of Tenmokuzan. Katsuyori commits suicide after the battle, and the Takeda clan never goes back from there.

It was reported that with died of Shingen, Kenshin cried with the advertisement of the loss of the one of its strongest rivals and most deeply respected. One of the most outstanding tributes to the prowesses of Shingen, however, is due to Ieyasu Tokugawa itself, because it borrows later the governmental methods and the military innovations of the former Takeda leader after it took the government on Kai during the takeover of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The majority of these methods will be put of use during the shogunat Tokugawa.

The Takeda clan was almost destroyed by the loss of the heir to Shingen, Katsuyori. However Shingen had a deep impact over this period of the history of Japan. It influenced many lords with its systems of laws, taxes and administration. It was not probably among the cruelest lords of war, but was aggressive towards its enemies. There exist many legends relating to Shingen Takeda, including that mentioned above. Its banner of war contained the famous quotation Fu-Rin-Ka-Zan （風林火山）, taken in the Art of the war of Sun Tzu. This sentence means Rapide like the wind, silencer like the forest, wild like fire and motionless like the mountain . The sentence describes at the same time the polique one and the military strategy of Shingen.

Vassal

During the Period Edo, 24 vassal of Shingen is selected like popular subject for the Ukiyo-e and the Bunraku. The names vary according to work and the list which follows is the version most largely widespread. They did not work together since some died before others start to be useful but are announced for their contributions exceptional to Shingen and the Clan Takeda.

See the detailed article 24 generals of Shingen Takeda.

Shingen Takeda in the fiction

• a Televised series on the life of Shingen was produced by NHK.

• the film Kagemusha by Akira Kurosawa (1980) also was inspired by its life and popularized the theory of the wound of mousquet out of Japan. Previously, Furin kazan of Hiroshi Inagaki (1969) spoke already the first conquests about Shingen Takeda.
• Shingen Takeda is the playable character in the play BORN Shingen the Ruler .
• the conquests of Shingen are also described in play PC Takeda .
• It also appears as a character in the series of plays PlayStation 2 Samurai Warriors .

• Shingen Takeda also appears, although briefly, in Kessen 3 . It is described there like a large warrior and strategist, although a little presumptuous, as respected by its officers as by its enemies. It is one of the rare enemies of the play which is not presented like a tyrant or insane. His/her son, however, is shown like an obstinate warrior and breakage-neck which acts without taking account of the opinion of his/her dying father, and pays the full price for that.

• the Takeda clan also seems one of many clans of the play Shogun: Total War . The player can choose to take the control of this clan (or any other clan), and to fight the others for the title of Shogun and the right to direct Japan.

External bonds

• http://samourais.free.fr/ Site general practitioner on the samurais.
• Samurai File Takeda Shingen

Zh-yue: 武田信玄

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