Ii Naotora

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Ii Naotora
井伊 直虎
Head of Ii clan
In office
1563–1582
Preceded byIi Naomori
Succeeded byIi Naomasa
Personal details
BornProbably 1530s
DiedSeptember 12, 1582
ChildrenIi Naomasa (adopted)[a]
Takase (adopted)
Parent
RelativesLady Tsukiyama (daughter of Ii Naohira's daughter)
Military service
Allegiance Imagawa clan
Tokugawa clan
Unit Ii clan
In this Japanese name, the surname is Ii.

Ii Naotora (井伊 直虎, d. 12 September 1582) was a daimyō of the Sengoku period and head of the head of Ii clan.

There are several theories regarding Naotora identity,

  • the first is the popular theory of Jirō Hōshi, daughter of Ii Naomori, the eighteenth head of their clan. She was primarily the head of Ii clan and retainer of the Imagawa clan, because of her efforts, Ii Naotora became a daimyō and received nickname "Female Landlord" (女地頭).[3]
  • The second theory were held that Ii Naotora were actually different person from Jirō Hōshi, such as male Imagawa clan retainer named Sekiguchi Ujitsune.[1]
  • The third theory states Ii Naotora is a son of the aforementioned Sekiguchi Ujitsune instead.[2]

Identity speculations[edit]

There are several theories regarding identity of the head of Ii clan after Ii Naomori

Male Naotora theory[edit]

The popular historiography identifying Ii Naotora as Jirō Hōshi, a sole daughter of Ii Naomori who became head of Ii clan during Sengoku period.[1] This theory came from the traditional record of “Ii clan Biography” which preserved by Shizuoka Prefectural Library.[4]

However, this popular theory were challenged by 20th century academics, as according to Miwa Mori, a professor of early modern history at Kyoto Women's University, also said this theory were sourced from writing of a retainer of Ii clan named Kimata in 1640, which Mori said is highly reliable primary source.[1] Meanwhile, Tetsuo Owada, a professor emeritus of Sengoku history at Shizuoka University who published a book about Naotora has said that this theory of misidentification of Ii Naotora is quite possible, since for generations, many of the heirs of Ii clan usually being called "Jiro", thus the name is suspected as just a pseudonym of various historical figures.[1] Another japanese historian, Motoki Kuroda, instead suspected that Ii Naotora was a son of Sekiguchi Ujitsune.[2]

Furthermore, a research about "Ii clan biography" which contain the theory about Ii Naotora being female is deemed unreliable as it is based in folklores and not actual historical record.[5]

Ii clan Biography Theory[edit]

Ii Naotora was a daughter of Ii Naomori, a leader of Iinoya-is a part of Tōtōmi, who had been defeated by Imagawa Yoshimoto and became a vassal of Imagawa.

The Ii family had no male heir, so Natora's great uncle Ii Naomitsu tried to betroth his son Ii Naochika to her so that he could inherit the clan. However, Naomitsu planned to rebel against Imagawa. Unidentified Imagawa clan retainers carried a report of the plans to Imagawa, who ordered Naomitsu and his son Naochika to commit seppuku. Naomitsu died, but Naochika, who was very young, was protected by a Buddhist priest named Nankei. Naochika managed to flee to Shinano. Naotora became a priestess, and was named Jirō Hōshi (次郎法師) aged ten by Nankei.

When Naomori and Yoshimoto died in the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, the Imagawa clan lost power and the province descended into chaos. Naochika returned to Iinoya about ten years after he left. He had already married another woman while in exile and could not marry Jiro Hoshi.

Naochika momentarily ruled the clan but, like his father, he planned a rebellion against the Imagawa. Again, anonymous traitors carried news of the plans to the Imagawa and Naochika was killed by Imagawa Ujizane in 1560. It is said that he was killed because of an anonymous report by Ono Michiyoshi. In 1563, Ii Naohira (Naotora's grandfather) and other men from Ii, were ordered to break into Hikuma Castle as proof of their loyalty to the Imagawa. Otazu no Kata who was wife of Iio Tsurutatsu (lord of Hikuma castle) invited Naohira to a meeting with her husband and planned to eradicate it to claim prominence in Totomi. On September 18, Otazu no Kata then poisoned Naohira's tea and he died soon after. Following Naohira's death and many obstacles, Jiro Hoshi returned to secular life, removed her nun costume, was baptized by the male name Naotora and declared herself the nominal head of the Ii clan.

After the Imagawa clan killed several members of the Ii clan, Naotora became one of the last survivors, alongside her mother and niece (Takasehime). She adopted Naochika's daughter and son, Takase and Ii Naomasa. Naotora secured Naomasa's future successful career when he succeeds her. She managed a small province that was surrounded by some of the most powerful clans of its time, Matsudaira, Takeda and Imagawa.

During the early days of her reign, Naotora often tried to mediate with Imagawa Ujizane and his grandmother Jukei-ni, at which time the Imagawa clan was on warpath with Ii clan. Former Imagawa clan retainer Tokugawa Ieyasu went to war with Ujizane. Ieyasu was successful in forming an alliance with Oda Nobunaga after Yoshimoto's death in 1560. Ieyasu's wife was Lady Tsukiyama, who was from the Imagawa family and related to Naotora.[6][7]

In 1564 Niino Chikanori, a retainer of Ii clan, led a siege to Hikuma castle to prove Naotora's loyalty to Imagawa Ujizane; Otazu and Tsurutatsu fought to defend the castle and Chikanori was killed. Naotora was presumed to have difficulty securing clan leadership because of the innumerable resistances from the Imagawa clan retainers, so she anonymously seeks support from other clans. After numerous threats from Imagawa retainers to Ii, Naotora finally allies with Ieyasu and actively participates in the achievements of the Matsudaira clan in Totomi and Mikawa Province. She saw the power of her former lord decline after the strengthening of the Tokugawa clan.[8][9]

Naotora's grave and other Ii family members.

Naotora's actions were the most important moment for her clan. She achieved Ii clan independence after more than two centuries serving the Imagawa. In some tales Naotora is portrayed as an "unconventional lord" because of her numerous strategies and unusual attempts to protect her domain and people. It is recorded that Naotora, being a former nun, often acted to avoid battles, earning the respect of many civilians. She was responsible for the development of agriculture and the substantial expansion of the domains of her clan in the region of Enshū. She actively participated in the success of Ieyasu's career that would later become the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.[6]

In 1568, Jukei-ni died and the Imagawa entered a major crisis again and a year later. Ujizane surrendered to Ieyasu's Matsudaira clan. Ieyasu led a siege to Hikuma castle (Hamamatsu castle) and capture it from Otazu no kata. Naotora is said to have participated actively in this battle to avenge her great-grandfather's death, but it is probably a tale from the Edo period.

At the same year, Ono Michiyoshi who was Naotora's ally and childhood friend, removes her from Iinoya's leadership with the help of former Imagawa's retainers. She escaped to Ryōtan-ji Temple in Hamamatsu. During her days in Hamamatsu, Naotora meet with Ieyasu and sent Naomasa to his care. After that she was closer to working with Ieyasu, she received Ieyasu's help and recaptured Iinoya castle. During days of resistance, Michiyoshi was finally captured, he was executed and his head was disgraced in public.[7]

In 1572, Takeda Shingen personally invaded Iinoya and other castles in Totomi and Mikawa. The Battle of Mikatagahara took place near Naotora's domain. After days of resistance, Naotora surrendered Iinoya castle to the enemy to prevent bloodshed. In 1573, Shingen became sick and died in Naotora's domain. The Takeda clan army retreats from Iinoya and Naotora returned to being a daimyō. In 1582, she died of disease and was buried in the Ryōtan-ji temple. Naochika's son, the famed Ii Naomasa whom she adopted, succeeded her after her demise.[10]

Synthesis theory[edit]

Michifumi Isoda, professor of International Research Center for Japanese Studies instead offered a synthesis theory which differ from the "Ii clan Biography", that both female Jirō Hōshi and male Ii Naotora both existed as different person, and became head of Ii clan on different occasions. Isoda offered this explanation based on the correspondence material from Seto Hokyu, a samurai under Ii clan, with the Imagawa clan, where the Imagawa recognized Jirō Hōshi as head of Ii clan in September 1568. However, after the Imagawa clan fall and the entrance of Tokugawa clan in the area on December, the name of Ii Naotora emerged as the head of Ii clan, thus Isoda suspected that the Tokugawa clan deposed Jirō Hōshi and installed Naotora as the head of Ii clan instead.[11]

Tatsuo Ii, director of Ii museum in Kyoto,[d] also favored this explanation that Ii Naotora was not a woman named Jirō Hōshi, but instead a male retainer of Imagawa clan named Sekiguchi Ujitsune, who has been bestowed by his overlord the fiefdoms of Ii clan.[1] Furthermore, Tatsuo Ii also stated there is no primary source evidences that Jirō Hōshi being identified as Ii Naotora.[13]

In popular culture[edit]

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

Note[edit]

  1. ^ "Ii clan Biography" theory.[1]
  2. ^ "Ii clan Biography" theory.[1]
  3. ^ Motoki Kuroda theory[2]
  4. ^ museum specializing in the historical examination of armor, arms, and swords, run by Tatsuo Ii, who was adopted by a descendant of the Ii clan[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "「井伊直虎」女性でなかった？ 井伊美術館が新史料". 日本経済新聞. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  2. ^ a b c 黒田 2017, § 直虎の出自.
  3. ^ "井伊直虎（次郎法師）｜井伊家の歴史｜遠州の古刹 龍潭寺". www.ryotanji.com. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  4. ^ 静岡県立図書館所蔵「井伊家伝記」
  5. ^ 野田浩子 (2016). "井伊家伝記". 彦根城博物館研究紀要 “Hikone Castle Museum Research Bulletin.”. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b 梓澤要 (2016-08-25). 城主になった女井伊直虎 (in Japanese). NHK出版. ISBN 9784140817070.
  7. ^ a b 夏目琢史 (October 2016). 井伊直虎: 女領主・山の民・悪党 (in Japanese). 講談社. ISBN 9784062883948.
  8. ^ 基樹, 黒田 (2017-05-26). 井伊直虎の真実 (in Japanese). Kadokawa / 角川学芸出版.
  9. ^ 基樹, 黒田 (2017-05-26). 井伊直虎の真実 (in Japanese). Kadokawa / 角川学芸出版.
  10. ^ 石田雅彦 (August 2016). おんな城主井伊直虎: その謎と魅力 (in Japanese). アスペクト. ISBN 9784757224704.
  11. ^ Michifumi Isoda (2017). 日本史の内幕 - 戦国女性の素顔から幕末・近代の謎まで (in Jp). 中央公論新社. pp. 114–6. ISBN 978-4121024558. Retrieved 2 May 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  12. ^ [http://www.ii-museum.jp/blank-9 Kyoto Ii clan's museum
  13. ^ 井伊達夫 2016.

Bibliography[edit]


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