About "Shinchou Kouki"

The title of this book can be read two ways in Japanese; both "Shinchou Kouki" or "Nobunaga Kouki". Oota Gyuu-ichi, one of Oda Nobunaga's officers (and later one of Hideyoshi Toyotomi's officers), wrote this biography at the beginning of the Edo period, around 1610 (Keicho 15). Gyuu-ichi's position with Nobunaga was not a "yuuhitsu"(1), but rather a "yari-bugyou"(2). Gyuu-ichi began as an "ashigaru"(3), but later became a deputy administrator (a government official) under Hideyoshi. From this fact, it appears that even while a military official Gyuu-ichi pursued learning on his own.

In the manuscript itself we find the title "Shinchou Ki". However, another biography of Nobunaga written by Azen Hoan had the same name. Although Azen's book was in fact written at a later date, it became widely known before Gyuu-ichi's version. Therefore in order to avoid confusion, Gyuu-ichi's book gained the syllable "Kou" and became known as the Shinchou Kouki.

The book is a portrait of Nobunaga's life. It covers the period from his birth until his violent end at Honnou-ji. The manuscript is divided into units called "kan" (which means "a roll" in the sense of "a roll of paper towels"). Japanese was traditionally written from the top of the page to the bottom, and from right to left. Manuscripts were written on long, narrow pieces of paper (from several yards to several dozen yards in length). Each such scroll was referred to as one roll or "kan", and so we have "First Kan", "Second Kan", etc. Shinchou Kouki is made up of 16 "kan", from the "Head" Kan to the Fifteenth Kan.

Notes: (1) Yuuhitsu: Position similar to personal secretary or scribe; whose duties included the official recording of events. (2) Yari-bugyou: A position within Nobunaga's personal bodyguard in charge of the "yari", or pike, troops. (3) Ashigaru (literally "lightfoot"): The lowest rank of samurai. In times of war it was common for farmers to be mobilized as "ashigaru". However there were also professional soldiers at this rank.

**** Translator's Notes This is a translation into English of a version of Shinchou Kouki that was rendered into modern Japanese. In this translation I have concentrated on rendering the document in English, rather than providing exegesis or analysis of the text. The notes are in all cases translations of comments made by the person who translated the text from early-17th century Japanese into modern Japanese. I plan an annotated translation of Shinchou Kouki for a later project.

Personal names have been kept in the Japanese order - that is, family name first. Titles are also shown in the original Japanese order, with family name first, then title, then given name.

Transliteration of Japanese names and words is done based on the Hepburn system. Exceptions are where proper names or other words have an already well-established spelling in English. For instance I use Kyoto rather than Kyouto.

Head Kan

Oota Gyuu-ichi wrote this document.

In which Owari Province is divided into the upper four districts and the lower four districts.

Now, Owari Province (1) had eight districts. The upper four districts (2) were controlled by Oda Ise-no-Kami (3), who was allied with the local samurai, and who was based in Iwakura Castle. The other half of the Province, the lower four districts (4), were controlled by Oda Yamato-no-Kami (5). The upper and lower districts were separated by a river. Oda Yamato-no-Kami had placed Bu-Ei (6) under his protection in Kiyosu Castle. There were three magistrates under the command of Yamato-no-Kami. These were Oda Inaba-no-Kami; Oda Tohzaemon; and Oda Danjou-no-Chuu (7). Oda Danjou-no-Chuu lived in Shohata Castle (8). Also there were Saigan, Getsugan, Lord Yojirou, the younger brother of Bingo-no-Kami (9); Lord Mago Saburou; Lord Sirou Jirou; and Uemon-no-Jou. From a long line of samurai, Lord Bingo-no-Kami was particularly brilliant. He formed friendly relations with other talented vassals of Oda Yamato-no-Kami, and allied with them.

Bingo-no-Kami came to Nagoya (10), in Owari Provice, and ordered a castle to be built there. To his heir Oda Kippoushi (11) he assigned Hayashi Shingorou as First Retainer, Hirate Masahide as Second Retainer, Aoyama Yosouemon as Third Retainer, and Naitou Katsusuke as Fourth Retainer. Hirate was quartermaster. Despite great inconveniences, Kippoushi attended a temple named Ten-Oh for his studies.

Bingo-no-Kami bestowed the castle at Nagoya to Kippoushi. He then built another castle at Furuwatari (12), near Atsuda, and lived there. His quartermaster was Yamada Yozaemon.

Notes: (1) Owari Provice: the western portion of modern Aichi Prefecture. (2) Upper four districts：The north-west portion of modern Aichi Prefecture; they were Tamba, Haguri, Nakashima, and Kasugai (3) Oda Ise-no-Kami: Oda is the family name; Ise-no-Kami was a position in the Muromachi Shogunate. It was the chief administrator of Ise Province (located in modern-day Mie Prefecture). Although the Muromachi Shogunate was near collapse, the bureachratic system and related titles were still in place. The title was used to refer to the person who held the position. In this case it refers to Oda Nobuyasu. (4) Lower four districts: The south-west portion of modern Aichi Prefecture; they were Kaitou, Kaisei, Aichi, and Chita. (5) Oda Yamato-no-Kami: Oda Tatsukatsu (6) Bu-Ei: Refers to Shiba Yoshimune. The Shiba family were the rightful governors of Owari Province under the Muromachi Shogunate. The Shiba clan were close vassals of the Shogun, however during the period of Warring States they had lost many of their territories. At this point in time Shiba were the de jure governors of the lower four districts of Owari, but in fact the real power rested with their lieutenants, the Oda. (7) Oda Danjou-no-Chuu. Again a title used to refer to a person. In this case it is Oda Nobunaga's father, Nobuhide. (8) Shohata: Modern Day Shobata, Saori-cho, Ama-gun, Aichi Prefecture (9) Bingo-no-Kami is another title held by Nobuhide. Danjou-no-Chuu = Bingo-no-Kami. (10) Nagoya: Modern Nagoya, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture (11) Oda Kippoushi: The childhood name of Oda Nobunaga. (12) Furuwatari: Remains of this castle can be found at Higashi Honganji Betsu-in in Naka-ku, Nagoya City.

On the Battle of Azukizaka

In early August, the forces of Imagawa Yoshimoto (1), from Suruga (2), advanced to Shoudawara in Mikawa. There they arrayed themselves seven deep. In those days, Oda Nobuhide had expanded as far as the castle at Anjou (3), in Mikawa (4). With Yuhara in the vanguard, the Suruga contingent advanced on Azukizaka (5). Oda Nobuhide came out of Anjou Castle and crossed the Yahagi River (6). Nobuhide's younger brother Lord Oda Yojirou, Lord Oda Magosaburou, and Lord Oda Shiroujirou and others engaged the Imakawa forces at Azukizaka.

Those who fought with distinction were Lord Oda Nobuhide, Lord Oda Yojirou, Lord Oda Magosaburou, Lord Oda Shiroujirou, and Lord Oda Miki-no-Jou, who suffered a spear wound, all fought with distinction. Naitou Shousuke slew a famous warrior of the enemy. Nagoya Yogorou, a man of Kiyosu (7), was slain. Shimokata Sakon, Sassa Hayato-no-Kami, Sassa Magosuke, Nakano Mataemon, Akagawa Hikouemon, Kanbe Ichizaemon, Nagata Jirouemon, and Yamaguchi Samanosuke all engaged three or four times, with unrivaled distinguishment. The fighting was fierce. Yuhara took Nagoya Yogorou's head at this battle. After this battle, the men of Suruga held Anjou Castle.

Notes: (1) Imagawa Yoshimoto: Possessing great military skills, he was known as "the best archer in the Kaidou region". The Imagawa were a prestigious clan, associated with the Ashikaga Shogunate. Yoshimoto himself is said to have had designs on marching on Kyoto and unifying the country. (2) Suruga: The eastern part of modern Shizuoka Prefecture, exlcuding the Izu area. (3) Anjou Castle: Known as Anjou-jou, located in modern Anjou City, Aichi Prefecture. (4) Mikawa: The eastern portion of modern Aichi Prefecture. At the time of this episode the Matudaira clan, vassals of the Imagawa, controlled Okazaki. Oda controlled the lands to the west, and Imagawa the east. It is believed that this control was military in nature was not a fully consolidated political "territory". (5) Azukizaka: Modern Azukizaka, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. (6) Yahagi River: A river that runs north-south through Mikawa. (7) Man of Kiyosu: Not under Oda Nobuhide, but rather a warrior of the Oda Yamato-no-Kami faction. Nobuhide borrowed him for this battle.

In which Lord Kippoushi has his Gempuku (1)

When Lord Kippoushi (2) was 13, he had his Gempuku at Furuwatari Castle. Attending him were Hayashi Sado-no-Kami (3), Hirate Naka-Tsukasa (4), Aoyama Youemon, and Naitou Shosuke. He took the name Oda Saburou Nobunaga, and the Gempuku was celebrated with a great feast.

The following year, with Hirate Naka-Tsukasa-no-Jou as his caretaker, Oda Nobunaga made his battlefield debut. Wearing a hood with crimson, a riding jacket, and horse armor, Nobunaga took his men to Kira Oohama (5) in Mikawa, where some of Imakawa's forces were located. Nobunaga lit fires here and there, spent the night in camp, and returned to Nagoya the next morning.

Notes: (1) Gempuku: Ceremony signifying a male child's attainment of adulthood. Clothing and hair styles were changed, a crown was worn, and the childhood name replaced by the "eboshi-na" or adult name. Typically the Gempuku ceremony was held at around age 12. In later days the ceremony was abbreviated for all but the nobility, with only a simple haircut. Also known as shufuku, kakan, uikouburi, or kouburi. (2) Kippoushi: Oda Nobunaga. Kippoushi was Nobunaga's childhood name. (3) Hayashi Sado-no-Kami: Hayashi Michikatsu's title. (4) Hirate Nakatsukasa / Natatsukasa-no-Jou: Hirate Masahide, Oda Nobuhide's trusted vassal. He later became Nobunaga's personal tutor. According to one theory he was the butt of Nobunaga's disrespect and committed suicide. (5) Kira Oohama: Kira-chou, Hazu-gun, Aichi Prefecture

Five Thousand are Lost in an Invasion of Mino (1)

Lord Bingo gathered all the troops of the land, and one month attached Mino, the following month advanced on Mikawa. On September 3rd, with all of the men of Owari in support, he attacked Mino, setting fires here and there. On September 22, the army advanced to the villages at the foothills of Inabayama (3), which is where Saitoh Yamashiro Dousan (4) had his castle. The villages were burned and the army moved on the castle town itself. By this time it was around 4:00 pm and the sun was beginning to go down. Lord Bingo began to disengage his troops. When about half of the army had left the field Yamashiro Dousan suddenly attacked southward. At first Lord Bingo's forces put up a defensive fight, but many troops broke and in the end they could not hold the field. Many celebrated warriors and their men were lost, numbering 5000 in all. Among them were Lord Bingo-no-Kami's younger brother Oda Yojirou (5). Oda Inaba-no-Kami, Oda Mondo-no-Kami, Aoyama Youemon, Senshuu Kii-no-Kami, Mouri Juurou (6), his vassal Terasawa Matahachi, his younger brother Mouri Toukurou, Iwakoshi Kisaburou, and many others.

In the year before this battle, Oda Harima-no-Kami had been dispatched from Owari to Oogaki Castle (7), in Mino.

Notes: (1) Mino: The southern part of modern Gifu Prefecture. (2) Lord Bingo(-no-Kami): Oda Nobuhide. (3) Inaba-yama: Now known as Kinkazan, in current Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. This is where Nobunaga later built Gifu Castle. (4) Saitoh Yamashiro Dousan: Saitoh Yamashiro-no-Kami Dousan, or Saitoh Dousan. Daimyo who controlled all of Mino. (5) Oda Yojirou: Oda Nobuyoshi. (6)Mouri Juurou: Mouri Atsumoto (7) Oogaki: In modern Gifu Prefecture, Ogaki City. At the time Ogaki was under the control of Owari. Looking at a modern map, it seems incredible to think that it could have belonged to Owari. But when the fact that at the time, the Nagara-Kiso river basin diverged much further to the west than it does today is taken into account, it much easier to comprehend.

The Tale of Kagekiyo's Sword "Azamaru".

Yamashiro Dousan (1) had won the battle the previous September 22. Dousan determined to surrounded Oogaki and lay siege before the Owari forces could recuperate. With an army from Oumi in support Dousan surrounded Oogaki in early November. Then something truly unusual happened.

In the battle of September 22, Senshuu Kii-no-Kami wielded the famous sword "Azamaru", that had been the property of Kagekiyo (2). Before it had come into Senshuu's possession, it had been bought by Kageyama Kamon-no-Suke. Kageyama had participated in the fighting in a cow town called Jinai (3), near Oogaki, in western Mino. When he was sitting on a jougi (4) many kibou (5) type arrows were shot from the castle into the sky, from very strong bows. One of the arrows hit Kageyama Kamon-no-Suke in the left eye. After that arrow was pulled out, the next arrow hit Kageyama in the right eye, blinding him.

After this battle, Azamaru found its way into Korezumi Gorouzaemon's (6) hands. Gorouzaemon continuosly was having eye trouble. After that, it was said that any man who owned Azamaru would certainly have trouble with his eyes. Many people advised Gorouzaemon to donate the sword to Atsuta Shrine (7) in order to be rid of the curse. He donated the sword to the gods at Atsuta, and right away his eyes got better.

Notes: (1) Yamashiro Dousan: Saitoh Dousan's title (2) Kagekiyo: Taira no Kagekiyo, also known as Fujiwara Kagekiyo. A warrior of the Taira clan, fought continuously against the Minamoto clan at the end of the Heian Era. He is the subject of a Noh play. (3) Jinai: Believed to be the Jinai district of modern Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. (4) Jougi: A folding chair, commonly used during military counsel or while in the field. (5) Kibou: A type of arrow that had an elongated, rounded arrowhead. (6) Korezumi Gorouzaemon: Also known as Niwa Nagahide. An important hereditary vassal of the Oda, on par with the Shibata and Sakuma. (7): Atsuta Shrine: Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. This is where the "Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi", or Grass Mowing Sword, is enshrined. http://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/eng/index.htm

In which Reinforcements are Dispatched to Oogaki Castle

In early November, Lord Bingo-no-Kami had received many reports that Saitoh Yamashiro Dousan had closed in on Oogaki Castle, and he decided to confront Dousan.

On November 17, in order to attack from the rear, Bingo-no-Kami ordered up reserves. He entered Mino by crossing by boat the Kisogawa River and the Hidagawa River, which form the border between Mino and Owari. He set fire to Takegahana (1), and attached Akanabe-guchi (2), lighting fires and sending up smoke here and there. Duosan was taken by surprised at this, and he left off his attack and removed to Inoguchi Castle (3).

In this fashion Bingo-no-Kami was able to achieve his purpose without difficulty. Of course it goes without saying that Bingo-no-Kami fought with distinction.

(1) Takegahana: Modern Takegahana, Hashima City, Gifu Prefecture. About 10 km from Oogaki. (2) Akanabe: Akanabe, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. About 10 km from Takegahana. (3) Inoguchi Castle: Another name for Inabayama Castle. At the summit of Mount Kinkazan, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. Later rebuilty as Gifu Castle. Later renamed Gifu Castle.