Biographies CXXXIX: The Shogunal Retainers, Part XXII

Ōtomo Sadamune

¶Ōtomo Sadamune was a man of Bungo and a descendant of Fujiwara-no-Hidesato, Chinjufu Shōgun, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacification Headquarters. His ancestor five generations back, Yoshinao, had once been adopted by Nakahara-no-Chikayoshi, but later returned to his original surname and for the first time took Ōtomo as his clan name (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Ōtomo genealogy makes Yoshinao a son of Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, but that is not adopted here. For details see the biography of Yoritomo). Yoshinao became Sakonoe-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Left Palace Guards (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu), served Minamoto-no-Yoritomo and enjoyed his favor, and distinguished himself by taking part in the campaign against Fujiwara-no-Yasuhira. When he accompanied Yoritomo on the hunt at Fujino, and Soga-no-Sukenari together with his younger brother Tokimune avenged their father and the camp fell into great uproar, Yoritomo wished to go out himself to meet the danger; Yoshinao remonstrated with him and held him back, and Yoritomo praised his loyalty (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). Before long he was appointed Shugo, Provincial Constable, of Buzen and Bungo and became Chinzei Bugyō, Commissioner of the Western Provinces, and in addition served concurrently as Governor of Buzen and as Kebiishi, Police Commissioner. His descendants succeeded generation after generation to the posts of constable and commissioner and wielded great authority in the western provinces. His father, Chikatoki, was Sakonoe-no-shōgen and Shikibu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial. Chikatoki's eldest son, Sadachika, won distinction by resisting the Mongol invasion but died young. Sadamune succeeded his elder brother, becoming Sakonoe-no-shōgen and Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, serving concurrently as Governor of Ōmi, inheriting the office of constable, and shaving his head to take the name Gukan (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Ōtomo Keizu are consulted together).

¶In the Genkō era, when Emperor Go-Daigo was at Mount Senjō, Sadamune secretly pledged his loyalty to the emperor together with Kikuchi-no-Taketoki and Shōni Sadatsune. In due course Taketoki planned to attack Hōjō-no-Hidetoki, the Chikushi Tandai, Commissioner of Kyushu, and sent a messenger to inform Sadamune. But Sadamune merely watched the course of events and would not send out troops. When Taketoki attacked Hidetoki, Sadamune on the contrary came to Hidetoki's aid and killed Taketoki. Afterwards, when the imperial army stormed Rokuhara, Sadamune seemed likely to be called to account; he therefore conspired with Sadatsune, and together they attacked Hidetoki and killed him.

¶In the first year of Engen (1336), when Ashikaga-no-Takauji advanced on the capital, he asked Sadamune for reinforcements. Sadamune answered with three hundred warships, together with Ōuchi-no-Hiroyo and Kōtō-no-Sōsei. But Takauji's army was defeated and fell back to encamp at Minatogawa. Sadamune followed Ashikaga-no-Tadayoshi, turned back and resisted the imperial army, but without success. Seeing the allied armies lose battle after battle, he judged that they ought not simply to go on fighting, and counseled Takauji: "Shōni Sadatsune is in Chikushi and holds the General deeply in his heart. Our ships are many; I beg you to go down to Chikushi at once. If you raise the troops of Kyushu and march back up, you may hope for victory again." Takauji followed this advice and set out for Chikushi. Kikuchi-no-Taketoshi met them at Tatarahama, but Sadamune, again following Tadayoshi, defeated him (Note: following the Taiheiki). When Takauji once more advanced on the capital, Sadamune again followed Tadayoshi and took Fukuyama Castle (Note: following the Baishōron. The Taiheiki says that an arrow shot by Honma-no-Shigeuji dropped its target into an Ōtomo ship, which would imply that Sadamune belonged to Takauji's army; this differs from the account given here). Advancing further, they fought at Minatogawa. Tadayoshi was hard pressed by Kusunoki-no-Masashige (Note: following the Taiheiki), but Sadamune fought stoutly alongside the other commanders and in the end prevailed (Note: following the Hōjō-ke, Nanto, and Saigen'in manuscripts of the Taiheiki). Soon afterwards, with the other commanders, he held off Nitta-no-Yoshisada at Tōji and drove him back (Note: following the Taiheiki).

¶His sons were Sadatoshi and Ujiyasu (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu). Sadatoshi became Sakonoe-no-shōgen (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu and the Taiheiki) and took the name Tachibana (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu). He followed Nitta-no-Yoshisada to attack Ashikaga-no-Takauji at Kamakura (Note: following the Taiheiki), but secretly went over to Takauji (Note: following the Baishōron). At the battle of Takeshita he surrendered to Takauji and in turn attacked and broke the imperial army. The following year, when he entered the capital with Takauji, Yūki-no-Chikamitsu pretended to offer his surrender. Takauji ordered Sadatoshi to receive him, and Sadatoshi was cut down by Chikamitsu and died (Note: following the Taiheiki. The Baishōron says that after the others had killed Chikamitsu, Sadatoshi bound his wound, brought Chikamitsu's head to Takauji and was praised by him, but that the wound worsened the next day and he died. Which account is correct is not known). Sadatoshi had no son and made his younger brother Munemasa his heir (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu).

¶Ujiyasu followed Wakiya-no-Yoshisuke and resisted Ashikaga-no-Takauji at Yamazaki, but when the armies were defeated he in the end surrendered to Takauji (Note: following the Taiheiki. One text of the Ōtomo Keizu says that Ujiyasu died in the second year of Shōkei (1333), but this is an error). Takauji granted Ujiyasu the Minamoto surname and had him serve successively as Ōi-no-suke and Shikibu-no-jō (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu). When Ashikaga-no-Tadafuyu fled to Higo (Note: following the Taiheiki), the Ōtomo family followed him along with the other commanders, but afterwards surrendered to Takauji again (Note: following the Enji Ryaku and the Gion Shigyō Nikki shō. In both of these only "Ōtomo" is written, and the name Ujiyasu does not appear. It cannot now be established). Ujiyasu had no son and made his younger brother Ujitoki his heir. Ujitoki became Gyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Justice. In the Shōhei era he submitted to the imperial court, but soon afterwards surrendered again to Ashikaga-no-Yoshiakira (Note: following the Ōtomo Keizu and the Taiheiki).

Shōni Sadatsune

¶Shōni Sadatsune was a man of Chikuzen. His ancestor five generations back, Yorihira, was adopted by Kageyori, grandfather of Ōtomo-no-Yoshinao, was appointed to the Musha-dokoro, Office of Warriors, and took the name Mutō (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku. The Shōni Keizu says that Yorihira's father, Yoriie, served as Dazai official). His remote ancestor Sukeyori excelled at archery and horsemanship, was beloved of Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, and distinguished himself by taking part in the campaign against Fujiwara-no-Yasuhira (Note: following the Shōni Keizu). He was appointed Governor of Chikuzen (Note: the genealogy has Chikugo), became Chinzei Shugo, Constable of the West, and was appointed Dazai-no-shōni, Junior Vice-Governor-General of Dazaifu. His descendants held this post by inheritance generation after generation, lived at Dazaifu, took Shōni as their clan name, and held the estate of Iwato-gō (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Shōni Keizu). His grandfather Tsunesuke, early in Engen, fought Kikuchi-no-Taketoshi at Toyofuku in Chikugo and distinguished himself (Note: following the Oshiro Monjo). His father, Moritsune, became Governor of Chikugo and died at Kamakura. Sadatsune succeeded to his ancestors' post, shaved his head, and took the name Myōe (Note: following the Shōni Keizu and the Shōni Kafu).

¶In the Genkō era, when Emperor Go-Daigo made his progress to Mount Senjō, Sadatsune came to an understanding with Ōtomo-no-Sadamune and Kikuchi-no-Taketoki and petitioned that an imperial edict be granted for the destruction of the Hōjō. The emperor heard the request and bestowed on them a brocade banner of the imperial army. When Taketoki was about to attack Chikushi, the Tandai Hōjō-no-Hidetoki sent a messenger to inform Sadatsune. Hearing that the imperial army was faring badly in the fighting at the capital, Sadatsune at once cut the messenger down, joined Sadamune in coming to Hidetoki's aid, and in the end killed Taketoki. When the imperial army recovered the capital, Sadatsune was greatly afraid; he sent a messenger to make a pact with Sadamune, and together they attacked and killed Hidetoki in atonement for their offense (Note: following the Taiheiki).

¶When Takauji rebelled, two sons of Sadatsune happened to be in attendance at Kamakura. Takauji therefore sent Sadatsune a letter and tried to win him over. Presently Takauji advanced on the capital, but was utterly defeated, and with his younger brother Tadayoshi fled west, making for Dazaifu. Sadatsune prepared a great quantity of horses and weapons and awaited their arrival; he sent his son Yorihisa and others with several hundred picked troops to meet them, and had brocade hitatare made and presented to the brothers Takauji. Kikuchi-no-Taketoshi struck at them, defeated Yorihisa, and pressed on to Dazaifu. Sadatsune had too few troops to hold out, and Taketoshi set fire to the place and burned up all the weapons Sadatsune had prepared. Sadatsune shut himself up in a Buddhist temple at Uchiyama, where a son-in-law, one Harada, pressed him to come out and surrender with him (Note: "son-in-law" follows the Saigen'in manuscript of the Taiheiki). Sadatsune would not listen, and said to his men: "I have received the General's (Takauji's) special trust. Now that I hear the General has drawn near our borders, I sent Yorihisa to meet him, and having been so broken and defeated, with what face could I look on the General?" Together with more than a hundred of his followers he committed seppuku. His youngest son, the monk Sōō, broke down the doors for firewood, burned his father's body with it, and then threw himself into the same fire and died (Note: the Taiheiki and the Baishōron are consulted together).

¶At the point of death Sadatsune left a charge with the monks of the temple, asking them to admonish Yorihisa and the others, saying: "You need not chant sutras or hold memorial services for me. Only help the General with all your strength and let him accomplish his hegemony. That is the finest Buddhist service of all. Long ago Miura-no-Yoshiaki foresaw the rise of the Minamoto, gave up his life at Kinugasa, and the reward reached even his descendants. I too wish to be like Yoshiaki. You must never forget these words of mine." When Takauji heard of his death he grieved and mourned deeply, and his sorrow reached those around him, so that Yorihisa was thereby treated with still greater favor (Note: following the Baishōron). His son was Yorihisa.

Shōni Yorihisa

¶Shōni Yorihisa succeeded to his father's post as Dazai-no-shōni, became Governor of Chikugo, and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper (Note: the Mutō Keizu and the Taiheiki are consulted together). When Sadatsune raised his banner, Hōjō-no-Hidetoki sent Nagaoka-no-Koreyuki to sound out the situation (Note: the name "Koreyuki" follows the Konshō'in manuscript), but Sadatsune pleaded illness and did not receive him. Koreyuki then visited Yorihisa and happened to see the soldiers making shields and sharpening arrowheads; judging that "here indeed a rebellion is being planned," he watched for the moment when Yorihisa was about to take his seat, drew the sword at his side, and lunged at him from the front. Yorihisa had always been skilled at unarmed combat; he seized a go board to ward off the blow, and as he grappled with Koreyuki the people about rushed up, and in the melee Koreyuki was stabbed to death. Yorihisa thereupon joined his father in attacking and killing Hidetoki.

¶Afterwards he led troops to meet the army of Ashikaga-no-Takauji, and was crossing the Mizuki ford when Kikuchi-no-Taketoshi suddenly fell on him and cut down all the horsemen of the rear. Blocked by the river, Yorihisa was unable to turn back to their rescue (Note: following the Taiheiki). Yorihisa caught up with Takauji's army at Akamagaseki and followed it as far as Ashiya-no-tsu. The news of Sadatsune's death had already spread through the army, and when Takauji asked about it, Yorihisa, fearing that the army's morale would be broken, answered falsely, "It may not be so." He then led the way to the house of Munakata Daigūji, the Chief Priest of the Munakata Shrine, Masasuke (Note: the name "Masasuke" follows the Konshō'in manuscript of the Taiheiki).

¶Yorihisa advanced his camp to Minoo-hama. Takauji, hearing that Taketoshi's great army was encamped at Hakata, summoned Yorihisa by night to discuss strategy. Yorihisa said: "That Sadatsune was so easily defeated in the fighting at Dazaifu was because I was away and the garrison was small. Even so, Sadatsune knows well the terrain of his home province, and he has surely already slipped away by a back road. If the General advances tomorrow, the troops of every district under my jurisdiction will vie with one another to come over to your side. Taketoshi is alone and not to be feared. My own strength alone is enough to hold him." Those who heard this took some courage, and the army advanced to Tatarahama. Seeing how strong Taketoshi's troops were, Yorihisa advised Takauji and Tadayoshi: "Though the enemy are many, they are on the point of surrendering, and those who really intend to resist us number no more than some three hundred of his own followers. If I fight to the death and scatter them, the enemy will be no more than dust before the wind." When the fighting began, men came over to surrender one after another, and Taketoshi finally fled. That Takauji was able to take Chikushi into his hands was due to this battle.

¶When Takauji and Tadayoshi reached Dazaifu they learned of Sadatsune's death for the first time and grieved deeply. Tadayoshi went into mourning, forbade the soldiers' noisy behavior, and for many days would not leave the curtained enclosure of his tent. Yorihisa went to him bringing wine and meat, thanked him, and said: "To die for righteousness and keep one's integrity is only what a subject ought to do. That you take it so much to heart is the highest honor to us. But the discipline of the army must not be relaxed. I beg you to come out at once and review your officers and men." He then stood up himself and offered the wine. Tadayoshi responded, forced himself to drink, and ended his mourning.

¶When Takauji was about to march east and reached Bingo, they debated how to advance. Someone said, "It would be best for the General and his brother to advance in the same ship." Yorihisa said: "In this undertaking the fate of the realm is at stake. I hear that the enemy has attacked many castles of the Chūgoku region; if we first break them, we may generally expect success. If both commanders go in the same ship, who will command the troops on the land route? Let the General go by sea and Lord Tadayoshi by land. I, Yorihisa, will lead the vanguard of the land army, and by driving back the enemy in bloody fighting I will make my offering to my late father." Takauji thought the words stout-hearted and followed them (Note: in the Tenshō manuscript of the Taiheiki this proposal of Yorihisa's is attributed to Taira-no-Hidemitsu). Yorihisa thus led two thousand troops and advanced following Tadayoshi. He won great distinction at the battle of Minatogawa and in the end entered the capital; leading the troops of Kyushu he attacked Enryakuji, but was defeated and withdrew (Note: following the Baishōron).

¶Afterwards, when Nitta-no-Yoshisada was about to attack Takauji at Tōji, Yorihisa, together with Ōtomo-no-Sadamune and one Kōtō and others, held him off and broke him, and Nawa-no-Nagatoshi was killed in this battle (Note: following the Taiheiki and the Baishōron. The names of Ōtomo-no-Sadamune and Kōtō follow the Taiheiki). Soon he became Tadayoshi's vanguard, defeated the imperial army at Amidagamine, and afterwards returned to Chikuzen. Takauji gave Yorihisa lands in several places, and as a parting gift also presented him with a brocade hitatare. Tadayoshi too gave him a favorite horse, in recognition of his past services (Note: following the Baishōron).

¶In the Shōhei era Yorihisa was attacked by Kikuchi-no-Takemitsu, and, his position desperate, surrendered to him. Isshiki-no-Naoji attacked Yorihisa at Kōra Castle, and Yorihisa was badly defeated, but escaped with Takemitsu's help and expressed his thanks in a letter written in blood. When Takemitsu was about to attack Hatakeyama-no-Shigetaka (Note: the name "Shigetaka" follows the Konshō'in manuscript), he ordered Yorihisa to send troops in support. But Yorihisa suddenly turned against him, and, conspiring with Aso Daigūji Uji-no-Koretoki (Note: the name "Koretoki" follows the documents of the Aso Shrine), raised troops at Dazaifu.

¶The following year Takemitsu came attacking, escorting Prince Kaneyoshi, Seisei Shōgun, Generalissimo for Subduing the West. Yorihisa drew up his army across the Chikugo River, and Takemitsu crossed the river and advanced. Yorihisa fell back and encamped at Ōhara, but was attacked by Takemitsu at night and badly defeated. The next day, after dozens of desperate engagements, he was defeated again; the dead numbered more than three thousand, and in the end he withdrew and shut himself up on Mount Hōman. Before long he joined Ōtomo-no-Ujitoki in meeting Takemitsu at Kashii, but was defeated again. Ashikaga-no-Yoshiakira sent Shiba-no-Ujitsune as Chikushi Tandai with reinforcements, and Yorihisa and Ujitoki fought together with Ujitsune's son Matsuō at Chōjabaru, but were defeated again. Yorihisa withdrew and held Oka Castle, and after long confronting Takemitsu he died (Note: following the Taiheiki).

¶He had three sons, Naosuke (Note: the Taiheiki writes the character naoshi, "straight," of Naosuke's name as chū, "loyal"), Fuyusuke, and Yorizumi (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Naosuke succeeded to the post of Shōni, but was killed in battle at Ōhara together with his two sons (Note: the Taiheiki and the Sonpi Bunmyaku are consulted together). Fuyusuke was appointed Shōni. In the Kentoku era, when Ashikaga-no-Yoshimitsu sent Imagawa-no-Sadayo to Chinzei, Fuyusuke happened to be in the capital and so went down west in his company. In the first year of Tenju (1375), while commanding troops in Higo, he was killed by Sadayo (Note: following the Kaei Sandaiki). Yorizumi became Governor of Echigo. After Fuyusuke's death he submitted to the imperial court, was appointed Shōni, and became Tandai (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Mutō Keizu, and the documents of the Aso Shrine are consulted together).

Oda Haruhisa

¶Oda Haruhisa, who at first called himself Takatomo, was a descendant in the seventh generation of Hatta-no-Tomoie. His father, Sadatomo, was Hitachi-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Hitachi; the family held for generations the domain of Oda in Hitachi province and was known as a distinguished house (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Oda Keizu. Some texts write Sadatomo as Sadamune). Haruhisa became Owari-no-gon-no-kami, Provisional Governor of Owari (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Yūki Monjo). In the first year of Genkō (1331) he went with the Kantō army to the front at Kasagi and then turned to attack the castle of Kusunoki-no-Masashige (Note: following the Kōmyōji Zōsho Zanpen). When Emperor Go-Daigo was removed to Oki, Haruhisa escorted him together with Sasaki-no-Takauji and others (Note: following the Tenshō manuscript of the Taiheiki).

¶When the Hōjō were destroyed, Haruhisa submitted to the imperial court and was soon appointed Kunai-no-gon-no-shōyū, Provisional Junior Assistant Minister of the Palace Household (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku, the Yūki Monjo, and the Okada Monjo). When Ashikaga-no-Takauji rebelled, many of the officers and men of his home province sided with him (Note: following the Taiheiki). Haruhisa held Oda Castle and opposed Takauji's side. In the second year of Engen (1337), when Minamoto-no-Akiie, Chinjufu Taishōgun, Great General of the Pacification Headquarters, was marching west and passed through Shimotsuke, and separately sent the Jijū Minamoto-no-Akikuni forward from Hitachi, Haruhisa came out and joined him. Satake-no-Yoshiharu sent out troops to block the way, but Haruhisa drove them back (Note: following the Okada Monjo) and joined Akiie on the road (Note: following the Imagawa-ki).

¶The following year Akiie was killed in battle (Note: following the Genkō Nikki Uragaki and the Taiheiki); Haruhisa returned to his own castle and divided his troops to guard Shizuku Castle. At that time the former Hitachi no Daijō, Taira-no-Takamoto, was at Ishioka Castle in response to Takauji's side, and Haruhisa sent troops to attack him (Note: following the Hitachi Zeisho Monjo). In this year the Jun-daijin, Minamoto-no-Chikafusa, was driven ashore and reached Hitachi, and Haruhisa received him into his castle and for several years provided for him. The court specially bestowed on Haruhisa the post of Sakonoe-no-gon-no-shōshō, Provisional Lesser General of the Left Palace Guards (Note: following the Oda Keizu. The present text writes shōshō as chūjō, Middle General, but this is corrected on the basis of the Taiheiki and the Imagawa-ki), and in addition made him Hitachi-no-suke (Note: following the Oda Keizu and the Yūki Monjo), and constable of his home province (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

¶Takauji, troubled that many of the officers and men of the Kantō were loyal to the throne, sent Kō-no-Moroyuki to surround Oda Castle (Note: following the Hōryaku Kanki, the Yūki Monjo, and the Hitachi Zeisho Monjo). Moroyuki further sent Taira-no-Takamoto to attack Shizuku Castle, but after several months he had still not taken it (Note: following the Hitachi Zeisho Monjo). Moroyuki secretly sent persuaders to tempt Haruhisa with gain. Haruhisa was just then weary of the fighting, and on hearing the offer he secretly began to harbor a divided heart. Chikafusa perceived this and sent an urgent messenger to ask Yūki-no-Chikatomo for reinforcements. Chikatomo merely watched events and did not come to the rescue; Haruhisa, his mind already made up, let the enemy into the castle. Chikafusa fled and shut himself up in Seki Castle. Haruhisa thus surrendered to Moroyuki, but Moroyuki broke his earlier promise, deprived Haruhisa of the constableship, cut down his domain, and suspended every office conferred on him since Engen, making him use his old title of Kunai-no-gon-no-shōyū as before. Haruhisa was greatly dejected and wished to return again to the allegiance of the court, but could not accomplish it (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

¶In the seventh year of Shōhei (1352), he followed Takauji's army and fought Nitta-no-Yoshimune at Fuefukizaka and defeated him (Note: following the Taiheiki). In this year Haruhisa died (Note: following the Oda Keizu). Haruhisa had a general acquaintance with histories and had literary talent (Note: following the Kūge-shū). According to the tradition handed down in Haruhisa's family, the founding ancestor Tomoie was an illegitimate son of Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and was adopted by Fujiwara-no-Munetsuna (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and so used the Fujiwara surname; in this generation Haruhisa petitioned Takauji and changed it to Minamoto (Note: following the Oda Keizu).

¶His son Takatomo became Governor of Sanuki (Note: following the Oda Keizu and the Sakusha Burui). Later he shaved his head and took the name Eson (Note: following the Oda Keizu and the Kamakura Ōzōshi). In the Kōwa era, when Ashikaga-no-Ujimitsu himself led troops to attack Oyama-no-Yoshimasa, Takatomo served as vanguard and won distinction. In the Genchū era, Yoshimasa's son Wakainumaru raised troops, and Ujimitsu defeated him. Wakainumaru fled and hid; one Noda and others captured one of his band and took him to Kamakura. When the officials questioned him, the prisoner stated that "Oda Takatomo and his son have secretly sided with Wakainumaru, and for that reason sheltered him in their own house." Ujimitsu was about to seize Takatomo, but Takatomo, with his two sons and one Shida and others, shut himself up on Mount Nantai. Ujimitsu had Uesugi-no-Tomomune attack him, but the castle stood on the summit and was extremely steep; Takatomo defended it with all his strength, and the Kamakura troops suffered many casualties and had still not taken it after more than a year.

¶Ujimitsu sent a messenger to counsel Takatomo, saying: "If you come out at once and surrender, I will forgive your offense and leave your domain as it was. I will in no way break my word." Takatomo at last came out and surrendered. But his son Gorō would not consent to surrender (Note: the name "Gorō" follows the Kitsuregawa Keizu), and with the remaining troops shut himself up on Mount Nantai. The Kamakura troops made a sudden assault under cover of the morning mist, and the defenders were thrown into confusion. Gorō set fire to the castle and took his own life together with more than a hundred troops. Because Takatomo had surrendered earlier, he was able to escape punishment (Note: the Kamakura Ōzōshi and the Sō Rai'in Gyōjō are consulted together). In the tenth year of Ōei (1403), Takatomo died. Takatomo excelled in calligraphy and waka poetry. His son Harutomo died before his father, and his grandson Mochiie succeeded to the house (Note: following the Oda Keizu).

Yūki Chikatomo

¶Yūki Chikatomo, called Shichirō, was the eldest son of Kōzuke-no-suke Munehiro (Note: the Yūki Kafu and the Yūki Monjo are consulted together). He became Governor of Mikawa. In the third year of Genkō (1333), when Emperor Go-Daigo was in Oki, an edict was sent far off commanding Munehiro and Chikatomo to destroy Hōjō-no-Takatoki. Munehiro, at Kamakura, responded to the order of Prince Moriyoshi and, together with the other commanders, attacked and took Kamakura. At this time Chikatomo remained in the township of Shirakawa in Mutsu to guard the home base, and gathered the troops of Ōu against any unforeseen event. When the disorder was pacified, in reward for his services he was granted the township of Kunohe in Nukanobu district (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

¶When Minamoto-no-Akiie, Chinjufu Taishōgun, reached his post, Chikatomo became a member of the Hyōjōshū, Council of Deliberation, and, serving concurrently as Hikitsuke Tōnin, Chief of the Judicial Bureau, took part in the government of the province (Note: following the Kenmu Ninen-ki). In the second year of Kenmu (1335) he served as Kendan, Magistrate, of the four districts of Shirakawa, Takano, Iwase, and Asaka and of the neighboring townships, and soon was appointed Ōkura-no-gon-no-shōyū, Provisional Junior Assistant Minister of the Treasury. In the second year of Engen (1337) he became constable of Shimotsuke and, in reward for his past services, was granted lands in Takano district. When bandits occupied Iogawa in Mutsu and Minamoto-no-Akiie sent troops to attack them, he ordered Chikatomo to give support; before long Chikatomo became Ōkura-no-gon-no-taifu, Provisional Senior Assistant Minister of the Treasury, and was granted Junior Fourth Rank Lower (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

¶The following year, when Akiie again went west from Kamakura, Munehiro followed him and left Chikatomo behind in the home province to guard it. But Akiie was killed in battle, and Munehiro too died of illness in Ise, and Chikatomo began to feel anxiety in his heart (Note: following the Taiheiki). When the Jun-daijin Minamoto-no-Chikafusa was driven ashore and reached Hitachi, he conspired with Chikatomo to attack the enemy together. In the fourth year of Kōkoku (1343) Chikatomo struck the enemy at Chōfuku Fort and defeated them (Note: following the Yūki Monjo). In the first year of Kōkoku (1340), Minamoto-no-Akinobu, Chinjufu Taishōgun, came to Mutsu and entered Chikatomo's castle (Note: following the Genkō Nikki Uragaki). Advancing further, he tried to enter the provincial capital but was blocked by Ishidō-no-Yoshifusa and could not proceed. On the way, while Akinobu stood facing Yoshifusa, Chikatomo sent troops to relieve him. The emperor praised his service and granted him the post of Shuri-no-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of Palace Repairs (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

¶The following year, together with his son Akitomo, he followed Akinobu, attacked Yoshifusa, and took his castle (Note: the Yūki Monjo and the documents of the Aso Shrine are consulted together). In the fourth year of Kōkoku, Minamoto-no-Chikafusa was at Seki Castle. In accordance with the emperor's wishes, Chikatomo was made constable of Kazusa (Note: following the Yūki Monjo). Munehiro, when dying, had charged Chikatomo that he must destroy the rebels, and so Chikatomo at first strove with all his might against the enemy. But presently the imperial army repeatedly lost its commanders and its supporters deserted one after another, and Chikatomo too judged that the situation could hardly be sustained, and gradually came to harbor a divided heart (Note: following the Taiheiki and the Yūki Monjo).

¶When Chikafusa held Oda Castle and was besieged by the enemy, he asked Chikatomo for help; Chikatomo agreed at first but in the end did not fulfill it. Chikafusa fled to Seki Castle and shut himself up there, repeatedly sending letters to ask for aid and pleading earnestly, but Chikatomo in the end did not respond. In this year he finally turned against the court and surrendered to the Ashikaga side. Thereupon Chikafusa abandoned the castle and fled west, and the castles of the Kantō fell one after another (Note: following the Yūki Kafu).

¶At the beginning of Shōhei, Ashikaga-no-Takauji sent Kira-no-Sadaie to pacify Mutsu (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), and thereby troops were sent out to attack Minamoto-no-Akinobu. At that time Chikatomo lay ill, so he sent his son Akitomo to follow Sadaie, and had him attack Akinobu at Ryōzen, Utsunomine, and other places. Akinobu fled, and the army pursued him as far as Dewa and attacked Tateyazawa Castle, achieving a fair measure of success. Soon afterwards Chikatomo died. He had three sons: the eldest, Akitomo, was Danjō-no-shōhitsu, Lesser Assistant of the Board of Censors; the second, Tomotsune, was Governor of Mikawa; and the third, Tomotane, was Hyōe-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Military Guards. At first all strove on the court's side, but afterwards they turned away together with Chikatomo. When Minamoto-no-Akinobu again raised troops and entered Mutsu, Akitomo, Tomotsune, and the others secretly answered him and planned to raise a righteous army, but could not accomplish it, and instead followed Kira-no-Sadaie to attack Akinobu and drove him to flight (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

Date Yukitane

¶Date Yukitomo was a man of Mutsu (Note: following the Date Keizu and the Yūki Monjo) and a descendant of Fujiwara-no-Tokinaga, Hitachi-no-suke. Tokinaga served Minamoto-no-Yoritomo and held the domain of Isa in Hitachi; he had a daughter called Daishin-no-tsubone, who was favored by Yoritomo and bore a son, and through this Tokinaga came to be close to Yoritomo as an intimate attendant. He shaved his head and took the name Nensai. In the Bunji era he followed Yoritomo to Mutsu to destroy Fujiwara-no-Yasuhira, and the army advanced to Mount Atsukari. Tokinaga, together with his son Tamemune and others, led the vanguard and broke the enemy fort in Date district. Tamemune captured Satō-no-Motoyuki, Shōji of Shinobu, and Mutsu was pacified. Yoritomo gave Date district to Tokinaga, and from this the family took Date as its clan name. Tamemune was called Hitachi Kanja and became Kōgōgū-no-gon-no-daishin, Provisional Senior Secretary of the Empress's Household (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). His descendants lived in Mutsu generation after generation (Note: following the Date Keizu).

¶Yukitomo became a Kurōdo, Chamberlain, was appointed Sakonoe-no-shōgen (Note: following the Kenmu Ninen-ki), and later became Kunai-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of the Palace Household (Note: the Date Keizu and the Yūki Monjo are consulted together). Together with Yūki-no-Chikatomo and others he sat among the Hyōjōshū and, serving concurrently as Hikitsuke, Judicial Officer, took part in hearing the lawsuits of Ōu (Note: following the Kenmu Ninen-ki). In the second year of Kenmu (1335), when Hōjō-no-Tokiyuki rebelled and bandits raised troops at Nagakura in Mutsu, Yukitomo defeated them (Note: the Yūki Monjo and the Genkō Nikki Uragaki are consulted together). Soon afterwards he followed Minamoto-no-Akiie west and fought at Onjōji (Note: following the Taiheiki). In the second year of Engen (1337), Akiie had Yukitomo and others attack the bandits of Iogawa, and together with the troops of Tamura-no-Shōji he pacified them (Note: following the Yūki Monjo).

¶He again followed Akiie west. At this time Haga-no-Zenka had rebelled holding Utsunomiya Castle, and Akiie sent Yukitomo and others to attack it; after a three-day siege and assault it at last surrendered (Note: following the Taiheiki). Afterwards, when Akiie was killed in battle, Yukitomo again followed Minamoto-no-Chikafusa to Hitachi. Chikafusa held Oda Castle and Yukitomo held Isa Castle. When Kō-no-Moroyuki came attacking, Chikafusa fled and shut himself up in Seki Castle; Moroyuki besieged it for years, until at last its provisions were exhausted and the castle fell. The enemy then surrounded Isa Castle with his whole army, and Yukitomo encouraged his troops and held it (Note: the Yūki Monjo, the Beppu Monjo, and the Seki-jō Sho are consulted together). Presently his kinsmen in Mutsu surrendered to the enemy together with Yūki-no-Chikatomo (Note: following the Yūki Monjo). Judging that an isolated castle could not hold out, Yukitomo in the end surrendered to Moroyuki (Note: following the Hitachi Zeisho Monjo). In the third year of Shōhei (1348) he died (Note: following the Date Keizu).

¶Yukitomo loved waka poetry, and many of his poems were included in the imperial anthologies (Note: following the Shoku Senzai Wakashū, the Shin-Senzai Wakashū, the Shin-Shūi Wakashū, the Shin-Goshūi Wakashū, and the Fūga Wakashū. The Sakusha Burui says that Nikaidō-no-Yukitomo and Date-no-Yukitomo were contemporaries, shared the same surname, and both excelled at waka and were included in the imperial anthologies; the compilers, being unable to tell them apart because the names were identical, changed the name of Date-no-Yukitomo to Tomomura and included him in the anthology under that name).

¶His son was Munetō, who became Danjō-no-shōhitsu (Note: according to the Sōma Monjo, in the seventh year of Shōhei (1352), when Minamoto-no-Akinobu raised troops, entered Mutsu, and attacked the provincial capital, Date Hida-no-zenji, Tamura-no-Shōji, and others all joined him. Hida-no-zenji is probably Munetō). Munetō's son Masamune (Note: following the Date Keizu) became Daizen-no-daibu, Master of the Palace Table, and shaved his head to take the name Enkō (Note: the Date Keizu and the Yūki Monjo are consulted together. The Kamakura Ōzōshi writes kō, "filial," as kyō, "teaching"). In the seventh year of Ōei (1400), while at Kamakura, he harbored a grudge against Ashikaga-no-Mitsukane, secretly plotted rebellion with Ashina-no-Mitsumori, fled back to Mutsu (Note: following the Yūki Monjo), and raised troops holding Akadate (Note: following the Kamakura Ōzōshi). The resident commander Ashikaga-no-Mitsusada ordered the officers and men of Mutsu to drive him back, but could not prevail. In the ninth year of Ōei (1402), Ashikaga-no-Mitsukane sent Uesugi-no-Ujinori with troops to attack him, but Masamune drove them back. Mitsukane sent a still larger army to besiege and attack him, and Masamune, his strength exhausted, surrendered (Note: following the Kamakura Ōzōshi).

Chiba Sadatane

¶Chiba Sadatane was a great-great-grandson of Shimōsa-no-suke Tanetsuna. He succeeded to the headship and called himself Chiba-no-suke (Note: following the Chiba Keizu), and became Shuri-no-daibu, Master of Palace Repairs (Note: following the Sakusha Burui). In the first year of Genkō (1331) he followed Ōsaragi-no-Sadanao to attack Kusunoki-no-Masashige's Akasaka Castle (Note: following the Kōmyōji Zōsho Zanpen). In the second year of Genkō (1332), Hōjō-no-Takatoki sent Sadatane and others to escort the emperor's carriage as far as Oki (Note: following the Taiheiki).

¶The following year, when Nitta-no-Yoshisada raised troops, Sadatane followed him and attacked and defeated Takatoki's general Kanezawa-no-Sadayuki at Tsurumi (Note: following the Baishōron). In the Kenmu era he joined the campaign against Ashikaga-no-Takauji and repeatedly won distinction. When the emperor made his progress to Enryakuji, Sadatane led troops as escort, and when Minamoto-no-Akiie came up from Mutsu in the cause of the throne, Sadatane led troops and followed him (Note: following the Taiheiki).

¶When Yoshisada attacked Onjōji, Sadatane, together with his uncle Munetane, led the vanguard and seized the gate and advanced. Munetane fought desperately and was killed in battle within the camp (Note: the Taiheiki and the Chiba Keizu). Soon afterwards he followed the Crown Prince to the northern provinces, but was blocked by snow and lost his way, and happened to meet the army of Ashikaga-no-Takatsune. Sadatane's men were all suffering from hunger and cold and could fight no more, and some wished to take their own lives. Takatsune sent a messenger to urge surrender, and Sadatane at last surrendered to him with five hundred horsemen of his command. In the early years of Shōhei he followed Kō-no-Moronao and fought Kusunoki-no-Masatsura at Shijōnawate (Note: following the Taiheiki). In the sixth year of Shōhei (1351) he died in the capital (Note: following the Jōrakuki and the Chiba Keizu), at the age of sixty-one. His son was Ujitane (Note: following the Chiba Keizu).

Chiba Ujitane

¶Chiba Ujitane succeeded to the headship and called himself Chiba-no-suke (Note: following the Chiba Keizu), was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and was skilled in waka poetry (Note: following the Sakusha Burui). In the sixth year of Shōhei (1351), when Ashikaga-no-Tadayoshi held Otokoyama, Ujitane joined him (Note: following the Enji Ryaku). Afterwards he again followed Takauji, fought Tadayoshi at Sattayama, pursued Uesugi-no-Noriaki and others and fought at Hayakawajiri, but was defeated. The following year he again followed Takauji and fought Nitta-no-Yoshimune at Fuefukizaka and defeated him (Note: following the Taiheiki). In the eighteenth year of Shōhei (1363) he died of illness in Mino (Note: following the Chiba Keizu).

Ōuchi Yoshihiro

¶Ōuchi Yoshihiro, who called himself Magotarō, was a man of Suō, and his clan name was Tatara. His ancestor Masatsune took Ōuchi as the family name, and from his ancestor ten generations back, Morifusa, the family held generation after generation the post of Suō-no-gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor of Suō. His father, Hiroyo, was granted Junior Fifth Rank Upper (Note: following the Ōuchi Kafu). In the Genkō and Kenmu period, taking advantage of the disorder, he seized the lands of Suō and Nagato, and used them to aid the loyalist army. In the nineteenth year of Shōhei (1364) he turned against the court and surrendered to Ashikaga-no-Yoshiakira, and was thereby appointed constable of the two provinces (Note: following the Taiheiki). Later he was further granted the constableship of Iwami (Note: following the Ōuchi Kafu).

¶Kōtō, Suruga-no-kami, the former constable of Nagato, resented the loss of his lands and, together with Kikuchi-no-Takemitsu, attacked Hiroyo. On hearing of this Hiroyo made a sudden attack on Takemitsu in Bungo but was badly defeated, and escaped and returned home by feigning surrender. But he did not tell anyone the facts; carrying a great quantity of gold, silver, and treasures he went up to the capital, bribed Yoshiakira's attendants, and gained great repute.

¶Yoshihiro was valiant beyond compare and loved waka poetry (Note: following the Bunroku Seidan). At the age of sixteen he campaigned in Chikushi together with Imagawa-no-Sadayo, and after more than twenty battles in all he finally pacified Chinzei (Note: following the Ōei-ki). He became Sakyō-no-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Master of the Left Capital Office, was granted Junior Fourth Rank Upper, and succeeded to the headship as constable. Ashikaga-no-Yoshimitsu further granted him the constableship of Buzen (Note: following the Ōuchi Kafu).

¶When Yamana-no-Ujikiyo rebelled against Yoshimitsu, Yoshihiro fought Ujikiyo's valiant general, one Kobayashi, at Shijō Ōmiya and cut him down. Yoshimitsu praised him and granted him the constableships of Izumi and Kii. Afterwards, when Yamana-no-Yoshimasa was in Kii, Yoshimitsu ordered Yoshihiro to attack him, and Yoshimasa fled without fighting (Note: following the Meitoku-ki).

¶At that time the imperial army of the Southern Court was declining day by day and its sphere had shrunk, so that it could no longer sustain itself. The following year Yoshihiro went to the temporary palace at Yoshino to negotiate a settlement. The negotiation was concluded, the Sacred Treasures entered the capital, and the imperial lines of the Southern and Northern Courts were united. Yoshihiro's efforts contributed greatly to this achievement. In the fourth year of Ōei (1397), Yoshimitsu ordered Yoshihiro to go to the Western Sea, where he fought the Shōni, the Kikuchi, and others and defeated them. Later he shaved his head and took the name Yūkei (Note: following the Kitsuregawa Keizu. The Ōuchi Kafu writes it Butsujitsu).

¶His power and wealth were the foremost in the realm. At that time the Three Kanrei held great sway and were jealous of Yoshihiro's achievements. Yoshihiro for his part, relying on his own merits, was proud and would not bow to them. As a result Yoshihiro's every move was obstructed and censured by the Three Kanrei (Note: following the Bunroku Seidan).

¶When Yoshimitsu wished to build a residence at Kitayama and had the commanders help with the construction, ordering them, "Let your officers and men do the labor," Yoshihiro said: "My troops may be used for bow and arrow, but they cannot be used for the labor of earth and timber." Yoshimitsu did not reproach him, but was inwardly very angry. Yoshihiro too felt uneasy about his position (Note: following the Gaun Nikkenroku), and secretly conspired with Ashikaga-no-Mitsukane, planning to raise troops in concert, east and west, and attack the capital on an appointed day. His aim was presumably to intimidate Yoshimitsu into getting rid of the Three Kanrei.

¶In the sixth year of Ōei (1399) Yoshihiro reached Sakai-no-ura and sent a messenger to report to Yoshimitsu. Prince Sondō, acting on Yoshimitsu's wishes, sent a messenger to summon Yoshihiro, but Yoshihiro did not go. Yoshimitsu further sent the monk Chūshin to counsel him. Yoshihiro consulted his retainers on how to reply. His son Hiroshige (Note: the name "Hiroshige" follows one text of the Ōuchi Keizu) came forward and said: "Father, you hold six provinces in your own person and already have glory enough. Now that the Shōgun sends a messenger to counsel you, his intent is truly warm. It would be well to change your mind and obey the order." Hirai-no-Bizen also remonstrated with him. But Sugi-no-Bungo said: "The great plan has already been laid. How can we call it off now?" Yoshihiro thought this right, and met Chūshin and said:

¶"I once aided Imagawa Yoshū (Sadayo), crossed the sea and destroyed the enemy, and thereby Kyushu was pacified. In the rebellion of Ujikiyo, I felled his valiant general and broke his fierce spearhead, and the rebel band was defeated. The Sword and the Jewel are treasures of the imperial court, and are not to be compared with the jade seal of Qin. It was because I proposed the settlement and returned them to the capital that the Southern and Northern Courts became one. All of these are my achievements. Yet the Shōgun first ordered me to attack the Shōni, and in secret meant to have him attack me. What fault have I? Now I hear that the Shōgun intends to take from me my own provinces of Izumi and Kii. What fault have I? Moreover, that he now wishes to summon me to the capital is nothing other than an intention to have me put to death."

¶Chūshin said: "How could the Shōgun have the Shōni attack you? As for taking the two provinces, that is mere street talk. What basis could there be for it? Your merit is indeed lofty. It would be best to preserve your person by humbly stepping back." Yoshihiro said: "You need say no more. I have already made a pact with the Kamakura lord (Ashikaga-no-Mitsukane), and we are to call him to account in the field. I will wait until the second day of next month, and then I shall present myself before the Shōgun." And he shook out his robe and stood up.

¶When Chūshin returned and reported, Yoshimitsu sent Hosokawa-no-Yoriyuki, Hatakeyama-no-Mitsuie, and others to attack him. Hearing that Yoshimitsu had taken the field at Tōji, Yoshihiro went to Ishizu, bowed once to the north, returned to Sakai-no-ura, built many watchtowers, and strengthened his defenses (Note: following the Ōei-ki).

¶One day, when he prayed at the Sumiyoshi Shrine, a shrine maiden suddenly leapt about as if possessed and cried, "Yoshihiro's undertaking is like snow thrown into a furnace." Yoshihiro laughed and said: "I mean to break the many with the few. That is rather like snow putting out a fire" (Note: following the Bunroku Seidan).

¶Soon the armies came attacking. Yoshihiro sallied out to fight and killed and wounded countless enemies, and withdrew only in the middle of the night. Presently the armies again surrounded Sakai-no-ura and set fire to it from the windward side. The wind was strong and the flames fierce, and many of the defenders died. Yoshihiro then rode toward the enemy line, charged this way and that, scattered those who stood in his way, and sought to fight a decisive battle with Mitsuie. Mitsuie's army surrounded him; all the troops who followed him were killed, and Yoshihiro himself, gravely wounded, could fight no longer. Even so he cried out in a great voice: "This is Ōuchi Yoshihiro, a valiant general without equal. Take my head away and show it to the Shōgun." And he was at last killed by Mitsuie.

¶Hiroshige tried to take his own life, but Hirai-no-Bizen stopped him and made him surrender, and so he surrendered with three hundred troops (Note: following the Ōei-ki). His descendants held several provinces generation after generation and wielded power in the western provinces (Note: following the Ōuchi Kafu).

Ogino Tomotada

¶Ogino Tomotada, called Hikoroku, was a man of Tanba. When Emperor Go-Daigo was at Mount Senjō, Tomotada and his kinsmen gathered men and raised troops for the throne, and followed the Sakonoe-no-chūjō Minamoto-no-Tadaaki to attack Rokuhara, but without success. Tomotada, together with Adachi-no-Sukehide, Kojima-no-Takanori, and others, gathered more than three thousand broken troops, returned to Tanba, and held Kōsanji Castle.

¶Soon Ashikaga-no-Takauji raised troops at Shinomura, but Tomotada did not wish to side with him, and separately entered the capital by way of Wakasa together with Takanori and others. When Takauji rebelled, Tomotada, together with the kinsmen of Kuge-no-Nagasawa and Hōkabe, answered, putting forward Nikki-no-Yoriaki as commander. But before long, for certain reasons, he came to resent Takauji.

¶In the sixth year of Kōkoku (1345), Kojima-no-Takanori raised troops in support of Nitta-no-Yoshiharu and secretly sent a messenger to invite Tomotada. Tomotada followed him, and again held Kōsanji Castle, planning to rise together on an appointed day. Takauji heard of this and ordered Yamana-no-Tokiuji to attack it. Tokiuji besieged it for a long time and cut off its supply of provisions, and Tomotada could not hold out and at last surrendered (Note: following the Taiheiki). He became constable of Tanba (Note: following the Enji Ryaku). He was appointed Governor of Owari. In the third year of Shōhei (1348) he followed Kō-no-Moronao and fought at Shijōnawate (Note: following the various variant texts of the Taiheiki). In the spring of the seventh year of Shōhei (1352), the men of the province raised troops and attacked Tomotada, and Tomotada fled in defeat (Note: following the Enji Ryaku). Nothing is known of what became of him afterwards.