During the Warring States period, Takeda Shingen of Kai was considered to have the potential to take over the world. He studied and practiced the military tactics of Sun Tzu, a Chinese strategist, and became a famous general for winning the Warring States period, despite it being dominated by many powerful lords. This book explores the management methods of his army.
Takeda Shingen’s military system – control and recognition through the Yorishin-Yoriko system and military mirror
Changed rewards from recognition to gold payments, inspiring combat motivation
Expanded the Yorishin-Yoriko system to provide not only recognition but also rewards
Takeda Shingen’s army, like other armies, was composed of hereditary, domestic and foreign lords, as well as direct participants (such as military personnel, foot soldiers, prisoners) mobilized from villages and towns through the granting of various privileges.
Hereditary lords were warriors from Kai, and among them, samurai generals were military commanders who commanded hundreds of men, with large hereditary lords such as Yamagata, Hara, and Naito being appointed. Hereditary lords led their own soldiers mobilized from their own territories and their own retainers (these were called “assistant officials” by the Takeda clan). In addition, many hereditary lords were appointed as flag-bearer foot soldier generals.
Although the country lords varied in scale, they were warrior families with castle holdings with a knowledge line of over 1,000 kanbun (a type of currency), leading their own retainers (known as “households” or “caves”) and soldiers from their territories.
Shingen hired outstanding personnel from among the prisoners who came from other countries, appointed those who performed well in battle as foot soldier generals, and organized the rest as foot soldiers under his command. In addition, it is estimated that a large proportion of the military personnel mobilized from villages and towns were in the army. As such, through his unique arrangement, Shingen combined them to form his army.
The core of this was the Takeda clan’s immediate family and hereditary elders. They were appointed as Yorioya (one-handed officials, owners) and were responsible for country lords and military personnel (also known as Yoriko and Doujin).
In addition, some of the Takeda clan’s immediate family and hereditary elders were given custody of foreign country lords (such as Shinano, Nishi-Kozuke, Suruga) by Shingen as accompanying troops (group troops).
The banner of Fūrinkazan, a symbol of the swift and decisive nature of the Takeda army. Only the head of the Takeda family was allowed to use this banner, so Shingen forbade Katsuyori to use it in his will because he was in a proxy position.
The organization of foreign country lords recorded in Kōyō Gunkan
According to this book, only two members of the Takeda clan’s immediate family, Takeda Shōyōken Nobutsuna (Shingen’s younger brother) and Ichijō Noburyū (Shingen’s half-brother), had foreign country lords as accompanying troops.
Among hereditary elders, Yamagata Masakage (Suruga Ejiri Castle Lord, Tōtōmi-Mikawa area army, 11 lords from Suruga-Tōtōmi-Mikawa-Shinano foreign country), Naito Masahide (Nishi-Kozuke Minowa Castle Lord, Kantō area army, 7 lords from Kozuke foreign country), Baba Nobuharu (Shinano Makinojima Castle Lord, Hida-Echū area army), Kasuga Toratsuna (Shinano Kaizu Castle Lord), Shin-Etsu area army), Tsuchiya Masatsugu (Shingen’s close associate, received 7 foreign lords from Shinano region) were given custody of foreign country lords by Shingen as accompanying troops. Among foreign country lords, Yoda (Ashida) Nobukata and Nobuyoshi father and son had custody of Maruko (Maruko Castle Lord) and Takeishi clan (Takeishi Castle Lord) from Shinano foreign country respectively. It seems that they were trusted by Shingen.
Shinano Sanada and Yoda (Ashida) clans and Nishi-Kozuke Kobata clan had large territories and many troops, so they could form an army on their own.
Written by Hirayama Masaru
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