Welcome to the Sengoku Period Wiki![]
An encyclopedia that anyone can edit about Japan's Sengoku Period.
The goal of this wiki is to become a reliable source for anything that concerns the Sengoku Period.
There are currently 257 pages on this wiki since March 14, 2010.
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Featured Article[]
Matsunaga Hisahide (松永 弾正 久秀)[]
Portrait of Matsunaga Hisahide from The Japanese book "Yamatoji Narara (月刊大和路ならら)" vol.264, なら文化交流機構, 2020
Matsunaga Hisahide was a prominent daimyō of the Sengoku period, a key figure within the Matsunaga clan, and a noted tea master. He wielded significant influence in Kyōto during his alliance with the Miyoshi clan, but was also infamous for his treacherous and opportunistic nature, frequently betraying allies and shifting loyalties to advance his own power.
Did You Know?[]
- In 1567, Matsunaga Hisahide became the first daimyō to construct a tenshu (tower keep) at his Tamon Castle, marking a significant development in Japanese castle architecture.
- During the fall of Shigisan Castle, Matsunaga Hisahide committed seppuku rather than surrender. In a final act of loyalty and defiance, his son Kōjirō severed his father’s head to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. With Hisahide’s head clutched in his arms and his sword thrust through his own throat, Kōjirō leapt to his death from the castle walls.
In the Spotlight[]
Honor in the Sengoku Period
During the Sengoku period, honor was everything in the life of a Japanese nobleman. Society was governed by strict codes of conduct that dictated the proper actions of each one of its members. Members of the Samurai elite were expected to adhere to the code of Bushido, or “The Way of the Warrior.” Bushido demanded that a member of this class cultivate the virtues of rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. He was to be self-sacrificing, humble, and unassuming. Everything he did was governed by his sense of duty. Breach of this code meant dishonor and disgrace. A disgraced Japanese nobleman faced ostracism and abandonment by his followers. The only option for him then was Seppuku: painful suicide by disembowelment.
Timeline of Key Events[]
- 1467–1477 — Ōnin War begins, sparking the Sengoku period of warring states.
- 1560 — Battle of Okehazama: Oda Nobunaga defeats Imagawa Yoshimoto.
- 1575 — Battle of Nagashino: Introduction of arquebuses changes warfare.
- 1582 — Battle of Honnō-ji: Oda Nobunaga’s death.
- 1600 — Battle of Sekigahara: Tokugawa Ieyasu secures dominance.
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Personages - Battles - Clans - Terminology - Fiction
Join us in uncovering the rich history of one of Japan’s most turbulent and fascinating eras!