武田信玄（1521年12月1日－1573年5月13日、大永元年十一月三日－元龜四年四月十二日，原名武田晴信，通稱太郎）是日本戰國時代的大名，為清和源氏源義光的後代，甲斐武田傢第19代傢督，武田信虎之長子。母親是甲斐國人衆大井信達的女兒大井之方，正室為扇𠔌上杉傢大名上杉朝興之女，繼室為左大臣三條公賴之女三條之方。官位是從四位下大膳大夫、信濃守，大正時代贈從三位。

武田信玄外號“甲斐之虎”，所舉“風林火山”之軍旗語出《孫子兵法》，成了武田軍的一種象徵。

經歷

幼年

武田信玄於1521年12月1日出生於躑躅崎館，幼名勝千代，乃是甲斐國大名武田信虎的長男。1533年，信虎替其迎娶了上杉朝興的女兒作為正室，並於次年懷孕，卻因難産而死。信虎又在1536年請托室町幕府第12代將軍足利義晴賜下偏諱，改其名為武田晴信，敘任從五位下大膳大夫，同年晴信迎娶第二任正室三條夫人。1536年11月，晴信初陣，攻陷佐久郡海之口城，殺其城主平賀源心（但此事僅見於甲陽軍鑒，真實性仍待考究）。1541年信虎與村上義清、諏訪賴重合力攻打小縣郡，矢澤氏投降，但海野棟綱及真田幸隆逃亡到上州。

繼承傢督

1541年6月，晴信聯同板垣信方、甘利虎泰、飯富虎昌等人趁信虎出訪駿河國時，發動兵變自立，逐信虎於駿河。放逐的原因據‘甲陽軍鑒’以及‘????山嚮嶽奄小年代記’的記載是父親實行暴政，激起了人民不滿。當晴信繼位時，受到當地的人民熱烈歡迎。

早期多采信‘甲陽軍鑒’的說法，認為武田信虎是在天文七年，即1538年被放逐，但佐以‘妙法寺記’、‘高白齋記’等書，武田信虎被放逐的年份，應為天文十年，即1541年。

平定信濃

晴信放逐父親的消息傳開後，諏訪郡上原城主諏訪賴重以及林城城主信濃守護小笠原長時聯手進攻甲斐，結果被晴信擊退（韭崎之戰），而後續又有木曾、小笠原、諏訪跟村上義清四傢聯軍來攻，又再度被晴信擊退（瀨澤之戰），不過這兩場戰事在近代考證中，參照‘妙法寺記’、‘高白齋記’等書全無紀錄，因此很可能都是‘甲陽軍鑒’所編造。

1542年6月，晴信决定攻打妹夫諏訪賴重，當時晴信聯合諏訪氏支族的高遠賴繼對諏訪傢進行攻擊，諏訪賴重戰敗後自盡身亡。其後高遠賴繼因不滿領地分配問題與晴信對立，並攻破小澤淵。

1543年進攻信濃國長窪城，大井貞隆自盡身亡。1545年4月晴信攻打高遠賴繼的高遠城，於6月擊敗撃破高遠賴繼及福與城主藤澤賴親統率的軍隊。

1546年，晴信進攻佐久郡，占領了內山城及前山城。

1547年，晴信進攻志賀城的笠原清繁，但在上杉憲政支援下陷入苦戰。8月6日，晴信在小田井原之戰中大敗聯合軍，卻在戰後不容許敵軍投降，更殺盡所有敵軍，將3000首級懸於地墻上，又對人質作出酷刑，俘虜欲贖回自由時更開出高達2～10貫的身代金，高過20～30文錢的一般價格，故意讓俘虜無法回鄉而被武田傢充入黑川金山當奴工，這為晴信統一信濃的過程增添麻煩。同年，晴信參考了《今川假名目錄》、《朝倉敏景十七個條》、《大內傢壁書》等書籍，創立了武田氏的分國法——“甲州法度次第”（又稱武田傢法）。

1548年2月，晴信進攻信濃國北部的村上氏，村上義清在上田原迎擊，兩軍正面交鋒，武田軍卻占下風，陣亡者包括甘利虎泰、板垣信方等大將，是為“上田原之戰”。晴信在戰後於湯村溫泉休養了30天。小笠原長時趁機於4月進攻諏訪，7月，晴信在????尻峠之戰大敗小笠原軍。

1550年7月，晴信進攻小笠原氏的領地，迫近林城，長時無法抵擋晴信的入侵放棄林城，逃到村上氏領地，中信濃落入武田勢力。9月，晴信嚮村上氏領地進軍，準備攻擊砥石城，戰況對武田軍不利，晴信失去了橫田高鬆等將領。當晴信聽說葛尾城的主力接近後，武田軍在增援到達前撤兵。1551年，晴信部下真田幸隆利用謀略，成功占據砥石城。1553年義清放棄葛尾城，逃往越後，依靠長尾景虎，拉開了川中島會戰的序幕。

三國同盟與川中島之戰

1553年，在村上義清嚮長尾景虎的提議下，長尾軍嚮川中島進軍，長尾軍和武田軍在信濃川中島對峙，但兩軍沒有積極行動，5月兩軍撤退。是為第一次川中島之戰。

1555年，晴信嫁給今川義元的姐姐定惠院病逝，為延續與今川的同盟，晴信遂為嫡男義信迎娶了義元的女兒，並將愛女嫁給北條氏政，北條氏康也將女兒嫁給今川氏真，甲相駿同盟於焉正式成立。

1555年，與長尾軍在川中島對峙，是為第二次川中島之戰，在今川義元的介入下，兩軍從川中島撤退。同年晴信平定木曾義康和木曾義昌兩父子。

1557年，武田軍和長尾軍再次在川中島對峙，但是沒有交戰，上杉軍因越中一揆出兵而撤退。

1559年5月，晴信出傢，法名德榮軒信玄。

1561年9月10日，第四次川中島會戰爆發，雙方動員超過一萬兵力參戰，最終信玄成功擊退上杉軍，不過卻損失了其弟信繁、諸角虎定、山本勘助及三枝守直等人。

1564年，上杉軍和武田軍主次再次在川中島對峙，不過兩軍沒有交戰而退兵，是為第五次川中島之戰。

入侵關東、東海

武田信玄多次派兵進攻上野國，逐步擴大在上野的勢力範圍，但箕輪城守將長野業正仍持續頑抗。1561年（永祿4年），業正病逝，由兒子長野業盛繼承。信玄在1566年（永祿9年）派遣2萬大軍攻打箕輪城。武田軍成功攻入箕輪城，業盛自盡身亡，武田的勢力延伸到上野國西部。

1565年（永祿7年）武田信玄派遣山縣昌景聯合北飛驒豪族江馬氏打敗三木氏攻下飛驒，並在隔年以江馬氏攻入越中，勸降鬆倉城主椎名氏，拿下越中新川郡地山城周遭，遂以江馬時盛嫡子輝盛擔任城主，但此說雖見於甲陽軍鑒，但參考“勝興寺文書”跟“上杉年譜”，椎名康胤反出上杉傢的時間應該更晚，而江馬時盛跟三木傢1565年底便又雙雙改投上杉傢，使武田信玄的飛驒戰略失利。

在德川傢康與今川氏真翻臉交戰後，身為三國同盟之一且作為氏真舅舅的武田信玄卻打算侵入今川傢，為此不滿的信玄長子武田義信與傢老飯富虎昌企圖將武田信玄流放，卻被信玄早一步發現，武田義信遭到囚禁，最後逝世。1568年（永祿11年），武田信玄順利策反上杉傢臣本莊繁長跟越中豪族椎名康胤（本莊繁長之亂），武田軍也對北信濃的飯山城發動攻擊，卻未能攻下城池，而信玄同時通過織田信長和德川氏聯手，以今川氏真跟上杉謙信通好為藉口揮師駿河，三國同盟正式毀滅。隨着今川傢臣的大量倒戈，今川氏真不敵敗退，武田信玄於薩埵峠大破今川氏真軍，攻入今川館拿下駿河後，卻暗中搞小動作，讓傢臣秋山信友出兵德川傢康占領的遠江，因此德川傢康改與北條氏康聯手抵禦武田軍，武田信玄為防備上杉謙信奧援北條傢，武田信玄也透過將軍足利義昭和織田信長與上杉傢進行和談。

1569年（永祿12年）北條氏政出兵駿河，武田信玄出兵支援防備，但同樣在薩埵峠被北條氏政擊退，陣亡數百人，武田信玄透過馬場信春所建議的啄木鳥戰術，保全主軍退回甲斐，駿河多處城池被北條軍奪回（第二次薩埵峠之戰）。同年6月再次遭到北條氏康擊敗，連八幡大菩薩的旗幟都被北條軍奪去，但此戰是否存在也有爭議，欠缺一級史料印證。武田信玄為了擊敗北條傢，也和關東的佐竹義重、裏見義弘等大名策略聯盟，兩面夾擊北條傢（甲佐同盟）。

同9月信玄率2萬兵馬攻打關東。10月1日包圍小田原城不果，10月4日信玄解除小田原城的包圍，嚮甲斐退卻。10月8日在三增峠之戰跟北條氏邦及北條氏照交戰。1570年信玄重新南下與北條、今川軍交戰，再度成功占領駿河一帶。1571年（元龜2年）北條氏康病逝，完全掌握實權的北條氏政决定放棄與上杉氏的相越同盟，改為與武田氏同盟。

信玄西上

甲相同盟達成後，信玄的戰略目標轉嚮三河國德川傢以及原先友好的織田傢，於是響應本願寺顯如跟朝倉義景的要求加入信長包圍網。武田軍在1572年（元龜3年）10月準備進攻織田氏，總兵力達30000（當中包括北條氏政派來的增援）。另外為牽製信長出兵增援，派遣傢臣下條信氏率3000兵進攻美濃國岩村城。

當時信長領內面對石山本願寺、朝倉氏、淺井氏等敵對勢力，無暇他顧。10月14日，信玄在一言坂之戰擊敗迎擊的德川軍，接着信玄本隊包圍二俁城，12月19日武田軍攻下二俁城。當信玄迫近濱鬆城的時候，傢康决定迎擊。12月22日兩軍在三方原交戰，德川的總兵力衹有11000，在戰術和士氣方面武田軍占優，最終武田取得大捷（三方原之戰）。武田軍繼續嚮西進發，1573年（元龜4年）1月包圍三河國野田城，2月10日武田軍攻占野田城。

病逝

武田信玄、勝賴之墓

攻下野田城後，信玄病情惡化，於三河長篠城休養，行軍因而中止。經過一個月左右信玄的病情沒有好轉，4月武田軍决意返回甲斐。4月12日武田信玄病逝於信濃國駒場（今長野縣下伊那郡阿智村），享年五十二歲。《禦宿監物書狀》提及死因為肺結核，《甲陽軍鑒》指出死因是胃癌及食道癌。信玄的遺體在信濃國伊那駒場長嶽寺火化。戒名法性院機山信玄。信玄的墓地分佈在信玄墓、大泉寺、惠林寺、諏訪湖、長嶽寺、竜雲寺、高野山、福田寺、妙心寺等地。

遺言

甲陽軍鑒版

餘於五載前，即知此日，特畫花押紙七百，餘卒三年內，密不發喪，其間公文可用之。他國不知餘死，必不敢動。武田氏由信勝繼承，信勝元服前以父勝賴攝政。加餘遺骸以梏，沉諏訪湖。

禦宿監物書狀版

餘將大去也。餘出身僻鄉，伏擊鄰國他郡，戰無不勝。可遺憾者，未能目睹武田旗立之帝都。倘餘大去消息傳出，敵必蜂擁而起。因之，三、四載內務必嚴守秘密，整頓領土，培養義卒，庶幾一舉攻都。餘九泉之下，必當含笑欣慰。

人物

信玄的風林火山之旗

其用兵方略與為政之道在日本戰國史上留下頗具影響的一筆。所舉“風林火山”（其疾如風，其徐如林，侵掠如火，不動如山）之軍旗，語出《孫子兵法》，成為了武田軍的一種象徵。

信玄積極開發耕地，剋服了甲州耕地不足的問題，尤其窮半生精力修築的信玄堤至今仍在發揮作用。信玄利用甲州領內大量金礦，積極開採金礦的事業，引入先進的采金技術，發行全日本最初的定額金幣“甲州金”。信玄重視民政，其製定的《甲州法度次第》為戰國時期著名的分國法之一。

信玄曾迷戀擔任小姓的春日源介（通說為高坂昌信，但無法證實），信玄寫給春日的情書仍保留至今。

信玄入侵駿河後，積極招攬水軍加入，當中包括了間宮武兵衛、間宮造酒丞、小濱景隆、嚮井正綱、伊丹雅勝、間宮忠兵衛等人。

《完全圖解日本戰國武將54人》記載，信玄的馬桶是衝水式，面積為六席，在便器周圍放榻榻米，裏面用熏香除臭，清理時是使用洗澡水清理，信玄曾說：草木（和臭同音）不絶，因此稱之為（甲洲山）。

原名武田晴信，信玄是出傢後的法名，據《甲陽軍鑒》記載，玄字取自中國唐代名僧臨濟宗創始人臨濟義玄。

傢臣

武田二十四將

日本歷史
蒙古來襲繪詞
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• 武田四天王：板垣信方、甘利虎泰、飯富虎昌、小山田昌辰
• 武田四名臣：馬場信房、內藤昌豐、高坂昌信、山縣昌景
• 武田二十四將：武田信繁、武田信廉、板垣信方、土屋昌次、甘利虎泰、小幡虎盛、山縣昌景、秋山信友、穴山信君、真田幸隆、馬場信房、原昌胤、飯富虎昌、橫田高鬆、小幡昌盛、一條信竜、真田信綱、多田滿賴、小山田信茂、內藤昌豐、三枝守友、高坂昌信、原虎胤、山本勘助。（有另外的說法）
• 甲陽五名臣：小幡虎盛、原虎胤、多田滿賴、橫田高鬆、山本勘助。
• 奧近習六人衆：土屋昌次、三枝守友、曾根昌世、真田昌幸、長坂昌國、甘利昌忠。
• 武田三彈正：逃彈正高坂昌信、攻彈正真田幸隆、槍彈正保科正俊。
• 使番十二人衆：山縣昌景、高坂昌信、初鹿野忠次、今井信俊、小宮山友晴、阿部勝寶、真田昌輝、小幡光盛、小山田行村、金丸虎義、工藤市兵衛、三枝昌吉。
• 足輕大將四天王：橫田高鬆、小幡虎盛、多田滿賴、原虎胤。

信玄傢臣團名序

• 一門衆（宗傢&分傢）：武田信繁、望月信賴、武田信豐、望月信永、武田信廉、武田信澄、鬆尾信是、河窪信實、河窪信俊、一條信竜、一條信就、武田信友、武田信堯、板垣信方（信形）、板垣信憲、穴山信友、穴山信君、穴山信嘉、甘利虎泰、甘利昌忠、甘利信康、海野信親、仁科盛信、葛山信貞
• 譜代傢老衆（初代）：駒井政武、馬場信房、內藤昌豐、高坂昌信、原昌胤、淺利信種、跡部勝資、慄原詮鼕、小山田昌成、今福友清（淨閑齋）、小宮山昌友、初鹿野忠次、山縣昌景。
• 譜代傢老衆（二代&侍大將）：室住虎登（板垣直方）、三枝昌吉、三枝守友（山縣昌直）、高坂昌澄、高坂昌元、金丸昌直、金丸昌義、土屋昌次、內藤昌月、淺利昌種、小宮山友晴、跡部昌忠、跡部昌勝、今福虎孝、今福昌和、駒井政直。
• 譜代衆（足輕大將）：小菅忠元、長坂光堅、長坂昌國、橫田康景、橫田尹鬆、原盛胤、下曾根昌利、下曾根信恆、武藤喜兵衛（真田昌幸）、小幡昌盛、小幡光盛、市川昌信、三枝守直、曾根虎長、曾根昌世。
• 甲斐傢臣：土屋昌恆、初鹿野昌次、小山田信有、小山田信茂、諸角虎定、室住昌守、秋山信藤、三枝虎吉、跡部勝忠、依田信蕃、工藤昌祐、曽根虎盛、今井信昌。
• 信濃傢臣：木曾義在、木曾義康、木曾義昌、諏訪滿鄰、諏訪賴豐、諏訪賴忠、真田信綱、真田信尹、矢澤賴綱、河原綱傢、保科正直、保科正光、小笠原信貴、小笠原信嶺。
• 武藏傢臣：永井政實、小幡景宗、浪合胤成。
• 上野傢臣：小幡憲重、小幡信貞、小幡信尚、安中重繁、安中久繁、和田業繁、和田信業、長野正宣、那波宗安、後閑信純、高山滿重、倉賀野秀景、木部範虎、白倉重傢、多比羅友定。
• 駿河傢臣：岡部元信、岡部久綱、岡部正綱、葛山氏元、禦宿信貞（綱治）、禦宿友綱、瀨名信輝、小原鎮實、朝比奈信置、三浦員久、三浦義鏡、孕石元泰。
• 遠江傢臣：天野景貫、渡邊照。
• 三河傢臣：奧平貞勝、奧平定能、奧平貞昌、菅沼定盈、田峯定吉、菅沼正貞、成瀨正一。
• 越後傢臣：城景茂、城昌茂、日嚮宗立、大熊朝秀、大熊長秀。
• 下總傢臣：原胤歲。
• 越中傢臣：椎名康胤。
• 武田水軍衆：伊丹康直、嚮井正綱、岡部貞綱、小濱景隆、間宮武兵衛、間宮造酒丞（信高）、間宮忠兵衛。

傢世

父母

• 父親 武田信虎：武田傢第18代傢督，其姊嫁與今川義元後，探望其姊被信玄放逐於駿河。
• 母親 大井之方

兄弟

• 武田信繁：信玄與謙信爆發第四次川中島之戰，守備武田本陣時被突襲而來的柿崎景傢討取，後人評價為“真正的武將”。
• 武田信廉：在信玄死後，繼續假扮信玄，其侄勝賴在戰死後跟着戰死。
• 鬆尾信是
• 武田宗智
• 河窪信實
• 一條信竜
• 武田信友
• 武田勝虎

姊妹

• 定惠院（今川義元室）
• 南鬆院（穴山信友室）
• 禰禰（諏訪賴重室）
• 花光院（浦野友久室）
• 菊禦料人（菊亭晴季室）
• 龜禦料人（大井信為室）
• 下條信氏室
• 禰津神平室
• 葛山氏室

妻妾

• 正室：上杉朝興之女、三條夫人
• 側室：諏訪禦料人、油川夫人、禰津禦寮人

子女

武田勝賴

• 長男 武田義信：涉嫌謀反而被廢嫡，與飯富虎昌等人被幽禁而死。
• 次男 海野信親：因身為盲人而出傢，法名“竜芳”。隨勝賴殉死，其兒子受德川傢康保護，江戶幕府高傢武田傢始祖。
• 三男 西保信之：早夭。
• 長女 黃梅院：嫁與北條氏政。信玄撕毀善德寺三國盟約而着手駿河侵攻時，兩人被盛怒的氏康勒令離婚，其後不久便鬱鬱而終。
• 次女 見性院：嫁與穴山信君。
• 三女 真理姬：嫁與木曾義昌。
• 四男 武田勝賴：甲斐武田傢末代當主，天目山之戰時被迫自盡。
• 五男 仁科盛信：甲州徵伐時拒守高遠城，城破時自盡身亡，子孫分別以仁科氏和武田氏存續。
• 四女 桃由童女：早夭。
• 六男 葛山信貞：入繼駿河豪族葛山氏，在武田傢滅亡後藏匿於善光寺，被織田軍搜出而被殺。
• 五女 菊姬：嫁與上杉景勝。
• 六女 鬆姬：原與織田信忠訂婚，後因兩傢對敵而解除婚約。
• 七男 武田信清：武田傢滅亡後投奔姐夫上杉景勝，是米澤武田傢始祖。

史料

• 甲陽軍鑒

登場作品

甲府市武田信玄公祭

維基語錄上的相關摘錄： 武田信玄

維基共享資源中相關的多媒體資源：武田信玄

小說

• 風林火山（新潮社、井上靖著）
• 武田信玄（文藝春秋、新田次郎著）
• 武田信玄（講談社、津本陽著）
• 武田信玄（成美堂出版、土橋治重著）
• 武田三代記（新人物往來社、高野樂山著）

影視劇

• 太閣記（1965年、NHK大河劇、演：早川雪洲）
• 武田信玄（1966年、NTV、演：倉丘伸太郎）
• 天與地（1969年、NHK大河劇、演：高橋幸治）
• 風林火山（1969年、東寶、演：中村錦之助）
• 國盜物語（1973年、NHK大河劇、演：大友柳太朗）
• 戰國自衛隊（1979年、東寶、演：田中浩）
• 影武者（1980年、東寶、演：仲代達矢）
• 德川傢康（1983年、NHK大河劇、演：佐藤慶）
• 女人風林火山（1986年、TBS、演：石立鐵男）
• 武田信玄（1988年、NHK大河劇、演：中井貴一）
• 天與地（1990年、東映、演：津川雅彥）
• 武田信玄（1991年、TBS、演：役所廣司）
• 德川傢康 戰國最後的勝利者（1992年、ANB、演：舛田利雄）
• 風林火山（1992年、NTV、演：館廣）
• 織田信長（1994年、TX、演：南原宏治）
• 國盜物語（2005年、TX、演：中村敦夫）
• 風林火山（2006年、EX、演：鬆岡昌宏）
• 風林火山（2007年、NHK大河劇、演：市川龜治郎）
• 天與地（2008年、EX、演：渡部篤郎）
• 女信長（2013年、CX、演：竹內力）
• 信長的主廚（2014年、EX、演：高嶋政伸）
• 真田丸（2016年、NHK大河劇、演：林邦史朗）
• 新陰流 上泉伊勢守信綱（2017年、BS、演：原田竜二）
• 女城主 直虎（2017年、NHK大河劇、演：鬆平健）
• 信玄之父 信虎：國主的歸還（2020年、山梨縣、演：永島敏行）
• 麒麟來了（2020年、NHK大河劇、演：石橋凌）

遊戲

• 信長之野望係列
• 戰國蘭斯
• 戰國無雙係列/無雙OROCHI係列（光榮、配音：鄉裏大輔→大友竜三郎）
• 戰國Basara係列（CAPCOM、配音：玄田哲章）
• 貓咪大戰爭
• 美男戰國：穿越時空之戀（配音：梅原裕一郎）
• 戰刻night blood（配音：小西剋幸）

模型玩具

• 真空路守 NO.4 信玄張斬
• bb戰士 NO.55 SD戰國傳 天與地 信玄頑駄無
• bb戰士 NO.331 SD戰國傳 武神降臨篇 武田信玄頑駄無

註釋

參考資料

• 武田信玄　風林火山の大戰略 1988年 學習研究社 ISBN 4-05-105142-0
• 完全圖解日本戰國武將54人 作者：小和田哲男 遠流出版

Takeda Shingen (武田 信玄, December 1, 1521 – May 13, 1573), of Kai Province, was a pre-eminent daimyō in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.

Name

Takeda Shingen

Shingen was called "Tarō" (a commonly used pet name for the eldest son of a Japanese family) or Katsuchiyo (勝千代) during his childhood. When he celebrated his coming of age, he was given the formal name Harunobu (晴信), which included a character from the name of Ashikaga Yoshiharu (足利義晴), the 12th Ashikaga shōgun. It was a common practice in feudal Japan for a higher-ranked warrior to bestow a character from his own name to his inferiors as a symbol of recognition. From the local Lord's perspective, it was an honour to receive a character from the shogunate, although the authority of the latter had greatly degenerated in the mid-16th century.

Both the Ashikaga and the Takeda clans descended from the Minamoto (源) clan. Technically, Harunobu, as well as his forefathers, had borne the surname of Minamoto. Therefore, Harunobu would be referred to as "Minamoto-no Harunobu" (源晴信) in official records kept by the Imperial Court when he was conferred the official title of "Daizen Dayu" (大膳大夫). The Imperial Court had maintained a system of ritsuryō (律令) that was parallel to the shogunate apparatus.

In February 1559 Harunobu chose to live a pabbajja life as a Buddhist novitiate and received a dharma name, Shingen (信玄), from his Buddhist master. The kanji of "Shingen" can also be pronounced as "Nobuharu", which is the inversion of his official name, Harunobu. In ancient times, such religious names of recognized Japanese aristocrats would be read in "on'yomi" (音讀み), the Chinese-style pronunciation, instead of "kun'yomi" (訓讀み), the indigenous Japanese pronunciation. Although widely known by the dharma name, Takeda Shingen's formal name remained "Harunobu" throughout the rest of his life.

Shingen is sometimes referred to as "The Tiger of Kai" (甲斐の虎) for his martial prowess on the battlefield. His primary rival, Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信), was often called "The Dragon of Echigo" (越後の竜) or also "The Tiger of Echigo" (越後の虎).

"These two seemed to have enjoyed meeting in battle." They fought several times at Kawanakajima.

Early life

A modern reproduction of Takeda Shingen's famous armour

Takeda Shingen was the first-born son of Takeda Nobutora (武田信虎), leader of the Takeda clan, and daimyō of the province of Kai. He had been an accomplished poet in his youth. He assisted his father with the older relatives and vassals of the Takeda family, and became quite a valuable addition to the clan at a fairly young age. In 1536, at the age of 15, he was instrumental in helping his father win the Battle of Un no Kuchi.

At some point in his life after his "coming of age" ceremony, the young man decided to rebel against Nobutora. He finally succeeded in 1540, successfully taking control of the clan. Events regarding this change of leadership are not entirely clear, but it is thought that Nobutora had planned to name the second son, Nobushige, as his heir instead of Shingen. The end result was a miserable retirement that was forced upon him by Shingen and his supporters: he was sent to Suruga Province, on the southern border of Kai, to be kept in custody under the scrutiny of the Imagawa clan, led by his son-in-law Imagawa Yoshimoto (今川義元), the daimyō of Suruga. For their help in this bloodless coup, an alliance was formed between the Imagawa and the Takeda clans.

Initial expansion

Shinano Campaign

Shingen's first act was to gain a hold of the area around him. His goal was to conquer Shinano Province (信濃). A number of the major warlords in the Shinano region marched on the border of Kai Province, hoping to neutralize the power of the still-young Shingen before he had a chance to expand into their lands. However, planning to beat him down at Fuchu (where word had it Shingen was gathering his forces for a stand), they were unprepared when Takeda forces suddenly came down upon them at the Battle of Sezawa. Taking advantage of their confusion, Shingen was able to win a quick victory, which set the stage for his drive into Shinano lands that same year and his successful Siege of Uehara. The young warlord made considerable advances into the region, conquering the Suwa headquarters in the Siege of Kuwabara before moving into central Shinano with the defeat of both Tozawa Yorichika and Takato Yoritsugu in the Siege of Fukuyo and Battle of Ankokuji. In 1543, he captured Nagakubo castle, Kojinyama in 1544, and then Takatō and Ryūgasaki in 1545. In 1546 he took Uchiyama and won the Battle of Odaihara. In 1547, he took Shika. However, the warlord was checked at Uedahara by Murakami Yoshikiyo, losing two of his generals in a heated battle which Murakami won. Shingen managed to avenge this loss and the Murakami clan was eventually defeated in the Sieges of Toishi. Murakami fled the region, eventually coming to plead for help from the Province of Echigo (越後).

In 1548, Shingen defeated Ogasawara Nagatoki in the Battle of Shiojiritoge and then took Fukashi in 1550. In 1553, he captured Katsurao, Wada, Takashima and Fukuda. In 1554 he took Fukushima, Kannomine, Matsuo and Yoshioka.^:212–13

Depiction of the legendary personal conflict between Kenshin and Shingen at the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima (1561)

Shingen by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Conflict with Uesugi

After conquering Shinano, Shingen faced another rival, Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo. The feud between them became legendary, and they faced each other on the battlefield five times in the Battles of Kawanakajima.

These battles were generally confined to controlled skirmishes, neither daimyō willing to devote himself entirely to a single all-out attempt. The conflict between the two that had the fiercest fighting, and might have decided victory or defeat for one side or the other, was the fourth battle, during which the famous tale arose of Uesugi Kenshin's forces clearing a path through the Takeda troops and Kenshin engaging Shingen in single combat. The tale has Kenshin attacking Shingen with his sword while Shingen defends with his iron war fan or tessen. Both lords lost many men in this fight, and Shingen in particular lost two of his main generals, Yamamoto Kansuke and his younger brother Takeda Nobushige.^:269–72

After the fourth battle of Kawanakajima, the Takeda clan suffered two internal setbacks. Shingen uncovered two plots on his life, the first from his cousin Suwa Shigemasa (whom he ordered to commit seppuku), and the second, a few years later, from his own son Takeda Yoshinobu (武田義信). His son was confined to the Toko temple, where he died two years later; it is not known whether his death was natural or ordered by his father. After this incident, Shingen designated his fourth son, Takeda Katsuyori (武田勝頼), as the acting leader of the clan after himself until Katsuyori's son came of age.

In 1563, Shingen allied with Hōjō Ujiyasu, they captured Matsuyama Castle in Musashi Province. In 1565, Shingen then took Kuragano and Minowa Castle.

Suruga campaign

The death of Yoshinobu is believed to have much to do with the change in Shingen's Imagawa policy. After Imagawa Yoshimoto's death in a battle against Oda Nobunaga (織田信長) in 1560, Shingen had started to plan an invasion of Suruga, a territory now controlled by Yoshimoto's son Ujizane. Yoshinobu, however, had strongly opposed such a plan because his wife was the daughter of late Yoshimoto. By 1567, nonetheless, after Shingen had successfully kept the forces led by Uesugi Kenshin out of the northern boundaries of Shinano, taken over a strategically important castle in western Kōzuke, and suppressed internal objection to his plans to take advantage of the weakened Imagawa clan, he was ready to carry out his planned Suruga invasion. Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川傢康) "came to terms" and occupied the "former Imagawa territory."^:279 They both fought against Yoshimoto's heir, Imagawa Ujizane.

During this time Shingen also ordered the damming project of the Fuji River, which was one of the major domestic activities of the time.

Conflict with Hojo

In 1568, as a response to Hōjō's intervention in his invasion of Suruga Province, Shingen came into Musashi Province from his home province of Kai, attacking Takiyama castle. He then moved against the Hojo by attacking Hachigata Castle then engaged in the Siege of Odawara (1569). He burned Odawara castle then successfully withdrew after Hōjō Ujiteru and Hōjō Ujikuni failed to stop him in the Battle of Mimasetoge.^:216–18

After defeating the intervention forces commanded by Hōjō Ujimasa (北條氏政) of Sagami, Shingen finally secured the Suruga, formerly base of the prestigious Imagawa clan, as a Takeda asset in 1569.

Conflict with Oda-Tokugawa

Upon securing Takeda control over Suruga, northern Shinano, and western Kōzuke, Shingen moved to challenge the Oda-Tokugawa alliance in the Battle of Mikatagahara, this battle was one of the most famous battles of Takeda Shingen's campaigns, and one of the best demonstrations of his cavalry-based tactics. It was also one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's worst defeats, and complete disaster was only narrowly averted. After his victory Shingen lead a formidable force of over 30,000 into the latter's territories in Tōtōmi, Mikawa, and Mino in 1572.

Death

The exact circumstances surrounding Takeda Shingen's death are not known. There are many different stories, some of which are as follows.

When Takeda Shingen was 49 years old, he was the only daimyō with the necessary power and tactical skill to stop Oda Nobunaga's rush to rule Japan. He engaged Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces in 1572 and captured Futamata, and in January engaged in the Battle of Mikatagahara, where he defeated, but not decisively, a small combined army of Nobunaga and Ieyasu. After defeating Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shingen stopped his advance temporarily due to outside influences, which allowed the Tokugawa to prepare for battle again. He entered Mikawa Province, but soon died in the camp. Some accounts say he succumbed to an old war wound, some say a sniper wounded him earlier, and some accounts say he died of pneumonia. He was buried at Erin temple in what is now Kōshū, Yamanashi.

The film Kagemusha, by director Akira Kurosawa, loosely depicts a well-known version of his death in which a single sniper shot him at night. The other aspects of his death depicted in the film were artistic liberties taken by the director.

After death

Takeda Katsuyori became the daimyō of the Takeda clan. Katsuyori was ambitious and desired to continue the legacy of his father. He moved on to take Tokugawa forts. However an allied force of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga dealt a crushing blow to the Takeda in the Battle of Nagashino. Here Oda Nobunaga's matchlock-armed infantry destroyed the Takeda cavalry. Ieyasu seized the opportunity and defeated the weak Takeda led by Takeda Katsuyori in the battle of Tenmokuzan. Katsuyori committed suicide after the battle, and the Takeda clan never recovered.

Upon Shingen's death, Kenshin reportedly cried at the loss of one of his strongest and most deeply respected rivals. One of the most lasting tributes to Shingen's prowess was that of Tokugawa Ieyasu himself, who is known to have borrowed heavily from the old Takeda leader's governmental and military innovations after he had taken leadership of Kai during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's rise to power. Many of these designs were put to use in the Tokugawa shogunate.

While the Takeda were for the most part destroyed by the loss of Shingen's heir, Katsuyori, Shingen had a profound effect on the period in Japan. He influenced many lords with his law, tax, and administration systems, and many tales were told about him. Although aggressive towards military enemies he was probably not as cruel as other warlords. His war banner contained the famous phrase Fū-Rin-Ka-Zan (風林火山, "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain"), taken from Sun Tzu's The Art of War. This phrase refers to the idea of Swift as the Wind, Silent as a Forest, Fierce as Fire and Immovable as a Mountain. The motto applied to Shingen's policies and his military strategy.

Retainers

During the Edo period, 24 retainers who served under Shingen were chosen as a popular topic for ukiyo-e and bunraku. The names vary from work to work and the following list is the widely agreed version of retainers. They had not worked together, as some had died before others served, but they were noted for their exceptional contributions to Shingen and the Takeda family.

Takeda Shingen's 24 generals

Of his retainers, Kōsaka Masanobu stands out as being one of Shingen's better known beloveds, in the style of the Japanese shudō tradition. The two entered into the relationship when Shingen was 22 and Masanobu 16. The love pact signed by the two, in Tokyo University's Historical Archive, documents Shingen's pledge that he was not involved in, nor had any intentions of entering into, a sexual relationship with a certain other retainer, and asserts that "since I want to be intimate with you" he will in no way harm the boy, and calls upon the gods to be his guarantors. (Leupp, pp. 53–54)

Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen

• Akiyama Nobutomo
• Amari Torayasu
• Anayama Nobukimi
• Baba Nobuharu
• Hara Masatane
• Hara Toratane
• Ichijō Nobutatsu, younger brother of Shingen
• Itagaki Nobukata
• Kōsaka Masanobu
• Naitō Masatoyo
• Obata Masamori
• Obata Toramori
• Obu Toramasa
• Ohama Kagetaka
• Oyamada Nobushige
• Saegusa Moritomo
• Sanada Nobutsuna
• Sanada Yukitaka
• Tada Mitsuyori
• Tsuchiya Masatsugu
• Takeda Nobukado
• Takeda Nobushige
• Yamagata Masakage
• Yamamoto Kansuke

Other Generals

• Sanada Masayuki
• Yokota Takatoshi
• Kiso Yoshimasa

Shingen-ko Festival

Shingen-ko Festival - The army corps in front of Maizuru Castle Park (2019)

The Shingen-ko Festival (信玄公祭り, Shingen-ko Matsuri) is held annually on the first or second weekend of April in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture. It celebrates the legacy of daimyō Takeda Shingen. The festival is 3 days long. Usually a famous Japanese celebrity plays the part of Takeda Shingen. There are several parades going to and from the Takeda Shrine and Kofu Castle. These parades are very theatrical involving serious re-enactors who practice the rest of the year for this one weekend in April. The parades reflect the different comings and goings of Takeda Shingen during his life.

Family

• Father: Takeda Nobutora (1494–1574)
• Brothers:
  • Takematsu (1517–1523)
  • Inuchiyo (1523–1529)
  • Takeda Nobushige (1525–1561)
  • Takeda Nobumoto
  • Takeda Nobukado (1529–1582)
  • Matsuo Nobukore (c. 1530s – 1571)
  • Takeda Souchi
  • Takeda Nobuzane (c. 1530s – 1575)
  • Ichijō Nobutatsu (c. 1539–1582)
• Sisters:
  • Joukei-in (1519–1550), married Imagawa Yoshimoto
  • Nanshou-in (born 1520) married Anayama Nobutomo
  • Nene (1528–1543) married Suwa Yorishige
• Sons:
  • Takeda Katsuyori by Suwa Goryonin
  • Takeda Yoshinobu by Lady Sanjō
  • Takeda Nobuchika (also known as Unno Nobuchika) by Lady Sanjō
  • Takeda Nobukiyo
  • Nishina Morinobu
  • Katsurayama Nobusada
• Daughters:
  • Ōbai-in
  • Kenshō-in
  • Shinryu-in
  • Matsuhime
  • Kikuhime

In popular culture

• Shingen's life is depicted in the 1969 film Samurai Banners, seen through the eyes of his generall Yamamoto Kansuke. The film is based on a novel by Inoue Yasushi titled Furin Kazan.
• In the 2020 video game "Ghost of Tsushima", the player can obtain an armour set (Gosaku's armour) that is very heavily inspired by Takeda Shingen's actual famous armour set.
• Takeda's battles with Kagetora were dramatized in the movie Heaven and Earth.
• Takeda Shingen's death is fictionalized in Akira Kurosawa's film Kagemusha.
• He is mentioned on episode 31 of the Tokusatsu 1988 series Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya. The focus of this episode is the alleged missing Takeda Shingen's famous sword Nobutora, and its discovery in France.
• His life is the subject of a historical novel by Jirou Nitta, which was adapted for television in the 1988 NHK Taiga drama Takeda Shingen, starring Kiichi Nakai, distributed internationally under the title Shingen.
• Shingen the Ruler (Takeda Shingen 2 in Japan) is a turn-based strategy game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), produced by Hot B in 1989, and released in North America in 1990.
• The Takeda Clan is a faction in Creative Assembly's Shogun: Total War and Total War: Shogun 2 with Shingen himself appearing in the latter's opening cinematic.
• Takeda Shingen has appeared in the highly popular Samurai Warriors and Sengoku Basara video game franchises, and in the anime Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings. He is a character in all of the games of the Warriors Orochi series. He is a playable character in Pokémon Conquest (Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan), with his partner Pokémon being Rhyperior and Groudon.
• In Samurai Champloo, the character Jin Has the Takeda mon on his keikogi.
• Video game music composer Ryu Umemoto (1974–2011) was a descendant of Takeda.
• Takeda Shingen was mentioned in episode 10 of The Tatami Galaxy when the protagonist noted that a 4.5 tatami room is perfect, and if a room were to be larger than that, it would end up being "as spacious as Takeda Shingen's lavatory, and one might even get lost".
• He is a main character in the anime Sengoku Basara: The Last Party and Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings. He was shown with a superhuman strength, able to use a large ax with effortless precision, ride two horses in standing position, even riding up walls vertically.
• In "Battle Girls: Time Paradox", He appeared as hotheaded woman's who committed nothing to obtain power of the red armored.
• In the eroge "Commander Babes", Shingen is portrayed as a young woman with whom the player's character engages in sexual intercourse.

References