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－元龟四年四月十二日，原名武田晴信，通称太郎）是日本战国时代的大名，为清和源氏源义光的后代，甲斐武田家第19代家督，武田信虎之长子。母亲是甲斐国人众大井信达的女儿大井之方，正室为扇谷上杉家大名上杉朝兴之女，继室为左大臣三条公赖之女三条之方。官位是从四位下大膳大夫、信浓守，大正时代赠从三位。

武田信玄外号“甲斐之虎”，所举“风林火山”之军旗语出《孙子兵法》，成了武田军的一种象征。

经历

幼年

武田信玄于1521年12月1日出生于踯躅崎馆，幼名胜千代，乃是甲斐国大名武田信虎的长男。1533年，信虎替其迎娶了上杉朝兴的女儿作为正室，并于次年怀孕，却因难产而死。信虎又在1536年请托室町幕府第12代将军足利义晴赐下偏讳，改其名为武田晴信，叙任从五位下大膳大夫，同年晴信迎娶第二任正室三条夫人。1536年11月，晴信初阵，攻陷佐久郡海之口城，杀其城主平贺源心（但此事仅见于甲阳军鉴，真实性仍待考究）。1541年信虎与村上义清、诹访赖重合力攻打小县郡，矢泽氏投降，但海野栋纲及真田幸隆逃亡到上州。

继承家督

1541年6月，晴信联同板垣信方、甘利虎泰、饭富虎昌等人趁信虎出访骏河国时，发动兵变自立，逐信虎于骏河。放逐的原因据‘甲阳军鉴’以及‘盐山向岳奄小年代记’的记载是父亲实行暴政，激起了人民不满。当晴信继位时，受到当地的人民热烈欢迎。

早期多采信‘甲阳军鉴’的说法，认为武田信虎是在天文七年，即1538年被放逐，但佐以‘妙法寺记’、‘高白斋记’等书，武田信虎被放逐的年份，应为天文十年，即1541年。

平定信浓

晴信放逐父亲的消息传开后，诹访郡上原城主诹访赖重以及林城城主信浓守护小笠原长时联手进攻甲斐，结果被晴信击退（韭崎之战），而后续又有木曾、小笠原、诹访跟村上义清四家联军来攻，又再度被晴信击退（濑泽之战），不过这两场战事在近代考证中，参照‘妙法寺记’、‘高白斋记’等书全无纪录，因此很可能都是‘甲阳军鉴’所编造。

1542年6月，晴信决定攻打妹夫诹访赖重，当时晴信联合诹访氏支族的高远赖继对诹访家进行攻击，诹访赖重战败后自尽身亡。其后高远赖继因不满领地分配问题与晴信对立，并攻破小泽渊。

1543年进攻信浓国长洼城，大井贞隆自尽身亡。1545年4月晴信攻打高远赖继的高远城，于6月击败撃破高远赖继及福与城主藤泽赖亲统率的军队。

1546年，晴信进攻佐久郡，占领了内山城及前山城。

1547年，晴信进攻志贺城的笠原清繁，但在上杉宪政支援下陷入苦战。8月6日，晴信在小田井原之战中大败联合军，却在战后不容许敌军投降，更杀尽所有敌军，将3000首级悬于地墙上，又对人质作出酷刑，俘虏欲赎回自由时更开出高达2～10贯的身代金，高过20～30文钱的一般价格，故意让俘虏无法回乡而被武田家充入黑川金山当奴工，这为晴信统一信浓的过程增添麻烦。同年，晴信参考了《今川假名目录》、《朝仓敏景十七个条》、《大内家壁书》等书籍，创立了武田氏的分国法——“甲州法度次第”（又称武田家法）。

1548年2月，晴信进攻信浓国北部的村上氏，村上义清在上田原迎击，两军正面交锋，武田军却占下风，阵亡者包括甘利虎泰、板垣信方等大将，是为“上田原之战”。晴信在战后于汤村温泉休养了30天。小笠原长时趁机于4月进攻诹访，7月，晴信在盐尻峠之战大败小笠原军。

1550年7月，晴信进攻小笠原氏的领地，迫近林城，长时无法抵挡晴信的入侵放弃林城，逃到村上氏领地，中信浓落入武田势力。9月，晴信向村上氏领地进军，准备攻击砥石城，战况对武田军不利，晴信失去了横田高松等将领。当晴信听说葛尾城的主力接近后，武田军在增援到达前撤兵。1551年，晴信部下真田幸隆利用谋略，成功占据砥石城。1553年义清放弃葛尾城，逃往越后，依靠长尾景虎，拉开了川中岛会战的序幕。

三国同盟与川中岛之战

1553年，在村上义清向长尾景虎的提议下，长尾军向川中岛进军，长尾军和武田军在信浓川中岛对峙，但两军没有积极行动，5月两军撤退。是为第一次川中岛之战。

1555年，晴信嫁给今川义元的姐姐定惠院病逝，为延续与今川的同盟，晴信遂为嫡男义信迎娶了义元的女儿，并将爱女嫁给北条氏政，北条氏康也将女儿嫁给今川氏真，甲相骏同盟于焉正式成立。

1555年，与长尾军在川中岛对峙，是为第二次川中岛之战，在今川义元的介入下，两军从川中岛撤退。同年晴信平定木曾义康和木曾义昌两父子。

1557年，武田军和长尾军再次在川中岛对峙，但是没有交战，上杉军因越中一揆出兵而撤退。

1559年5月，晴信出家，法名德荣轩信玄。

1561年9月10日，第四次川中岛会战爆发，双方动员超过一万兵力参战，最终信玄成功击退上杉军，不过却损失了其弟信繁、诸角虎定、山本勘助及三枝守直等人。

1564年，上杉军和武田军主次再次在川中岛对峙，不过两军没有交战而退兵，是为第五次川中岛之战。

入侵关东、东海

武田信玄多次派兵进攻上野国，逐步扩大在上野的势力范围，但箕轮城守将长野业正仍持续顽抗。1561年（永禄4年），业正病逝，由儿子长野业盛继承。信玄在1566年（永禄9年）派遣2万大军攻打箕轮城。武田军成功攻入箕轮城，业盛自尽身亡，武田的势力延伸到上野国西部。

1565年（永禄7年）武田信玄派遣山县昌景联合北飞驒豪族江马氏打败三木氏攻下飞驒，并在隔年以江马氏攻入越中，劝降松仓城主椎名氏，拿下越中新川郡地山城周遭，遂以江马时盛嫡子辉盛担任城主，但此说虽见于甲阳军鉴，但参考“胜兴寺文书”跟“上杉年谱”，椎名康胤反出上杉家的时间应该更晚，而江马时盛跟三木家1565年底便又双双改投上杉家，使武田信玄的飞驒战略失利。

在德川家康与今川氏真翻脸交战后，身为三国同盟之一且作为氏真舅舅的武田信玄却打算侵入今川家，为此不满的信玄长子武田义信与家老饭富虎昌企图将武田信玄流放，却被信玄早一步发现，武田义信遭到囚禁，最后逝世。1568年（永禄11年），武田信玄顺利策反上杉家臣本庄繁长跟越中豪族椎名康胤（本庄繁长之乱），武田军也对北信浓的饭山城发动攻击，却未能攻下城池，而信玄同时通过织田信长和德川氏联手，以今川氏真跟上杉谦信通好为借口挥师骏河，三国同盟正式毁灭。随着今川家臣的大量倒戈，今川氏真不敌败退，武田信玄于萨埵峠大破今川氏真军，攻入今川馆拿下骏河后，却暗中搞小动作，让家臣秋山信友出兵德川家康占领的远江，因此德川家康改与北条氏康联手抵御武田军，武田信玄为防备上杉谦信奥援北条家，武田信玄也透过将军足利义昭和织田信长与上杉家进行和谈。

1569年（永禄12年）北条氏政出兵骏河，武田信玄出兵支援防备，但同样在萨埵峠被北条氏政击退，阵亡数百人，武田信玄透过马场信春所建议的啄木鸟战术，保全主军退回甲斐，骏河多处城池被北条军夺回（第二次萨埵峠之战）。同年6月再次遭到北条氏康击败，连八幡大菩萨的旗帜都被北条军夺去，但此战是否存在也有争议，欠缺一级史料印证。武田信玄为了击败北条家，也和关东的佐竹义重、里见义弘等大名策略联盟，两面夹击北条家（甲佐同盟）。

同9月信玄率2万兵马攻打关东。10月1日包围小田原城不果，10月4日信玄解除小田原城的包围，向甲斐退却。10月8日在三增峠之战跟北条氏邦及北条氏照交战。1570年信玄重新南下与北条、今川军交战，再度成功占领骏河一带。1571年（元龟2年）北条氏康病逝，完全掌握实权的北条氏政决定放弃与上杉氏的相越同盟，改为与武田氏同盟。

信玄西上

甲相同盟达成后，信玄的战略目标转向三河国德川家以及原先友好的织田家，于是响应本愿寺显如跟朝仓义景的要求加入信长包围网。武田军在1572年（元龟3年）10月准备进攻织田氏，总兵力达30000（当中包括北条氏政派来的增援）。另外为牵制信长出兵增援，派遣家臣下条信氏率3000兵进攻美浓国岩村城。

当时信长领内面对石山本愿寺、朝仓氏、浅井氏等敌对势力，无暇他顾。10月14日，信玄在一言坂之战击败迎击的德川军，接着信玄本队包围二俣城，12月19日武田军攻下二俣城。当信玄迫近滨松城的时候，家康决定迎击。12月22日两军在三方原交战，德川的总兵力只有11000，在战术和士气方面武田军占优，最终武田取得大捷（三方原之战）。武田军继续向西进发，1573年（元龟4年）1月包围三河国野田城，2月10日武田军攻占野田城。

病逝

武田信玄、胜赖之墓

攻下野田城后，信玄病情恶化，于三河长篠城休养，行军因而中止。经过一个月左右信玄的病情没有好转，4月武田军决意返回甲斐。4月12日武田信玄病逝于信浓国驹场（今长野县下伊那郡阿智村），享年五十二岁。《御宿监物书状》提及死因为肺结核，《甲阳军鉴》指出死因是胃癌及食道癌。信玄的遗体在信浓国伊那驹场长岳寺火化。戒名法性院机山信玄。信玄的墓地分布在信玄墓、大泉寺、惠林寺、诹访湖、长岳寺、龙云寺、高野山、福田寺、妙心寺等地。

遗言

甲阳军鉴版

余于五载前，即知此日，特画花押纸七百，余卒三年内，密不发丧，其间公文可用之。他国不知余死，必不敢动。武田氏由信胜继承，信胜元服前以父胜赖摄政。加余遗骸以梏，沉诹访湖。

御宿监物书状版

余将大去也。余出身僻乡，伏击邻国他郡，战无不胜。可遗憾者，未能目睹武田旗立之帝都。倘余大去消息传出，敌必蜂拥而起。因之，三、四载内务必严守秘密，整顿领土，培养义卒，庶几一举攻都。余九泉之下，必当含笑欣慰。

人物

信玄的风林火山之旗

其用兵方略与为政之道在日本战国史上留下颇具影响的一笔。所举“风林火山”（其疾如风，其徐如林，侵掠如火，不动如山）之军旗，语出《孙子兵法》，成为了武田军的一种象征。

信玄积极开发耕地，克服了甲州耕地不足的问题，尤其穷半生精力修筑的信玄堤至今仍在发挥作用。信玄利用甲州领内大量金矿，积极开采金矿的事业，引入先进的采金技术，发行全日本最初的定额金币“甲州金”。信玄重视民政，其制定的《甲州法度次第》为战国时期著名的分国法之一。

信玄曾迷恋担任小姓的春日源介（通说为高坂昌信，但无法证实），信玄写给春日的情书仍保留至今。

信玄入侵骏河后，积极招揽水军加入，当中包括了间宫武兵卫、间宫造酒丞、小滨景隆、向井正纲、伊丹雅胜、间宫忠兵卫等人。

《完全图解日本战国武将54人》记载，信玄的马桶是冲水式，面积为六席，在便器周围放榻榻米，里面用熏香除臭，清理时是使用洗澡水清理，信玄曾说：草木（和臭同音）不绝，因此称之为（甲洲山）。

原名武田晴信，信玄是出家后的法名，据《甲阳军鉴》记载，玄字取自中国唐代名僧临济宗创始人临济义玄。

家臣

武田二十四将

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• 武田四天王：板垣信方、甘利虎泰、饭富虎昌、小山田昌辰
• 武田四名臣：马场信房、内藤昌丰、高坂昌信、山县昌景
• 武田二十四将：武田信繁、武田信廉、板垣信方、土屋昌次、甘利虎泰、小幡虎盛、山县昌景、秋山信友、穴山信君、真田幸隆、马场信房、原昌胤、饭富虎昌、横田高松、小幡昌盛、一条信龙、真田信纲、多田满赖、小山田信茂、内藤昌丰、三枝守友、高坂昌信、原虎胤、山本勘助。（有另外的说法）
• 甲阳五名臣：小幡虎盛、原虎胤、多田满赖、横田高松、山本勘助。
• 奥近习六人众：土屋昌次、三枝守友、曾根昌世、真田昌幸、长坂昌国、甘利昌忠。
• 武田三弹正：逃弹正高坂昌信、攻弹正真田幸隆、枪弹正保科正俊。
• 使番十二人众：山县昌景、高坂昌信、初鹿野忠次、今井信俊、小宫山友晴、阿部胜宝、真田昌辉、小幡光盛、小山田行村、金丸虎义、工藤市兵卫、三枝昌吉。
• 足轻大将四天王：横田高松、小幡虎盛、多田满赖、原虎胤。

信玄家臣团名序

• 一门众（宗家&分家）：武田信繁、望月信赖、武田信丰、望月信永、武田信廉、武田信澄、松尾信是、河洼信実、河洼信俊、一条信龙、一条信就、武田信友、武田信尧、板垣信方（信形）、板垣信宪、穴山信友、穴山信君、穴山信嘉、甘利虎泰、甘利昌忠、甘利信康、海野信亲、仁科盛信、葛山信贞
• 谱代家老众（初代）：驹井政武、马场信房、内藤昌丰、高坂昌信、原昌胤、浅利信种、迹部胜资、栗原诠冬、小山田昌成、今福友清（净闲斋）、小宫山昌友、初鹿野忠次、山县昌景。
• 谱代家老众（二代&侍大将）：室住虎登（板垣直方）、三枝昌吉、三枝守友（山县昌直）、高坂昌澄、高坂昌元、金丸昌直、金丸昌义、土屋昌次、内藤昌月、浅利昌种、小宫山友晴、迹部昌忠、迹部昌胜、今福虎孝、今福昌和、驹井政直。
• 谱代众（足轻大将）：小菅忠元、长坂光坚、长坂昌国、横田康景、横田尹松、原盛胤、下曾根昌利、下曾根信恒、武藤喜兵卫（真田昌幸）、小幡昌盛、小幡光盛、市川昌信、三枝守直、曾根虎长、曾根昌世。
• 甲斐家臣：土屋昌恒、初鹿野昌次、小山田信有、小山田信茂、诸角虎定、室住昌守、秋山信藤、三枝虎吉、迹部胜忠、依田信蕃、工藤昌祐、曽根虎盛、今井信昌。
• 信浓家臣：木曾义在、木曾义康、木曾义昌、诹访满邻、诹访赖丰、诹访赖忠、真田信纲、真田信尹、矢泽赖纲、河原纲家、保科正直、保科正光、小笠原信贵、小笠原信岭。
• 武藏家臣：永井政实、小幡景宗、浪合胤成。
• 上野家臣：小幡宪重、小幡信贞、小幡信尚、安中重繁、安中久繁、和田业繁、和田信业、长野正宣、那波宗安、后闲信纯、高山满重、仓贺野秀景、木部范虎、白仓重家、多比罗友定。
• 骏河家臣：冈部元信、冈部久纲、冈部正纲、葛山氏元、御宿信贞（纲治）、御宿友纲、濑名信辉、小原镇实、朝比奈信置、三浦员久、三浦义镜、孕石元泰。
• 远江家臣：天野景贯、渡边照。
• 三河家臣：奥平贞胜、奥平定能、奥平贞昌、菅沼定盈、田峯定吉、菅沼正贞、成濑正一。
• 越后家臣：城景茂、城昌茂、日向宗立、大熊朝秀、大熊长秀。
• 下总家臣：原胤岁。
• 越中家臣：椎名康胤。
• 武田水军众：伊丹康直、向井正纲、冈部贞纲、小滨景隆、间宫武兵卫、间宫造酒丞（信高）、间宫忠兵卫。

家世

父母

• 父亲 武田信虎：武田家第18代家督，其姊嫁与今川义元后，探望其姊被信玄放逐于骏河。
• 母亲 大井之方

兄弟

• 武田信繁：信玄与谦信爆发第四次川中岛之战，守备武田本阵时被突袭而来的柿崎景家讨取，后人评价为“真正的武将”。
• 武田信廉：在信玄死后，继续假扮信玄，其侄胜赖在战死后跟着战死。
• 松尾信是
• 武田宗智
• 河洼信实
• 一条信龙
• 武田信友
• 武田胜虎

姊妹

• 定惠院（今川义元室）
• 南松院（穴山信友室）
• 祢祢（诹访赖重室）
• 花光院（浦野友久室）
• 菊御料人（菊亭晴季室）
• 龟御料人（大井信为室）
• 下条信氏室
• 祢津神平室
• 葛山氏室

妻妾

• 正室：上杉朝兴之女、三条夫人
• 侧室：诹访御料人、油川夫人、祢津御寮人

子女

武田胜赖

• 长男 武田义信：涉嫌谋反而被废嫡，与饭富虎昌等人被幽禁而死。
• 次男 海野信亲：因身为盲人而出家，法名“龙芳”。随胜赖殉死，其儿子受德川家康保护，江户幕府高家武田家始祖。
• 三男 西保信之：早夭。
• 长女 黄梅院：嫁与北条氏政。信玄撕毁善德寺三国盟约而着手骏河侵攻时，两人被盛怒的氏康勒令离婚，其后不久便郁郁而终。
• 次女 见性院：嫁与穴山信君。
• 三女 真理姬：嫁与木曾义昌。
• 四男 武田胜赖：甲斐武田家末代当主，天目山之战时被迫自尽。
• 五男 仁科盛信：甲州征伐时拒守高远城，城破时自尽身亡，子孙分别以仁科氏和武田氏存续。
• 四女 桃由童女：早夭。
• 六男 葛山信贞：入继骏河豪族葛山氏，在武田家灭亡后藏匿于善光寺，被织田军搜出而被杀。
• 五女 菊姬：嫁与上杉景胜。
• 六女 松姬：原与织田信忠订婚，后因两家对敌而解除婚约。
• 七男 武田信清：武田家灭亡后投奔姐夫上杉景胜，是米泽武田家始祖。

史料

• 甲阳军鉴

登场作品

甲府市武田信玄公祭

维基语录上的相关摘录： 武田信玄

维基共享资源中相关的多媒体资源：武田信玄

小说

• 风林火山（新潮社、井上靖著）
• 武田信玄（文艺春秋、新田次郎著）
• 武田信玄（讲谈社、津本阳著）
• 武田信玄（成美堂出版、土桥治重著）
• 武田三代记（新人物往来社、高野乐山著）

影视剧

• 太阁记（1965年、NHK大河剧、演：早川雪洲）
• 武田信玄（1966年、NTV、演：仓丘伸太郎）
• 天与地（1969年、NHK大河剧、演：高桥幸治）
• 风林火山（1969年、东宝、演：中村锦之助）
• 国盗物语（1973年、NHK大河剧、演：大友柳太朗）
• 战国自卫队（1979年、东宝、演：田中浩）
• 影武者（1980年、东宝、演：仲代达矢）
• 德川家康（1983年、NHK大河剧、演：佐藤庆）
• 女人风林火山（1986年、TBS、演：石立铁男）
• 武田信玄（1988年、NHK大河剧、演：中井贵一）
• 天与地（1990年、东映、演：津川雅彦）
• 武田信玄（1991年、TBS、演：役所广司）
• 德川家康 战国最后的胜利者（1992年、ANB、演：舛田利雄）
• 风林火山（1992年、NTV、演：馆广）
• 织田信长（1994年、TX、演：南原宏治）
• 国盗物语（2005年、TX、演：中村敦夫）
• 风林火山（2006年、EX、演：松冈昌宏）
• 风林火山（2007年、NHK大河剧、演：市川龟治郎）
• 天与地（2008年、EX、演：渡部笃郎）
• 女信长（2013年、CX、演：竹内力）
• 信长的主厨（2014年、EX、演：高嶋政伸）
• 真田丸（2016年、NHK大河剧、演：林邦史朗）
• 新阴流 上泉伊势守信纲（2017年、BS、演：原田龙二）
• 女城主 直虎（2017年、NHK大河剧、演：松平健）
• 信玄之父 信虎：国主的归还（2020年、山梨县、演：永岛敏行）
• 麒麟来了（2020年、NHK大河剧、演：石桥凌）

游戏

• 信长之野望系列
• 战国兰斯
• 战国无双系列/无双OROCHI系列（光荣、配音：乡里大辅→大友龙三郎）
• 战国Basara系列（CAPCOM、配音：玄田哲章）
• 猫咪大战争
• 美男战国：穿越时空之恋（配音：梅原裕一郎）
• 战刻night blood（配音：小西克幸）

模型玩具

• 真空路守 NO.4 信玄张斩
• bb战士 NO.55 SD战国传 天与地 信玄顽駄无
• bb战士 NO.331 SD战国传 武神降临篇 武田信玄顽駄无

注释

参考资料

• 武田信玄　風林火山の大戦略 1988年 学习研究社 ISBN 4-05-105142-0
• 完全图解日本战国武将54人 作者：小和田哲男 远流出版

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" (音読み), the Chinese-style pronunciation, instead of "kun'yomi" (訓読み), 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" (越後の龍) 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 (徳川家康) "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.

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