Who was this person?
One of the Five Commissioners of the Toyotomi regime, from Ōmi. Serving Hideyoshi from boyhood, he excelled at administration such as land surveys and supply, and became lord of Sawayama Castle. After Hideyoshi’s death he opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu and led the Western Army, but lost at Sekigahara in 1600 and was executed in Kyoto.
| Name | Ishida Mitsunari (石田三成) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1560 – 1600 |
| Period | Azuchi-Momoyama period |
| Birthplace | Ishida village, Ōmi Province (now Nagahama, Shiga) |
| Also known as | Sakichi (childhood name), Jibu-no-shō |
| Main achievements |
|
Born a son of Ishida Masatsugu, a local landholder of Ishida village in Ōmi (Shiga); he is said to have studied at a temple as a child.
Around this time he entered Hideyoshi's service. Legend says that when Hideyoshi stopped at his temple after hawking, the boy served a large cup of lukewarm tea, then a smaller warmer one, then a little very hot tea, and won notice for his thoughtfulness.
At Shizugatake he scouted the enemy and distinguished himself in the vanguard. Thereafter he excelled less on the battlefield than in logistics and administration.
When Hideyoshi became kanpaku, Mitsunari was named Jibu no Shō. He served as magistrate of Sakai and, after the Kyūshū campaign, worked hard to rebuild war-torn Hakata.
During the Odawara campaign he tried to flood Oshi castle in Musashi, but it held out stubbornly. He also played a central role as magistrate in the nationwide Taikō land survey.
Crossing to Korea, he served as commissioner directing the army and negotiating peace with Ming. Disagreements with the generals fighting there sowed the seeds of later conflict.
He became lord of Sawayama castle in Ōmi. He reportedly gave half his stipend to recruit the warrior Shima Sakon, giving rise to the saying that Mitsunari had two things too good for him: Shima Sakon and Sawayama castle.
By Hideyoshi's will he became one of the Five Commissioners running Toyotomi affairs. After Hideyoshi's death he clashed with the ever stronger Tokugawa Ieyasu.
When Maeda Toshiie died, seven generals including Katō Kiyomasa sought his life. Saved by Ieyasu's mediation, he resigned and withdrew to Sawayama castle.
With his close friend Ōtani Yoshitsugu and others he raised troops to topple Ieyasu, organizing the Western Army. He fought at Sekigahara but lost when Kobayakawa Hideaki and others betrayed him.
Captured in hiding, he was executed at Rokujō-gawara in Kyoto, at 40. Before the execution, a story says, he asked for water and was offered a dried persimmon, which he refused as bad for his health—showing he never gave up his great hopes.
A. One of the Five Commissioners of the Toyotomi regime, from Ōmi. Serving Hideyoshi from boyhood, he excelled at administration such as land surveys and supply, and became lord of Sawayama Castle. After Hideyoshi’s death he opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu and led the Western Army, but lost at Sekigahara in 1600 and was executed in Kyoto.
A. Period: Azuchi-Momoyama period. Born in 1560, died in 1600.
A. Ishida Mitsunari was born in Ishida village, Ōmi Province (now Nagahama, Shiga).
A. A battle fought in 1600 at Sekigahara in Mino (now Gifu) between Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Eastern Army and the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari. Helped by defections such as Kobayakawa Hideaki’s, the East won in a single day.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Maeda ToshiieTokugawa IeyasuŌtani YoshitsuguKobayakawa HideakiAsano NagamasaSatake YoshishigeHosokawa GraciaKatō Yoshiaki
Tōdō TakatoraUesugi KagekatsuOda NobutadaKatakura KagetsunaNaoe KanetsuguIi NaomasaFukushima MasanoriKatō Kiyomasa
People of the Sengoku/Azuchi-Momoyama period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.