Who was this person?
A Sengoku warlord of Echigo (now Niigata). He succeeded his brother as head of the Nagao house and unified Echigo. Inheriting the Uesugi name and the post of Kantō deputy, he fought Takeda Shingen repeatedly at Kawanakajima and campaigned often in the Kantō and Hokuriku. He was known for his devotion to the war god Bishamonten.
| Name | Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1530 – 1578 |
| Period | Sengoku period |
| Birthplace | Kasugayama Castle, Echigo Province (now Jōetsu, Niigata) |
| Also known as | Nagao Kagetora, Uesugi Masatora, Uesugi Terutora |
| Main achievements |
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Born a son of Nagao Tamekage, deputy governor of Echigo (Niigata); his childhood name was Torachiyo.
Around this time he entered Rinsen-ji below Kasugayama castle and studied under Tenshitsu Kōiku, the root of his later deep Buddhist faith.
Coming of age as Kagetora, he entered Tochio castle and fought local lords defying his brother Harukage, earning a reputation as a skilled commander while still young.
Replacing his sickly brother, he took over the Nagao house and entered Kasugayama castle, uniting nearly all of Echigo within a few years.
To help Murakami Yoshikiyo and others driven from Shinano, he began fighting Takeda Shingen at Kawanakajima, saying, it is said, that he fought not to expand his lands but for those who sought help. That year he went to Kyoto and met the emperor.
Weary of his retainers' quarrels, he suddenly left his castle to head for Mount Kōya as a monk; his vassals swore loyalty and persuaded him to return.
Leading Kantō lords, he besieged Odawara castle. At Tsurugaoka Hachimangū in Kamakura he inherited the Uesugi name and became Kantō deputy (kanrei). That year he fought Shingen fiercely in the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima.
Around this time he took the name Kenshin. Devoted to Bishamonten, he flew a banner bearing the character "Bi". He is thought never to have married.
He took Nanao castle in Noto and defeated the Oda army under Shibata Katsuie at the Tedori River in Kaga.
Preparing his next campaign, he collapsed at Kasugayama castle and died at 48. Having named no heir, his adopted sons Kagekatsu and Kagetora fought over the succession (Otate Disturbance).
A. A Sengoku warlord of Echigo (now Niigata). He succeeded his brother as head of the Nagao house and unified Echigo. Inheriting the Uesugi name and the post of Kantō deputy, he fought Takeda Shingen repeatedly at Kawanakajima and campaigned often in the Kantō and Hokuriku. He was known for his devotion to the war god Bishamonten.
A. Period: Sengoku period. Born in 1530, died in 1578.
A. Uesugi Kenshin was born in Kasugayama Castle, Echigo Province (now Jōetsu, Niigata).
A. When the Imagawa and Hōjō cut off salt to Takeda lands, Kenshin is said to have let salt reach his rival instead. It became a saying for helping an enemy in need, but whether it really happened is unclear.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Takeda ShingenShibata KatsuieHōjō UjiyasuHōjō UjimasaKanō EitokuTakeda KatsuyoriSatake YoshishigeUesugi Kagekatsu
Hachisuka MasakatsuSakai TadatsuguAkechi MitsuhideRyuzoji TakanobuŌtomo SōrinKikkawa MotoharuLuís FróisKobayakawa Takakage
People of the Sengoku/Azuchi-Momoyama period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.