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Uesugi Kenshin |
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Uesugi Kenshin was born in Echigo in 1530, the son of Nagao Tamekage, the Deputy Protector. On becoming lord of Kasugayamajo Castle at the age of 19, he subdued the Echigo area and later became the chief of all the samurai in the Kanto area (eastern Japan). As well as the Battle of Kawanakajima, when he fought on five occasions against his old enemy Takeda Shingen of Kai (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture), he went to war in Kanto, fought against Oda Nobunaga and moreover, visiting Kyoto, expended his energies in attempting to unite Japan. Having passed through an era of wars like a gale-force wind, he passed away in 1578 at the age of 49.
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Kenshin on his horse Kenshin underwent religious training at Rinsenji Temple in the town, between the ages of seven and fourteen, and was educated in civil, military and religious matters. Later, even in a society beset by cruel and heartless warfare, he became famous throughout Japan as the general who was supremely well-versed in matters concerning justice and good taste. Tales of his lofty ideals and way of living have been passed down through the generations and are still alive in people's hearts even today.
The Kenshin Festival This takes place on the 16th and 17th August every year to commemorate the hero of the squires. A lively procession of people carrying portable shrines to make offerings of rice |
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Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578) - the Famous General Born in Joetsu |
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Kasugayamajo Castle. Japan's premier medieval hill castle.
Kasugayamajo Castle, which is famous throughout Japan as the base castle where Kenshin lived, is a hill castle, standing about 180 metres above sea level, the construction of which began in the mid-14th century; it was completed during Kenshin's lifetime. It encompasses an extremely wide area (about 500 hectares), covering the whole of Mount Kasuga. (Right: a drawing of Kasugayamajo Castle) It has been designated as an important historic site and although the buildings are no longer there, vestiges of the medieval hill castle still exist. These include the largest central castle well in the prefecture, the hall where Kenshin used to contemplate his wartime strategies and the empty moat. From the centre of the castle, the view stretches from the Japan Sea, over the eastern range of mountains, to the city of Joetsu.
On the mountainside there is Kasugayama Shrine and the bronze statue of Kenshin, gazing out in the direction of Kawanakajima, and at the foot of the mountain there is Rinsenji Temple, where Kenshin studied, which retains the appearance it had when Kenshin was alive. Here one can see the main gate, which was once the back gate of Kasugayamajo Castle, the Muromachi era (1333-1568) garden, Kenshin's tomb and the pagoda built as a memorial to the dead of the Battle of Kawanakajima, not to mention the treasure house exhibiting artefacts relating to Kenshin. (Above: the main gate of Rinsenji Temple) |
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The Castle Town. Second only in size to Kyoto. Kenshin devoted a lot of time and effort to developing industry in the area. He encouraged the cultivation of Aoso, a local speciality, in order to weave Echigo Jofu, a kind of hemp cloth, which was then sold in Kyoto. He also gave a stipend of rice to immigrants for them to cultivate. Around his home he grew zelkova trees and worked to protect the bamboo and Japanese laquer trees there as well. He had gold and silver mined in Sado Island to make coins (Kenshin koban). In this way, the town of Kasugayama flourished and according to one theory, in Kenshin's later years, it developed into a city with a population of 60,000 people, second only in size to Kyoto. |
