THE HISTORIOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

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#132
132.SHIMADZU HISATOYO'S OATH,1423
(Iriki-in docs.; also KK,IV.)
IN 1419 Shimadzu Hisatoyo, the shu-go, at last won the loyalty of Iriki-in Shigenaga. Early in that
year, Shigenaga was involved in a quarrel between Ichiku Iechika and Tadatomo, son of the late
Korehisa and hereditary foe of Hisatoyo's branch of the Shimadzu family. The events which took
place are narrated in the quaint language of the memoirs of Yamada Sho-Yei, as follows: "When
Yamashiro no kami dono [Tadatomo] of the So-shu [branch of the Shimadzu] was at the fortress
of Naga-toshi, the Shibuya rose up, and, taking a position,¹ gave a battle. But the
Shibuya side
was easily beaten, and scores of men of Kiyoshiki were cut down. Thereupon, as [Shigenaga] sent
word that he besought the aid of the lord [Hisatoyo, the latter] consulted his chief vassals. Since
they said that, if [Shigenaga] had already given allegiance to the shu-goand taken part even in
a single campaign, aid might be given him, but as, on the contrary, he had long been disrespectful
to the shu-go and now appealed for help only after a defeat, his petition could scarcely be listened
to, therefore the matter was dropped. Now Kiyoshiki Dan-zho [Shigenaga] again said firmly that
[if Hisatoyo helped him] he would thereafter serve him with single loyalty. Then [Hisatoyo, think-
ing] that these men [the Shibuya] might be of use in chastizing Yamashiro [Tadatomo]'s tribe,
while the So-shu [branch of the Shimadzu] would probably be an eternal enemy [of Hisatoyo's
branch], as it had been in the past and was at present, decided to lead an expedition [in support
of Shigenaga]. Although the chief vassals still said that both Ujihisa and Motohisa, in two suc-
cessive generations, met difficulties, when they crossed the [Iriki] mountains northward, at the
hands of these very men [of the Shibuya, Hisatoyo dismissed this] as a private complaint. Pres-
ently the lord went [to Nagatoshi] and closely invested the fortress. But as picked men defended
it, days passed [without success]. Men of both the Sagara and Massaki came down [to the aid of
the enemy, who], thickly encamping, harassed our positions day and night; and Matsumoto, of
the lords following, fell. Moreover, Kawanobe Inu-taro dono, [son of Hisayo], came far from the
south and pressed the rear. A detachment was sent to meet the lord's enemy in the rear, but that
was unavailing, and every day saw nothing but desultory encounters of no-bushi.But the enemy
could not after all withstand the superior numbers, and at last, making peace, gave up his fortress,
which the lord took over. On a later day the lord entrusted Kiyoshiki So-dai [Shigenaga] with it,
whose delight was beyond words. The lord wished to send forces to [Tadatomo's fortress of]
Kuma-no-zho in order to hold the enemy, and also to finish off with the southern rebels; but since
the armies were weary of the long campaign, and, moreover, since the present foe was subdued,
[Hisatoyo] took his army back to Kagoshima. For this [favor], Kiyoshiki So-dai['s allegiance]
was unaltered during the lord's lifetime and unto Tadakuni's time."²
Hisatoyo seems to have been a baron of unusual capability. He not only gained Shigenaga's
loyalty, but within three years also conquered all the many insurgents in south Satsuma who had
embarrassed his brother, thus depriving Izhuin Yorihisa of his main support; the latter Hisatoyo
conciliated with favors and by marrying him his daughter. Then turning north again, he subdued
both Tadatomo, at Kuma-no-zho, and Morihisa, at Tamaato in, his hereditary rivals within the
Shimadzu family.⁸ As for the Shibuya branches, the Taki were divided, one faction siding with
the Togo, the Kokubun, and the Shuin,⁴ against the shu-go, and another, together with the Keto-in
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and the Iriki-in, standing for him.⁵ Hisatoyo married a Shimadzu lady to Iriki-in Shigenaga,⁶ and
in 1423 gave him the following oath, the latter probably reciprocating.
"THAT, although [Son-Chu]⁷ hears that frequent slanders are afloat, he has
never since the campaign of Yamada unto this day contrived to bring about your
downfall; and
"That if there should be any cause for real grievance, [Son-Chu] would not care
to conceal it; and that, if you on your part hold him in regard, he will be unforgetful
of you unto the remote future.
"If [Son-Chu] falsified these articles, the punishments of the greater and lesser
deities⁸ of all Japan, and especially of
the Great Bodhisattva Sho Hachiman,
the Great Myo-zhin Upper and Lower Suwa,
the Great Gon-gen at Udo and at Kirishima,
the Heavenly Deity Ten-man,
Inari, and Gi-on,
would fall down upon him.
"Therefore, the letter of oath is [written] thus.
"O-ei 30 y. 8 m. 30 d. [4 October 1423].
Shami Son-Chu,⁷ (Shimadzu Hisatoyo's monogram).
"Kiyoshiki⁹ dono."

¹ At O-ishi ga hira,Yamada mura.
²Yamada Sho-Yei zhi-ki; also cf.Sei-han ya-shi, vi, 93-94.
³ Shimadzu koku-shi, ix, 10-12.
⁴ In the valuable notes of 1484 left by a travelling priest, there were in Midzu-hiki at that time
Taki Hiko-taro, Kokubun (Hei-zhiro Chikatomo), and Cho-shu Saburo-kuro. (Un-yu zakki,I.)
The Taki branch of the Shibuya family had lost hold of their ancestral domain at Taki. See the
introduction to No. 145.
⁵ Yamada Sho-Yei z. k. ⁶ The Iriki-in genealogy.
⁷ Shimadzu Hisatoyo.
⁸ Shinto deities.Cf. No. 127, n. 11. The temples of Udo and Kirishima are in Hiuga; the main
temples of Tenman, Inari, and Gion, in Kyoto.
⁹ Iriki-in Shigenaga.