This dog tag pendant is made of genuine 99.9% silver with vitange finish. It also features Takeda Shingen's family crest. All handmade. Size: 4.0 cm x 2.2 cm. Original gift box included

Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen was born Takeda Katsuchiyo. He took the name Takeda Harunobu at his coming of age ceremony, and in the year of 1551 changed his name once again, this time to the well-known "Takeda Shingen". This article will note such name changes, but will primarily be using the name of "Takeda Shingen" to help avoid any confusion on the issue.

Shingen is sometimes referred to as "The Tiger of Kai" (Kai being the Takeda home province) due to his fearsome martial art skills on the battlefield. His rival, Uesugi Kenshin, was often called "The Dragon of Echigo". Shingen and Kenshin had always been interested in Chinese culture, especially the works of Sun Tzu; in Chinese mythology, the Dragon and Tiger have always been bitter rivals who try to defeat one another, but they always fight to a draw.

Born Takeda Katsuchiyo, he was the eldest son of Takeda Nobutora, an impressive warlord. He helped his father in many of the older Takeda's undertakings, and became quite valuable in the clan at a fairly young age. However, at some point in his life following his "coming of age" ceremony (where he changed his name to Takeda Harunobu) the young man rebelled against his father and took control of the Takeda clan. The events surrounding this change of leadership are not entirely clear, but it is speculated for the most part that his father had planned to name the second son, Takeda Nobushige, as his heir instead of Shingen. However, regardless of the reasons, the end result was the father being forcibly retired from his position (though it is not believed he was killed or forced to commit seppuku, as this event has been cited as a "bloodless coup") and Shingen taking control of the Takeda. Imagawa Yoshimoto helped him in this rebellion and an alliance was formed between the Imagawa and Takeda families.

Shingen's first act was to gain a hold of the area around him. His goal was to conquer Shinano Province. A number of the major daimyos in the Shinano region marched on the border of Kai, hoping to neutralize the still-young Shingen's power 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 Sezawa. Taking advantage of their confusion, Shingen was able to score a quick victory, which set the stage for his drive into Shinano lands that same year. The young warlord made considerable advances into the region, conquering the Suwa headquarters of Kuwabara before moving into central Shinano with the defeat of both Tozawa Yorichika and Takato Yoritsugu. However, the warlord was checked at Uehara by Murakami Yoshikiyo, losing two of his generals in a heated battle in which Murakami came out on top. Shingen managed to avenge this loss and the Murakami clan was eventually defeated. Murakami fled the region, eventually coming to plead help from the Uesugi clan.

After he had conquered Shinano, Shingen (who had changed his name to this in 1551) faced another rival - Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo. The feud between these two became almost legendary, and they faced each other on the battlefield a total of five times at Kawanakajima (years: 1554, 1555, 1557, 1561, 1564). These "battles" were generally confined to controlled skirmishes, neither daimyo willing to devote themselves entirely to a single all-out attempt. The one 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 such battle. It was in this fourth contest that the famous tale was formed 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 gunbai. Both lords lost a considerable number of men in this fight, and Shingen in particular was deprived of two of his main generals, Yamamoto Kansuke and his younger brother Takeda Nobushige.

Around this time period, the Takeda clan suffered two setbacks within the group itself. Shingen uncovered two plots on his life, the first from his cousin Katanuma Nobumoto (whom he ordered to commit seppuku), and the second, a few years later, from his own son Takeda Yoshinobu. His son was confined to the Tokoji, where he died two years later. It is uncertain as to whether his death was natural or ordered by his father. This left Takeda Shingen, for the moment, without an heir. However, he later had more sons, and it was actually his fourth (Takeda Nobumori) who would take control of the Takeda clan after his death.

By 1564, after he had completely defeated the Shinano region and taken a number of castles from his rival the Uesugi clan, Shingen kept his realm fairly contained, contenting himself to a number of small raids and mostly internal affairs. During this time he ordered the damming project of the Fuji River, which was one of the major domestic activities of the time.

After Imagawa Yoshimoto (a former ally of the Takeda) was killed by Oda Nobunaga, Shingen made a move against the weak Imagawa under the incompetent leadership of Yoshimoto's son, Imagawa Ujizane. A pact is believed to have been formed between Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu for control of the remaining Imagawa lands, and they both fought against Yoshimoto's heir. However, the agreement between the Takeda and Tokugawa forces quickly fell through, and after the Imagawa were no longer an issue, Shingen made a move against Ieyasu.

The future of all of Japan was now in the balance, as Takeda Shingen, at 49 years of age, was the one daimyo with the power, position, and skill necessary to stop Oda Nobunaga's headlong rush to ruling the land of Japan. He engaged Tokugawa forces in 1572 and captured Futamata, and then stepped forward once again in January at Mikata-ga-hara. At Mikata-ga-hara, Takeda Shingen easily defeated the combined armies of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu; but he could not defeat old age. After defeating Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shingen actually checked his forward momentum for a small time due to outside influences, and Ieyasu was given a brief reprieve. Surprisingly, as he started pressing forward once again in 1573, Takeda Shingen died (scholars are divided as to whether this was due to illness or a festering wound from a sniper).

Pendentif composé à 99,9 % d’argent véritable avec une finition antique. Il y figure également le Kamon de la famille de Takeda Shingen. Entièrement fait à la main. Taille : 4.0 cm x 2.2 cm.
Boîte cadeau incluse.

Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen est né sous le nom de Takeda Katsuchiyo. Il prit le nom de Takeda Harunobu par la suite et changea une énième fois son nom pour “Takeda Shingen“. Cet article utilisera le nom Takeda Shingen.

Shingen est souvent surnommé “Le tigre de Kai“ (Kai étant la province d’origine des Takeda) en raison de ses compétence hors-pair sur le champ de bataille.  Son rival, Uesugi Kenshin était souvent surnommé “Le dragon d’Echigo" en raison de ses excellentes compétences sur le champ de bataille. Dans la mythologie chinoise, le tigre et le dragon ont toujours été de terribles rivaux qui ont maintes fois tenté de se tuer l’un l’autre sans qu’un vainqueur ne puisse être désigné.

Né Takeda Katsuchiyo, il était le fils aîné de Takeda Nobutora, un chef de guerre impressionant. Il apporta une grande aide à son père et devint quelqu’un d’important au sein du clan et ce, même à un âge très june. Cependant, il se rebella contre son père par la suite et prit le contrôle du clan Takeda. Les détails de ce changement de situation ne sont pas entièrement connus mais certaines sources prétendent que le père avait l’intention de faire de son second fils, Takeda Nobushige, son véritable successeur. Il semblerait que le père de Shingen ne fut pas tué au cours de cette prise de pouvoir car cet évènement est connu pour ne pas avoir fait de sang. Imagawa Yoshimoto l’aida dans cette rébellion et une alliance fut formée entre les familles Imagawa et Takeda.

L’une des premières action de Shingen fut de contrôler les territoires qui se trouvaient à sa proximité. Son but était de conquérir la province de Shinano. De nombreux daimyos de la région de Shinano se rendirent aux frontières de Kai, espérant pouvoir neutraliser les forces du jeune Kenshin avant qu’il n’ait la chance d’envahir leur territoire.

Ayant planifié de le battre à Fuchu, ces daimyos ne s’étaient pas assez préparé et Shingen les conduisit rapidement vers leur propre défaite, ce qui lui permis de faire une longue avancée dans les territoires de Shinano la même année. Le jeune chef de guerre conquis ainsi le quartier général des Kuwabara à Suwa avant d’avancer vers l’intérieur de Shinano avec les défaites de Tozawa Yorichika et Takato Yoritsugu. Cependant Shingen fut battu à Uehara par Murakami Yoshikiyo où il perdit deux généraux dans une bataille one ne peut plus agitée. Shingen réussira quand même par la suite à se venger de cette défaite et le clan Murakami fut finalement battu. Murakami fuit la région pour aller demander de l’aide auprès du clan Uesugi.

Après cette conquête de Shinano, Shingen dut faire face à un autre adversaire en la personne d’Uesugi Kenshin d’Echigo. Le conflit entre ces deux personnages est quasiment légendaire et ils se sont affrontés sur le champ de bataille un total de 5 fois à Kawanakajima (années : 1554, 1555, 1557, 1561 et 1564). Ces batailles étaient le plus souvent de simples escarmouches car aucun d’eux ne voulait prendre trop de risques. Il semblerait cependant que la quatrième de ces batailles aurait pu changer la donne. La légende raconte que Kenshin et Shingen se sont combattus en duel (Kenshin attaquant Shingen à l’épée et Shingen se défendant avec son drapeau de guerre ou Gunbai. Cette bataille fit perdre aux deux seigneurs un nombre considérables de soldats et Shingen y perdit notamment deux généraus : Yamamoto Kansuke et son jeune frère Takeda Nobushige.

À cette période, le clan Takeda connu deux échecs importants et deux Shingen se sépara de deux de ses proches.Son cousin tout d’abord, Katanuma Nobumoto, auquel il donna l’ordre de commettre Seppuku et son propre fils quelques années plus tard qui fut confiné à Tokojim où il mourut deux années après. Les raisons de cette mort sont encore inconnues et nul ne sait à l’heure actuelle s’il s’agissait d’une mort naturelle ou bien encore d’un ordre venant de Shingen. Le laissant sans héritier, Shingen eut de nouveaux fils plus tard et c’est son quatrième fils, Takeda Nobumori qui prendra contrôle du clan Takeda après sa mort.

En 1954, Shingen ayant conquis entièrement la région de Shinano, il se contenta de petites batailles et affaires intérieures uniquement. C’est à cette époque qu’il ordonna la création d’une digue pour le fleuve Fuji.

Après que Imagawa Yoshimoto (un précédent allié de Takeda) fut tué par Oda Nobunaga, Shingen attaqua les Imagawa affaiblis et la bataille fut dirigée par le fils incompétent de Yoshimoto, Imagawa Ujizane. Il est dit qu’un pacte a été fait entre Shingen et Tokugawa Ieasu pour le contrôle du reste des territoires Imagawa. Cependant, une fois le problème des Imagawa résolu, Shingen décida de s’attaquer à Ieyasu.

Le futur du Japon était désormais sur la balance car Takeda Shingen, à l’âge de 49 ans, était bien LE daimyo au pouvoir qui possèdait la force de mettre un terme à la terrible conquête que menait Oda Nobunaga. Il s’attaqua donc aux Tokugawa en 1572 et fit prisonnier Futamata, puis il battit sans trop de problèmes les forces combinées de Oda Nobunaga et de Tokugawa Ieyasu. Cependant l’âge le rattrappa et il mourut en 1573, alors même que Ieyasu se remettait à entrer en action (les historiens n’ont toujours pas réussi à déterminer si cette mort est dûe à la maladie ou à une blessure mal soignée).