Inahime
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese woman of the late Azuchi-Momoyama
through early Edo period
s. Born the daughter of Honda Tadakatsu
, she was adopted by Tokugawa Ieyasu
, before marrying Sanada Nobuyuki
. She is described as having been very beautiful and highly intelligent.
himself arranged for Komatsuhime to marry Sanada Nobuyuki
, the son of the Sanada lord.
In 1600, when Nobuyuki had decided to cast his lot with the Tokugawa, his father Masayuki
(who had not done so) was en route to Ueda Castle
, accompanied by his other son, the famed Sanada Yukimura
. The two stopped at Numata Castle, where Komatsuhime was managing affairs. Masayuki relayed a message to her: "I want to see my grandchildren," and in response, the princess emerged, dressed in full battle attire, saying "Since we have parted ways in this conflict, though you are my father-in-law I cannot allow you into this castle." Masayuki and Yukimura withdrew to a temple, Shōkaku-ji, and were surprised when they saw Komatsuhime (with her children) arrive soon after them, honoring Masayuki's wish.
After the Battle of Sekigahara
, during Masayuki and Yukimura's exile, she took charge of sending them food and other daily necessities.
Komatsuhime was praised as a good wife and wise mother
(ryōsai kenbo 良妻賢母). She died in Kōnosu, Musashi Province
(the present-day city of Kōnosu in Saitama Prefecture
) at age 47, while en route to the Kusatsu hot spring. Nobuyuki lamented her passing, saying that "the light of my house has been extinguished." Her grave can be found there. Today, in the museum at Ueda Castle, visitors can see items that she used, including her palanquin.
Azuchi-Momoyama period
The came at the end of the Warring States Period in Japan, when the political unification that preceded the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate took place. It spans the years from approximately 1573 to 1603, during which time Oda Nobunaga and his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, imposed order...
through early Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
s. Born the daughter of Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu
, also called Honda Heihachirō , was a Japanese general of the late Sengoku through early Edo period, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Sakai Tadatsugu. - Biography :A native of Mikawa Province in...
, she was adopted by Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
, before marrying Sanada Nobuyuki
Sanada Nobuyuki
was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. He was the son of daimyo Sanada Masayuki and the older brother of Sanada Yukimura.-Biography:At an early age, Nobuyuki's father served under the daimyo Takeda Shingen and sent Nobuyuki as a hostage to prove the Sanada clan's loyalty to the Takeda clan...
. She is described as having been very beautiful and highly intelligent.
Biography
Komatsuhime was known in her childhood as Inahime (稲姫) and also Onei (於小亥). After witnessing the martial prowess of the Sanada at the Battle of Ueda, she and her father were captivated by them. Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
himself arranged for Komatsuhime to marry Sanada Nobuyuki
Sanada Nobuyuki
was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. He was the son of daimyo Sanada Masayuki and the older brother of Sanada Yukimura.-Biography:At an early age, Nobuyuki's father served under the daimyo Takeda Shingen and sent Nobuyuki as a hostage to prove the Sanada clan's loyalty to the Takeda clan...
, the son of the Sanada lord.
In 1600, when Nobuyuki had decided to cast his lot with the Tokugawa, his father Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki
was a Japanese Sengoku period daimyo. He was the third son of Sanada Yukitaka, a vassal daimyo to the Takeda family in Shinano province. He is known as a master strategist. Sanada Nobuyuki and Sanada Yukimura were his sons.-Biography:...
(who had not done so) was en route to Ueda Castle
Ueda Castle
Ueda Castle was the original home of the Sanada clan, built by Sanada Masayuki.It was this castle that the Sanada defended twice from the Tokugawa, first in 1583 and again in 1600, putting up a very impressive defense both of those times....
, accompanied by his other son, the famed Sanada Yukimura
Sanada Yukimura
was a Japanese samurai, second son of the Sengoku period daimyo Sanada Masayuki . His proper name was Sanada Nobushige , named after Takeda Shingen's younger brother Takeda Nobushige, who was a brave and respected warrior. He and his father were known as being excellent military tacticians...
. The two stopped at Numata Castle, where Komatsuhime was managing affairs. Masayuki relayed a message to her: "I want to see my grandchildren," and in response, the princess emerged, dressed in full battle attire, saying "Since we have parted ways in this conflict, though you are my father-in-law I cannot allow you into this castle." Masayuki and Yukimura withdrew to a temple, Shōkaku-ji, and were surprised when they saw Komatsuhime (with her children) arrive soon after them, honoring Masayuki's wish.
After the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
, during Masayuki and Yukimura's exile, she took charge of sending them food and other daily necessities.
Komatsuhime was praised as a good wife and wise mother
Good Wife, Wise Mother
Derived from an idealized traditional role for women, the ideology of Good Wife, Wise Mother or Wise Wife, Good Mother was coined by Nakamura Masanao in 1875.It represented the ideal for womanhood in the East Asian area like Japan, China and Korea in the late 1880s and early 1900s...
(ryōsai kenbo 良妻賢母). She died in Kōnosu, Musashi Province
Musashi Province
was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Prefecture, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama...
(the present-day city of Kōnosu in Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
) at age 47, while en route to the Kusatsu hot spring. Nobuyuki lamented her passing, saying that "the light of my house has been extinguished." Her grave can be found there. Today, in the museum at Ueda Castle, visitors can see items that she used, including her palanquin.