Sessai Choro
Encyclopedia
also known as Taigen Sessai, was a Japanese abbot and mountain ascetic (see yamabushi
). He was the uncle of Imagawa Yoshimoto
, and served him as military advisor and as commander of Imagawa's forces, despite his lack of any formal battle training or experience.
Sessai aided his nephew in consolidating the Imagawa territories, and in a number of political maneuvers which gained Imagawa influence over the Matsudaira family. By 1548 he had secured a young Tokugawa Ieyasu
(a member of the Matsudaira family) as a hostage.
However, Imagawa soon came into conflict with the Oda clan
, and faced defeat at the 1542 battle of Azukizaka
. After this, he left Sessai in command of his armies.
In 1545, Imagawa secured a treaty and alliance between his family and those of the Hōjō
and Takeda. At some point after this, Sessai began to advise Tokugawa Ieyasu
, though the extent of his role in Tokugawa's military exploits is unclear, and unlikely to be great.
Sessai died in 1557.
Yamabushi
' are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long tradition as mighty warriors endowed with supernatural powers. They follow the Shugendō doctrine, an integration of mainly esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon sect, with Tendai and Shinto elements...
). He was the uncle of Imagawa Yoshimoto
Imagawa Yoshimoto
was one of the leading daimyo in the Sengoku period Japan. Based in Suruga Province, he was one of the three daimyo that dominated the Tōkaidō region. He was one of the dominant daimyo in Japan for a time, until his death in 1560....
, and served him as military advisor and as commander of Imagawa's forces, despite his lack of any formal battle training or experience.
Sessai aided his nephew in consolidating the Imagawa territories, and in a number of political maneuvers which gained Imagawa influence over the Matsudaira family. By 1548 he had secured a young 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...
(a member of the Matsudaira family) as a hostage.
However, Imagawa soon came into conflict with the Oda clan
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
, and faced defeat at the 1542 battle of Azukizaka
Battle of Azukizaka (1542)
In the first Oda Nobuhide defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto, setting the stage for his son, Oda Nobunaga, to become one of Japan's greatest warlords. Despite the defeat, later in 1548, Imagawa defeated Nobuhide in the second battle of Azukizaka and continued to expand his territory until 1560, when he...
. After this, he left Sessai in command of his armies.
In 1545, Imagawa secured a treaty and alliance between his family and those of the Hōjō
Late Hojo clan
The ' was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga...
and Takeda. At some point after this, Sessai began to advise 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...
, though the extent of his role in Tokugawa's military exploits is unclear, and unlikely to be great.
Sessai died in 1557.