1. Overview
Rokkaku Yoshiharu (六角義治Rokkaku YoshiharuJapanese), also known as Rokkaku Yoshisuke (六角義介Rokkaku YoshisukeJapanese), was a prominent daimyō and samurai during the Sengoku period of Japan and into the early Edo period. As the 16th head of the Rokkaku clan in southern Ōmi Province, he faced significant challenges, including internal strife within his clan, the Kannōji Incident, and the rising power of Oda Nobunaga. Despite initial resistance, his clan eventually succumbed to Nobunaga's forces. In his later years, Yoshiharu served the Toyotomi clan as an archery instructor and attendant. He is also known for the promulgation of the Rokkaku-shi Shikimoku, a domain law that reflected his governance philosophy.
2. Life
Rokkaku Yoshiharu's life was marked by his efforts to maintain the influence of the Rokkaku clan amidst a turbulent period of Japanese history, including his early life, his succession to family headship, and the continued influence of his father.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Rokkaku Yoshiharu was born in 1545, the eldest legitimate son of Rokkaku Yoshikata. His mother was a daughter of Hatakeyama Yoshifusa, a daimyō from Noto Province. Yoshikata had initially married Yoshifusa's elder daughter, but she died early, leading him to take her younger sister as his second wife, who became Yoshiharu's birth mother. Yoshiharu's mother also passed away prematurely in 1547. Upon his coming of age, Yoshiharu initially received the name Yoshisuke (義弼YoshisukeJapanese, also read as Yoshinori), with the character "Yoshi" bestowed upon him by Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the 13th Shogun of the Muromachi period.
2.2. Education and Early Activities
In 1560, an incident occurred where Yoshiharu, in an attempt to arrange a marriage alliance with the Saitō clan of Mino Province to counter the Azai clan's defection, incurred his father's wrath. This led to his father reprimanding key retainers, known as the "senior councilors" (nenyoroshū or shukurōshū), including Hirai Sadatake, Gamō Sadahide, Gotō Katatoyo, Fuse Kimiwo, and Koma Sadamu. Yoshiharu himself was temporarily forced into seclusion at Iitakayama. In 1561, he participated in a joint campaign with Hatakeyama Takamasa of Kawachi Province against the Miyoshi clan, leading forces into Kyoto alongside his younger brother, Rokkaku Yoshisada, under his father's command.
2.3. Succession to Family Headship and Father's Influence
Yoshiharu inherited the family headship from his father, Rokkaku Yoshikata, in 1557 (though some sources indicate 1559) when Yoshikata retired and adopted the monastic name Jōtei. However, his father retained actual power, continuing to exert significant influence over the clan's affairs. This arrangement meant that Yoshiharu's early political decisions were often overshadowed or dictated by his father, leading to a complex power dynamic within the Rokkaku clan.
3. Major Activities and Achievements
Rokkaku Yoshiharu's tenure as clan head was marked by a series of critical events that ultimately led to the decline of the Rokkaku clan's independence. These included internal conflicts, shifting alliances with the shogunate, the promulgation of a significant domain law, and intense confrontation with the rising power of Oda Nobunaga.
3.1. Kannōji Incident and Clan Crisis
In 1563, a pivotal event known as the Kannōji Incident occurred. Yoshiharu orchestrated the assassination of Gotō Katatoyo and his son, who were highly respected and influential retainers within the Rokkaku clan, inside Kannōji Castle. This act plunged the clan into turmoil, leading to widespread unrest and defections among vassals, with some even switching allegiance to the rival Azai Nagamasa. Yoshiharu and his father, Jōtei, were temporarily driven out of Kannōji Castle by the rebellious retainers. They were only able to return through the efforts of loyal retainers, particularly the father-son duo of Gamō Sadahide and Gamō Katahide. This incident severely weakened the Rokkaku clan's power base and is often cited as a symbol of the clan's faltering authority, with contemporary records like the Ashikaga Kiseiki describing it as "the beginning of the Sasaki family's downfall." Recent scholarship suggests that Yoshiharu and his close associates may have orchestrated the purge of the Gotō family to eliminate Jōtei's influence, but this backfired, further destabilizing the clan. Around this time, Yoshiharu changed his name from Yoshisuke (義弼YoshisukeJapanese) to Yoshiharu (義治YoshiharuJapanese).
3.2. Relationship with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki
Following the Eiroku Incident in 1565, where Ashikaga Yoshiteru was assassinated by the Miyoshi San-ninshu and Matsunaga Hisahide in Kyoto, Yoshiharu temporarily sheltered Yoshiteru's younger brother, Ichijōin Kakukei (later Ashikaga Yoshiaki), who had fled to Ōmi. However, when the Miyoshi San-ninshu offered Yoshiharu favorable terms, including the position of Kanrei (shogunal deputy), he began to distance himself from Yoshiaki. Consequently, Yoshiaki left Ōmi, seeking support elsewhere.
3.3. Promulgation of Rokkaku-shi Shikimoku and Succession Issues
On May 27, 1567, Yoshiharu was compelled to sign the Rokkaku-shi Shikimoku, a domain law (Bunkoku-hō) designed to curb the authority of the clan head. This document reflected a shift in power dynamics within the clan, indicating the growing influence of key retainers. Traditionally, it was believed that Yoshiharu was forced to cede the family headship to his younger brother, Rokkaku Yoshisada, around this time. However, alternative theories exist, suggesting that the succession might not have been a direct result of coercion or that the transfer of power was not as absolute as previously thought. Regardless, the promulgation of this law underscored the internal challenges and power struggles within the Rokkaku clan.
3.4. Confrontation with Oda Nobunaga and Resistance
In 1568, Oda Nobunaga began his march to Kyoto, escorting Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Nobunaga requested the Rokkaku father and son to join his forces, but they refused. This refusal led Nobunaga to invade Rokkaku territory. The Rokkaku forces, aided by figures like Iwanari Tomomichi of the Miyoshi San-ninshu, initially put up fierce resistance. However, after the fall of Mitsukuri Castle, which faced Kannōji Castle, the Rokkaku father and son were forced to abandon Kannōji Castle in the Siege of Kannōji Castle. Jōtei retreated to Ishibe Castle in Kōka District, while Yoshiharu took refuge in Namazue Castle in Echi District.
Following this defeat, Yoshiharu and his father continued their resistance against Nobunaga by forming alliances with the Azai clan and Asakura clan, significantly troubling Nobunaga's forces. A peace treaty was eventually brokered through the intervention of the Imperial Court, but Nobunaga unilaterally abrogated it. By 1573, Nobunaga had successively destroyed the Asakura and Azai clans. Faced with overwhelming odds, Yoshiharu finally made peace with Nobunaga and withdrew from Namazue Castle. Despite this, Jōtei continued to resist from Ishibe Castle, even attempting to orchestrate a new "Nobunaga encirclement network" with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the Uesugi clan, and the Takeda clan. However, Ishibe Castle fell in April 1574, and Jōtei fled to Shigaraki. Around this period, Yoshiharu was reportedly known as "Sasaki" (佐々木SasakiJapanese) or "Sasaki Jirō" (佐々木次郎Sasaki JirōJapanese). Furthermore, a figure named "Sasaki Yoshitaka" (佐々木義堯Sasaki YoshitakaJapanese) has been identified as engaging in diplomatic negotiations with Mōri Terumoto and his retainers under the exiled Ashikaga Yoshiaki in western Japan. Given the near identical kaō (stylized signatures) of Yoshiharu and Yoshitaka, it is speculated that Yoshiharu adopted this name and accompanied Yoshiaki in his exile until the shogun's return to Kyoto.
3.5. Activities under the Toyotomi Regime
After Nobunaga's death and the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Rokkaku Yoshiharu found a new role. He is recorded as having attended an Inuomono (dog-hunting archery event) hosted by Toyotomi Hidetsugu, serving as an archery instructor. He also served as an otogishū (attendant) for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, alongside figures like Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Shiba Yoshikane. After Hideyoshi's death, Yoshiharu became the archery master for Toyotomi Hideyori. Some sources also indicate that he later served Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of Nobunaga's former generals. He is believed to have become a monk in his later years.
4. Thought and Governance Ideology
Rokkaku Yoshiharu's governance philosophy is most clearly reflected in the Rokkaku-shi Shikimoku, the domain law promulgated in 1567. This law, which he was compelled to sign, aimed to restrain the absolute authority of the clan head and define the responsibilities and rights of retainers. It represented an attempt to establish a more stable social order within the domain by formalizing the relationship between the lord and his vassals. The very existence of such a law, which limited the lord's power, suggests a pragmatic approach to governance, acknowledging the need for consensus and the influence of powerful retainers in maintaining clan stability during the tumultuous Sengoku period. This legal framework, along with a few other daimyō-made law codes, provides insight into the evolving social and legal culture of Japan during this era.
5. Personal Life and Later Years
In his later years, Rokkaku Yoshiharu is believed to have entered the Buddhist priesthood, adopting a monastic life. While specific details about his marriage, family, or hobbies are not extensively documented, his later role as an archery master for Toyotomi Hideyori suggests a continued engagement with martial arts, even in retirement. His decision to become a monk was a common practice for samurai of his era, often signifying a withdrawal from worldly affairs and a focus on spiritual pursuits.
6. Death
Rokkaku Yoshiharu died on October 22, 1612 (some sources state November 14, 1612), at the age of 68. He passed away in Kamo. His memorial tablet, along with that of his father, Jōtei (Rokkaku Yoshikata), is enshrined at Ikkyū-ji (Shuon-an) in Kyōtanabe City, Kyoto Prefecture.
7. Evaluation and Impact
Rokkaku Yoshiharu's life and actions had a profound impact on the Rokkaku clan and the broader political landscape of the Sengoku period. His leadership during a time of immense external pressure and internal strife ultimately led to the decline of his clan's independence.
7.1. Later Evaluations
Despite the eventual downfall of the Rokkaku clan under his leadership, Yoshiharu's efforts to resist the rising power of Oda Nobunaga and his attempts to maintain the clan's independence are noted. His promulgation of the Rokkaku-shi Shikimoku is recognized as a significant legal document of the Sengoku period, reflecting the evolving governance structures of daimyō domains. While no specific monuments are dedicated solely to him, his legacy is tied to his father through their shared enshrinement at Ikkyū-ji. During the Edo period, his descendants were ranked among the kōke, a class of high-ranking samurai families serving the shogunate, indicating a continued lineage of prestige despite the loss of their daimyō status.
7.2. Criticism and Controversy
Rokkaku Yoshiharu's tenure as clan head is often viewed critically, particularly concerning the Kannōji Incident in 1563. His decision to assassinate key retainers, Gotō Katatoyo and his son, is widely seen as a major misstep that severely destabilized the clan, leading to widespread defections and significantly weakening the Rokkaku's internal cohesion. This event is frequently cited as a primary cause for the clan's subsequent decline, symbolizing the erosion of their absolute power as a Sengoku daimyō. Furthermore, the controversies surrounding the succession of the family headship, including the possibility of being forced to yield power to his younger brother, highlight the internal divisions and the challenges to his authority. His ultimate inability to withstand the military might of Oda Nobunaga, leading to the loss of Rokkaku territory and independence, also forms a central point of criticism regarding his leadership during a period of intense external pressure.