#ueda castle

[redsamuraiii]

Japanese Castles in Nagano Prefecture by 日本長野縣旅遊情報

Matsumoto Castle

Takato Castle Ruins Park

Ueda Castle Ruins Park

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Ueda - Bessho Onsen #7 por haribote Por Flickr: In front of the gate of Ueda Castle (上田城). See where this picture was taken. Development note D: Kodak D-76 (Stock, 1st) 6min45sec S: Natural water 30sec x 3 times F: Chugai My Fixer (1:4, 3rd) 5min

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late summer by naoto shinozaki

[redsamuraiii]

Ueda Castle by Go! Nagano, Japan

[redsamuraiii]

Female Samurai : Komatsuhime

The daughter of a well-known vassal, Honda Tadakatsu and because of his loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu, Komatsuhime was eventually adopted by Ieyasu as his own daughter. After some time, Komatsuhime married Sanada Nobuyuki. 

After witnessing the martial prowess of the Sanada at the First Battle of Ueda Castle, she and her father were captivated by them. Tokugawa Ieyasu himself arranged for Komatsuhime to marry Sanada Nobuyuki.

However, Nobuyuki and his father, Masayuki decided to side with opposing parties. Having Ieyasu as his father-in-law, Nobuyuki eventually decided to side with the Tokugawa clan while Masayuki opted not to. 

On his way to Ueda Castle with his other son Yukimura, Masayuki stopped by Numata Castle to see his grandchildren. At the time, Komatsuhime was in the castle managing its affairs. 

Having heard the message of her father-in-law, Komatsuhime faced Masayuki in full battle armor. She did not allow Masayuki to enter the castle due to their conflicts despite their relationship. 

Hence, Masayuki and Yukimura were not able to see the children and had to withdraw to a temple called Shokaku-ji. Surprisingly, Komatsuhime arrived in the temple, bringing her children with her. Despite the conflict between the two parties, Komatsuhime honored the wishes of Masayuki to see his grandchildren.

Following the Battle of Sekigahara, both men were in exile. Komatsuhime took it upon herself to send them food and other daily needs.

Komatsuhime was often admired not just as a good wife to Nobuyuki but also as a wise mother, which people called Ryosai Kenbo. 

Her death later at the age of 47 saddened a lot of people, particularly, her husband, Nobuyuki who said, “the light of my house has been extinguished”.

Today, some of the items that she once used can be found in the museum located at Ueda Castle. This includes her palanquin. 

http://yabai.com/p/4286

Personal Note :

What fascinates me about her is that she managed to balance her loyalty and duty to her lord and clan with her husband and family.

While she denies entry to her father in law and brother in law into the castle to see her children out of respect to her lord, the Tokugawa, she brings them out to see them outside of the castle instead which is technically acceptable as her orders was to deny their entry into the castle. This proves what people who knew her in person that she is indeed intelligent to be true. 

While the western world is figurinout the definition of a true female hero, there are already several who existed in history that not many are aware of. Except for Mulan, thanks to Disney. And it is for this reason that I decided to start sharing posts about any female samurai warriors I discovered and learned about. 

[hangoversleep]

2018夏、上田城

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(Kenichi_Kamio 神尾憲一)

[mabsart]

自撮りを撮るのは下手くそ幸村

Yukimura sucks at taking selfies