| Takeda
Shingen (1521-1573) has been described as the prime example of the Warring
States period daimyo in that he was tremendously successful in accomplishing
limited, regional goals (expansion of his domains) by means of a series
of temporary alliances which were quickly broken or reformed according
to the need of the moment. Regional success was perhaps all Shingen ever
had in mind; unlike the three men who unified Japan, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi
Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, he did not exhibit the long-range vision
or strategic wisdom necessary in the confused events of the time. Shingen
and the fall of the Takeda house are featured in the Akira Kurosawa movie,
Kagemusha (Shadow Warrior).
Shingen rose to head his family by deposing his father in 1541. The
Takeda holdings were in the mountainous area of Kai (now Yamanashi prefecture),
within sight of Mt. Fuji. The surrounding area was extremely rough and
controlled by small-scale strongmen who fell one by one to Shingen's attacks.
In 1559, he was appointed shugo (constable) of the province of Shinano
(present-day Nagano prefecture) by the Ashikaga shogunate, legitimizing
his aggression.
Made of solid cold cast resin and hand painted.
Height: 13.5" |
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