Hattori Hanzō

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For other uses, see Hattori Hanzō (disambiguation).
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In this Japanese name, the surname is Hattori.
Hattori Hanzō
服部 半蔵
Leader of Iga Ninja
In office
1557–1597
Preceded byHattori Yasunaga
Succeeded byHattori Masanari
Personal details
Born
Hattori Masanari
服部 正成

c. 1542
Mikawa Province (now Iga-chō, Okazaki, Aichi)
Died(1597-01-02)January 2, 1597 (aged 54-55)
Edo, Musashi province
RelationsHattori Yasunaga, 1st-Hanzō (father)
Hattori Masanari, 3rd-Hanzō (son)
Nickname"Demon Hanzō"
Military service
Allegiance Matsudaira clan
Tokugawa clan
Battles/warsAttack on Udo Castle
Siege of Kaminogō Castle
Siege of Kakegawa
Battle of Anegawa
Battle of Mikatagahara
Battle of Komaki and Nagakute
Siege of Odawara

Hattori Hanzō (服部 半蔵, c. 1542[1] – January 2, 1597) or Second Hanzō, nicknamed Oni no Hanzō (鬼の半蔵, Demon Hanzō),[2] was a famous samurai of the Sengoku era, who served the Tokugawa clan as a general, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. He is often a subject of varied portrayals in modern popular culture. Hanzō was known as an expert tactician and a master of sword fighting.

Hattori Hanzō was included in cultural sobriquet as one of Tokugawa 16 divine generals (Tokugawa jūrokushinshō).[3][4][5]

Early life[edit]

Born the son of Hattori Yasunaga (服部 保長), the First Hanzō, a minor samurai in the service of the Matsudaira (later Tokugawa) clan.[6][2] His real name is Hattori Masanari (服部 正成), and he became known as the Second Hanzō. He would later earn the nickname Oni no Hanzō (鬼の半蔵, Demon Hanzō)[2] because of the fearless tactics he displayed in his operations; this moniker also distinguished him from Watanabe Hanzo (Watanabe Moritsuna), who is nicknamed Yari no Hanzō (槍の半蔵, Spear Hanzō).[7]

Though Hanzō was born in Mikawa Province (now Iga-chō, Okazaki, Aichi), he often returned to Iga Province, home of the Hattori family. At the age of 15, his first battle was a night time attack during the siege of Udo Castle (1557).[6][2]

Service under Ieyasu[edit]

Hanzo had a great contribution to Tokugawa Ieyasu's rise to power, helping the future Shogun bring down the Imagawa clan. After Imagawa Ujizane had held Ieyasu's wife and son as hostages in 1561, Hanzo made a successful hostage rescue of Tokugawa's family at Kaminogo castle in 1562[8] and went on to lay siege to Kakegawa castle in 1569 against the Imagawa clan.

He served with distinction at the battles of Anegawa in 1570 and Mikatagahara in 1572.[6] According to the Kansei Chōshū Shokafu, a genealogy of major samurai completed in 1812 by the Tokugawa shogunate, Hattori Hanzō rendered meritorious service during the Battle of Mikatagahara and became commander of an Iga unit consisting of one hundred fifty men. He captured a Takeda spy named Chikuan, and when Takeda's troops invaded Totomi, Hanzō counterattacked with only thirty warriors at the Tenryū River.[citation needed]

Journey in Iga province[edit]

In late June 1582, after the Honnō-ji Incident, Tokugawa Ieyasu escapes from Sakai to return into Mikawa. Ieyasu had only 34 companions with him, including Hanzō. The journey which they taken were particularly dangerous due to the existence of Ochimusha-gari, or "Samurai hunters" gang[a] Ieyasu and his party, therefore, chose the shortest route back to the Mikawa Province by crossing the Iga Province, which was differed in many versions according to primary sources such as the records of Tokugawa Nikki or Mikawa Todai-Hon:

  • The Tokugawa Nikki theory stated that Ieyasu taking the roads to Shijonawate and Son'enji, then following the stream of Kizu river until they spent a night in Yamaguchi castle. The next day they reached a stronghold of Kōka ikki clan of Tarao who allowing them to take refugee for night. Then in the last day, Ieyasu group using a ship from Shiroko to reach Okazaki Castle.[12] However, The Tokugawa Nikki theory were doubted by modern historians, since it was not the shortest route for Ieyasu to reach Mikawa from his starting position at Sakai,[13] while on the other hand, it also considered as very risky path due to the existence of Iga ikki clans which were hostile to Oda and Tokugawa clan.[14][15]
  • The Mikawa Toda-Hon stated that Ieyasu went north from Ogawadate, crossed Koka, and entered Seishu Seki (from Shigaraki, passed through Aburahi and entered Tsuge in Iga.[15] This theory were championed by Modern Japanese historians such as Tatsuo Fujita from Mie University, have expressed doubts about the credibility of story regarding Hattori Hanzō's ninja helping Ieyasu, given that the story does not appear until the 18th century during the rule of Tokugawa Yoshimune.[15] This theory were championed by a group or history researchers of Mie city, which happened to be the descendants of Kōka ikki clans also supported this route theory, and before they reached Kada pass where they could be escorted by the Kōka clan Jizamurai, Ieyasu mostly depended his protection on his high-rank vassals, particularly the four Shitennō (Tokugawa clan) generals of Tokugawa clan, rather than the popular theory about the help of "Iga Ninja" clans.[14]
Kada pass, believed to be the road which taken by Ieyasu Tokugawa to return into Mikawa province.[15]

Regardless which theory is true, historians agreed that the track ended Kada(a mountain pass between Kameyama town and Iga), Tokugawa group suffered a last attack by the Ochimusha-gari outlaws at Kada pass where they reached the territory of Kōka ikki clans of Jizamurai who are friendly to the Tokugawa clan. The Koka ikki samurais assisted Ieyasu to eliminate the threats of Ochimusha-gari outlaws and escorting them until they reached Iga Province, where they further protected by other allied clans from Iga ikki which accompany the Ieyasu group until they safely reach Mikawa.[11] There are 34 Tokugawa retainers who accompany Ieyasu such as Sakai Tadatsugu, Ii Naomasa, and Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasumasa and many others.[16]: 314–315 [10][17]

Portuguese missionary Luís Fróis has recorded in his work History of Japan, that during this journey, Tokugawa retainers such as Sakai Tadatsugu, Ii Naomasa and Honda Tadakatsu fought their way out against the raids and harassments of Ochimusha-gari outlaws during their march escorting Ieyasu, while sometimes also paying bribes of gold and silver to the Ochimusha-gari outlaws which they could bribe.[18] Matsudaira Ietada recorded in his journal, Ietada nikki (家忠日記), the escorts of Ieyasu during the journey in Iga consisted the escorts of Ieyasu has killed around 200 outlaws during their journey from Osaka.[19][20]

After Ieyasu's escape[edit]

In 1584, Hattori Hanzo continued to serve his lord at Battle of Komaki and Nagakute with 100 warriors under his command.

In 1590, Hattori Hanzo served during the Odawara campaign and was awarded 8,000 koku. By the time Ieyasu entered Kantō, he was awarded an additional 8,000 koku and had 30 yoriki and 200 public officials for his services.

Historical sources[which?][specify] say he lived the last several years of his life as a monk under the name "Sainen" and built the temple Sainenji,[citation needed] which was named after him and mainly built to commemorate Tokugawa Ieyasu's elder son, Tokugawa Nobuyasu.[citation needed]

After Nobuyasu was accused of treason and conspiracy by Oda Nobunaga and was then ordered to commit seppuku by his father, Ieyasu. Hanzo was called in to act as the official second to end Nobuyasu's suffering, but he refused to take the sword on the blood of his own lord. Ieyasu valued his loyalty after hearing of Hanzo's ordeal and said, "Even a demon can shed tears."[21][22]

Death[edit]

He died at the age of 54 or 55 in 1597.[6] There are three theories about his death. One asserts that he was assassinated by a rival Samurai, the pirate Fūma Kotarō. After Hanzo tracked him down to the Inland Sea, Kotarō lured him and his men into a small channel and used oil to set the channel on fire. The second theory is that Hanzo became a monk in Edo where he lived out the rest of his days until he died of illness. The third theory is that he died because of illness and it was a natural death.

Legacy[edit]

Edo Castle's Hanzōmon gate during the Meiji period (1868–1912)

Hanzo's reputation as a samurai leader who commanded a 200-men strong unit of Iga warriors has grown to legendary proportions. Tales of Hattori's exploits often attributed various supernatural abilities, such as teleportation, psychokinesis, and precognition.[2][6]

After his death on 4 November 1596, Hattori Hanzō was succeeded by his son, whose name was also Masanari (third Hanzō), though written with different kanji (正就 instead of 正成). He was given the title of Iwami no Kami[23] and his Iga men would act as guards of Edo Castle, the headquarters of the government of united Japan. Hanzō is actually a name passed down through the leaders of the Hattori family meaning his father was also called Hanzō and so was his successor. Indeed, there are five people known as Hattori Hanzō throughout history.[2]

The Tokyo Imperial Palace's Hanzōmon gate in 2007

To this day, artifacts of Hanzō's legacy remain. Tokyo Imperial Palace (formerly the shōgun's palace) still has a gate called Hanzō's Gate (Hanzōmon), and the Hanzōmon subway line which runs from Hanzōmon Station in central Tokyo to the southwestern suburbs is named after the gate, where his house was once located.[24][25][26] The neighborhood outside Hanzō's Gate is known as Wakaba, but before 1943 was named Iga-chō ("Iga Town").[27] Hanzō's remains now rest in the Sainen-ji temple cemetery in Yotsuya, Tokyo. The temple also holds his favorite spear and his ceremonial battle helmet. The spear, originally 14 feet (4.3 m) long and given to him by Ieyasu, was donated to the temple by Hanzō as a votive offering, but was damaged during the bombing of Tokyo in 1945.[28]

See also[edit]

Appendix[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ During the Sengoku period, particularly dangerous groups called "Ochimusha-gari" or "fallen warrior hunter" groups has emerged. These groups consisted of peasant or Rōnin Who dispossessed by war and now formed self-defense forces which operates outside the law, while in reality they often resorted to hunt and robbing defeated Samurais or soldiers during conflicts.[9][10][11] These outlaw groups were particularly rampant on the route which Ieyasu taken to return to Mikawa.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ According to various sources,[which?] he was born in 1541, 1542 or 1543.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Joel Levy, Ninja: The Shadow Warrior (2008), pp. 157–158
  3. ^ Kacem Zoughari, Ph.D. (2013). Ninja Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan (The Secret History of Ninjutsu). Tuttle Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 9781462902873. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  4. ^ Harada Kazutoshi (2009, p. 300)
  5. ^ 奥出 賢治 (2002). 徳川十六将図再考 [Reconsideration of the Sixteen Tokugawa Generals] (in Japanese). Nagoya City Museum Research Bulletin. pp. 1–21. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Stephen Turnbull, Ninja AD 1460–1650 (2003), p. 12
  7. ^ Stephen K. Hayes, The Mystic Arts of the Ninja (1985)
  8. ^ Tools and Techniques (2009), p. 94
  9. ^ Fujiki Hisashi (2005). 刀狩り: 武器を封印した民衆 (in Japanese). 岩波書店. p. 29･30. ISBN 4004309654. Retrieved 9 May 2024. Kunio Yanagita "History of Japanese Farmers"
  10. ^ a b Kirino Sakuto (2001). 真説本能寺 (学研M文庫 R き 2-2) (in Japanese). 学研プラス. pp. 218–9. ISBN 4059010421. Retrieved 9 May 2024. Tadashi Ishikawa quote
  11. ^ a b c Akira Imatani (1993). 天皇と天下人. 新人物往来社. pp. 152–153, 157–158, ､167. ISBN 4404020732. Akira Imatani"Practice of attacking fallen warriors"; 2000; p.153 chapter 4
  12. ^ Yamada Yuji (2017). "7. Tokugawa Ieyasu's passing through Iga". THE NINJA BOOK: The New Mansenshukai. Translated by Atsuko Oda. Mie University Facultyof Humanities, Law and Economics. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  13. ^ Masahiko Iwasawa (1968). "家忠日記の原本について" [(Editorial) Regarding the original of Ietada's diary] (PDF). 東京大学史料編纂所報第２号 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  14. ^ a b (みちものがたり)家康の「伊賀越え」（滋賀県、三重県）本当は「甲賀越え」だった?忍者の末裔が唱える新説 [(Michi-monogatari) Ieyasu's "Iga's crossing (Shiga Prefecture, Mie Prefecture) Was it really "Koka-goe"? A new theory advocated by a ninja descendant] (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d 藤田達生 (2005). "「神君伊賀越え」再考". 愛知県史研究. 9. 愛知県: 1–15.
  16. ^ Sansom, Sir George Bailey (1961). A History of Japan, 1334–1615. Stanford University Press. p. 353. ISBN 0-8047-0525-9.
  17. ^ Fumitaka Kawasaki (1985). 徳川家康・伊賀越えの危難 [Tokugawa Ieyasu and the danger of crossing Iga]. 鳥影社. ISBN 4795251126. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  18. ^ Mitsuhisa Takayanagi (1958). 戦国戦記本能寺の変・山崎の戦 (1958年) (in Japanese). 春秋社. p. 65. Retrieved 9 May 2024. Luís Fróis;History of Japan..; Nihon Yoso-kai Annual Report", Japanese historical materials also show that Ieyasu distributed a large amount of gold and silver to his subordinates) A certain " Ishikawa Tadashi Sosho
  19. ^ Masahiko Iwasawa (1968). "(Editorial) Regarding the original of Ietada's diary" (PDF). 東京大学史料編纂所報第２号. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  20. ^ Morimoto Masahiro (1999). 家康家臣の戦と日常　松平家忠日記をよむ (角川ソフィア文庫) Kindle Edition. KADOKAWA. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  21. ^ Thomas Louis, Tommy Ito, Samurai: The Code of the Warrior (2008), p. 112
  22. ^ Arthur Lindsay Sadler, The Maker of Modern Japan: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, C. E. Tuttle Co., 1978
  23. ^ "Sengoku Era Ranks and Titles". Samurai-archives.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  24. ^ Lisa Leventer, Fodor's Japan: The Complete Guide With the Best of Tokyo, Kyoto and Old Japan, Fodor's Travel Publications, 1996
  25. ^ Fodor's Travel Publications, Fodor's Japan: Expert Advice and Smart Choices: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore On and Off the Beaten Path (2000), p. 61
  26. ^ Mikhail Vladimirovich Uspenskiĭ, Tatyana Mordkova, Natalia Smaznova, One Hundred Views of Edo: Woodblock Prints by Ando Hiroshige, Parkstone Press, 1997
  27. ^ Matt Alt, Tokyo's really, really real ninja hideouts Archived 2012-11-02 at the Wayback Machine, CNNGo.com, 23 November 2011
  28. ^ Stephen Turnbull, The Samurai Swordsman: Master of War (2008)

Secondary sources[edit]

Popular cultures[edit]

External links[edit]

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