Letter by Kobayakawa Takakage 小早川隆景筆書状コバヤカワタカカゲヒツショジョウ

Description

Kobayakawa Takakage (1533-97) was a military commander during the time of constant wars in the Sengoku and Momoyama periods. He was the third son of Mouri Motonari (1497-1531) and inherited the branch families of the Kobayakawa clan in Aki Province. Together with his older brother, Kikkawa Motoharu (1530-86), Takakage joined Mouri Terumoto (1553-1625)’s campaigns in Chugoku (western Japan). Headquartered in Mihara, Takakage led a navy through many battles to spectacular victory. When the Honnoji Revolt erupted in 1582, Takakage sought a truce with Generalissimo Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-98). Thereafter, he served Hideyoshi in his campaigns to control Shikoku and Kyushu and, furthermore, joined the Generalissimo’s Bunroku Campaign. Winning many victories, Takakage won Hideyoshi’s trust. But due to an illness, he transferred the headship of the family to his adopted son, Kobayakawa Hideaki, after which, he retired to live in Mihara. He died at age 65.In the inside salutation, one can read “Lord Hachisuka,” who presumably is Hachisuka Masakatsu (1526-86). He and Takakage were both heavily involved in Hideyoshi’s campaigns to put down the farmers’ uprisings in Negoro and Saika, and then destroy enemies in Shikoku. This letter is likely concerned with one of Hideyoshi’s campaigns.“Move small boats to the mouth of the channel…” may well be directions for the navy, which was Takakage’s forte. The addressee – Sanshichiro-Uemon – has not been identified. It could be one of Takakage’s vassals.