Aya-Gozen
Encyclopedia
was the older half-sister of Uesugi Kenshin
, the mother of Uesugi Kagekatsu
and the first wife of Nagao Masakage
.
Born as Nagao Tamekage
's second eldest daughter. She was said to either come from the same mother as Uesugi Kenshin
or was his older half-sister. Though better known under her Buddhist name, it was said that her given name was Ayahime (綾姫).
She was engaged to Nagao Masakage
sometime during 1537, and they had two sons and two daughters together. Their eldest son died at the young age of 10, so their second eldest son, Kagekatsu
, was adopted into the Uesugi
under Kenshin
. Their daughters are also said to have been adopted into the Uesugi and supposedly became the wives of their loyal vassals. Sento-In moved to Kasugayama Castle
with her son in 1564. She was fabled to have recognized Naoe Kanetsugu
's talents and recommended him to serve Kagekatsu. It was rumored that Kanetsugu tried his best to care for her in gratitude.
When the civil dispute between Kagekatsu and Kagetora
took place after Kenshin's death, Sento-In tried to protect Kagetora's heir after the death of her older sister (Kagetora's wife). Although she was with Kagetora, she returned to Kikuhime and Osen no Kata's care. She died at Yonezawa Castle and was enshrined at Risen-ji. She was given the Buddhist name, Sento-In. As for why she was named as such, the reasons are still debated to this day.
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
, the mother of Uesugi Kagekatsu
Uesugi Kagekatsu
was a daimyo during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. The son of Nagao Masakage and husband of Uesugi Kenshin's elder sister, Aya-Gozen. After his father died, he was adopted by Kenshin....
and the first wife of Nagao Masakage
Nagao Masakage
was the head of the Ueda Nagao clan following the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan. Masakage was the brother-in-law of the famous Uesugi Kenshin, the "Dragon of Echigo". Masakage was the father of Uesugi Kagekatsu....
.
Born as Nagao Tamekage
Nagao Tamekage
was a retainer of Japanese feudal lord Uesugi Fusayoshi, and a daimyo in his own right, during Japan's Sengoku period. According to some scholars, such as George Bailey Sansom, Nagao Tamekage's career makes him representative of the emergence of the daimyo, and the shift of regional power from the...
's second eldest daughter. She was said to either come from the same mother as Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
or was his older half-sister. Though better known under her Buddhist name, it was said that her given name was Ayahime (綾姫).
She was engaged to Nagao Masakage
Nagao Masakage
was the head of the Ueda Nagao clan following the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan. Masakage was the brother-in-law of the famous Uesugi Kenshin, the "Dragon of Echigo". Masakage was the father of Uesugi Kagekatsu....
sometime during 1537, and they had two sons and two daughters together. Their eldest son died at the young age of 10, so their second eldest son, Kagekatsu
Uesugi Kagekatsu
was a daimyo during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. The son of Nagao Masakage and husband of Uesugi Kenshin's elder sister, Aya-Gozen. After his father died, he was adopted by Kenshin....
, was adopted into the Uesugi
Uesugi clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from the Fujiwara clan and particularly notable for their power in the Muromachi and Sengoku periods ....
under Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
. Their daughters are also said to have been adopted into the Uesugi and supposedly became the wives of their loyal vassals. Sento-In moved to Kasugayama Castle
Kasugayama Castle
' was the primary fortress of the Japanese warlord Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku period. It is situated in what is now the city of Jōetsu, Niigata prefecture, and was originally built and ruled by the Nagao clan....
with her son in 1564. She was fabled to have recognized Naoe Kanetsugu
Naoe Kanetsugu
was a Japanese samurai of the 16th-17th centuries. The eldest son of Higuchi Kanetoyo, Kanetsugu was famed for his service to two generations of the Uesugi daimyo. He was also known by his court title, Yamashiro no Kami or his childhood/adolescent name, Higuchi Kanetsugu .Kanetsugu served first as...
's talents and recommended him to serve Kagekatsu. It was rumored that Kanetsugu tried his best to care for her in gratitude.
When the civil dispute between Kagekatsu and Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora
was the seventh son of Hōjō Ujiyasu; he was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin, and was meant to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his castle at Ōtate by Uesugi Kagekatsu--Kagetora's respective brother-in-law—and was subsequently defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following...
took place after Kenshin's death, Sento-In tried to protect Kagetora's heir after the death of her older sister (Kagetora's wife). Although she was with Kagetora, she returned to Kikuhime and Osen no Kata's care. She died at Yonezawa Castle and was enshrined at Risen-ji. She was given the Buddhist name, Sento-In. As for why she was named as such, the reasons are still debated to this day.