Konishi Yukinaga
Encyclopedia
Konishi Yukinaga was a Kirishitan
daimyō
under Toyotomi Hideyoshi
. He was the son of a wealthy Sakai merchant, Konishi Ryūsa. His wife was allso baptised under the name of Maria
In 1587, during the Invasion of Kyushu, he quelled the local uprising in Higo Province
and was awarded a fief in that province.
Yukinaga led the initial forces under Toyotomi Hideyoshi
to invade Korea
in the Seven-Year War. He was noted for his role in the capture of Busan
and Seoul
and the defensive at Pyongyang
. Afterwards, his vassal, Naitō Joan
acted as the envoy to negotiate peace with Ming China
.
In order to achieve a truce, he negotiated a false surrender to China, although to Toyotomi Hideyoshi it was a truce between two equal states. Later, a Ming
envoy came to Japan to award Toyotomi the position of the King of Japan. This enraged Hideyoshi and exposed the truth behind Yukinaga's earlier diplomatic mission. Despite blaming for being disloyal, Yukinaga again led forces alongside Katō Kiyomasa
to invade Korea a second time. He defended Suncheon Japanese Castle
, and repelled Ming
(China) and Joseon
allied forces.
After Hideyoshi's death, Yukinaga joined Ishida Mitsunari
's side during the Battle of Sekigahara
, but was ultimately defeated. He fled into Mount Ibuki
, but was captured by Takenaka Shigekado
's forces. Being a Christian, Yukinaga refused to commit suicide and was executed.
Kirishitan
, from Portuguese cristão, referred to Roman Catholic Christians in Japanese and is used as a historiographic term for Roman Catholics in Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. Christian missionaries were known as bateren or iruman...
daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
under Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
. He was the son of a wealthy Sakai merchant, Konishi Ryūsa. His wife was allso baptised under the name of Maria
In 1587, during the Invasion of Kyushu, he quelled the local uprising in Higo Province
Higo Province
Higo Province was an old province of Japan in the area that is today Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Hizen Province. Higo bordered on Chikugo, Bungo, Hyūga, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Provinces....
and was awarded a fief in that province.
Yukinaga led the initial forces under Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
to invade Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in the Seven-Year War. He was noted for his role in the capture of Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and the defensive at Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. Afterwards, his vassal, Naitō Joan
Naito Yukiyasu
was a Japanese samurai, son of Naitō Genzaemon. He was baptised in 1564 and was banished to Manila by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1614. He was also known as -References:...
acted as the envoy to negotiate peace with Ming China
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
.
In order to achieve a truce, he negotiated a false surrender to China, although to Toyotomi Hideyoshi it was a truce between two equal states. Later, a Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
envoy came to Japan to award Toyotomi the position of the King of Japan. This enraged Hideyoshi and exposed the truth behind Yukinaga's earlier diplomatic mission. Despite blaming for being disloyal, Yukinaga again led forces alongside Katō Kiyomasa
Kato Kiyomasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo period.-Origins and early career:Kiyomasa was born in Owari Province to Katō Kiyotada. Kiyotada's wife, Ito, was a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother. Kiyotada died while his son was still young...
to invade Korea a second time. He defended Suncheon Japanese Castle
Suncheon Japanese Castle
Suncheon Japanese Castle, also known as Suncheon Waeseong , Yegyo , Manghaedae , in Korean, Juntenjō in Japanese, is the only remaining Japanese castle in Jeollanam-do, and the battle field of Yi Sun-sin who tempted Konishi Yukinaga from here to Noryang Point known as Battle of Noryang Point.-...
, and repelled Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(China) and Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
allied forces.
After Hideyoshi's death, Yukinaga joined Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari was a samurai who led the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 17th century. Also known by his court title, Jibunoshō...
's side during the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
, but was ultimately defeated. He fled into Mount Ibuki
Mount Ibuki
is a high mountain, on the border of Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, and Ibigawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, and is also included on the lists of the 100 Kinki Mountains the 50 Shiga Mountains...
, but was captured by Takenaka Shigekado
Takenaka Shigekado
was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period through early Edo Period. The son of Takenaka Hanbei, Shigekado saw his first action at age 12, taking part in the Battle of Komaki in 1585. Following in his father's footsteps and served Toyotomi Hideyoshi, later siding with Tokugawa Ieyasu. In...
's forces. Being a Christian, Yukinaga refused to commit suicide and was executed.