[Turn] Talking about the impact of famine disaster on Japan's Warring States War
In recent years, a subject that has attracted people's attention is that the Warring States Period was an era of famine, disasters and epidemics that was rare in history. According to research by scholar Fujiki Hisashi, the 1400s AD were used as the dividing line to divide the previous periods.
An interesting phenomenon can be found in the distinction between the Kamakura and Muromachi shogunate periods and the subsequent Warring States Period: intermittent famines occurred in the former era, which can be called "intermittent type", while in the latter era, except for the 1520s
Except for a brief interruption period, there were basically years of famine, which is called the "chronic type." At the same time, epidemics also permeated the world. (In Fujiki's research, there is another interesting content, that is, the impact of climate change on Japanese history.
film
According to the analysis of sea level height by Professor Philplitz's "Sea Level Curve", the "Rhodnest Progression", which caused sea level rise due to climate warming, reached its highest point around 1110 AD.
quite
During Japan's Heian period, it was in the early stages of evolving into a medieval society; then the sea level gradually dropped and entered a recession period (cold period), reaching its lowest point in the 15th and 16th centuries (Japan's Warring States Period was nearing the end), and was known as
This is the "retreat of the Parian Sea".)
The wars throughout the Warring States Period were fought in such a context full of famine, disasters and epidemics. In addition to devoting their energies to domestic rejuvenation, the Warring States Daimyos also transformed the battlefields of external expansion into areas where the locals and the people lived and even survived.
place.
In the Warring States Period, when famines, disasters and epidemics occurred frequently, people experienced the pressure of hunger to varying degrees. After the autumn harvest, the new year passed through the winter, and the crops were harvested in the spring.
There was a difficult transition period. If the harvest had failed in the previous autumn, the countryside would have been in deep food shortage. If not, the people would have had to borrow money and food to get through this difficult situation.
, often happens
Not relying on selling his wife and servants to maintain basic survival.
Regarding the Muromachi period, a transitional period where people's lives were in crisis, scholar Kenmi Tamura made a relatively profound analysis in his study of the living conditions of the medieval people. He
An analysis of the "Past Account of the Lower Sogou Domon Temple" led to the following result: the period of death of people in the late Middle Ages was mainly concentrated in early spring to early summer (January to April in the lunar calendar), and the number of deaths during the period from early autumn to winter was
will decrease
Much less. This period of concentrated death basically coincides with the so-called transition period.
Therefore, the Warring States Daimyo often used foreign aggression wars to overcome famine, disasters and epidemics in their territories. According to different motives, the wars in the Warring States Period can be divided into two
Category: 1) Selecting the appropriate time to launch a planned war against an enemy country, and 2) A predatory war launched during the transition period between the rice maturity, harvest period, winter slack period, or spring and summer. Of course, even the latter's predatory war
Also included
It contains a lot of strategic considerations to attack the enemy and expand the territory, but it can be found that the motivation for the war during this period was not just a simple strategic need. Below, we will send troops to Takeda Shingen of Kai and Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo.
Period analysis, briefly discuss the impact of natural disasters on the launch of wars during the Warring States Period.
The aforementioned Fujiki Hisashi pointed out in his analysis of the timing of Uesugi Kenshin's foreign war that after sending troops to Hokuriku to launch an offensive against the Ichigo clan and other forces, Hokushinano launched an offensive against Takeda Shingen.
There is no obvious pattern in the strategy. However, in the dispatch of troops to Kantō against the Hojo clan, there are two obvious patterns: 1) Crossing the mountains (Minkoku Pass) in winter, celebrating the New Year in Kantō, and returning home in spring and summer, and 2) Autumn and winter.
After crossing the mountain, in that year
Returning home in Japan (see the table below "Uesugi Kenshin's Chronology of Kanto's Battle"). The reason is actually very simple. In terms of the timing of sending troops to Hokuriku and Northern Shinano, Kenshin was largely influenced by the enemy's military actions.
Influence, not certain
However, in the war organized by Kenshin himself, we can find the huge impact of this transition period on his decision to send troops. That is, the first mode can take advantage of the enemy's food shortage period and high mortality rate.
period
Send troops to increase your chances of winning; the second mode mainly relies on plundering mature and harvested rice to enrich your own side and weaken the enemy accordingly.
"Chronology of Uesugi Kenshin's Autumn and Winter Battles in Kanto" (refer to the website "Sengoku Bukan")
In May of the third year of Eiroku (1560), he sent troops to Kantō for the first time and crossed the new year at Amabashi Castle. In March of the next year (Eiroku four years), he surrounded Odawara Castle. In the third month of leap year, he paid homage to Kantō at Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine.
The leader was renamed Masatora Uesugi.
In November of the fourth year of Eiroku, he went out to Kantō, fought with Hojo Ujiyasu at Musashi Ikuyama, and spent the New Year at Mangqiao Castle.
In November of the fifth year of Yonglu, he went out to Kantō and celebrated the new year at Numata Castle.
In October of the sixth year of Yonglu, he went out to Guandong and celebrated the new year in Mangqiao City.
In October of the seventh year of Yonglu, he went to Kanto and captured Tangze Mountain City. He returned home that year.
In November of the eighth year of Yonglu, he went out to Guandong to celebrate the new year.
In November of the ninth year of Yonglu, he went out to Kanto and celebrated the New Year at Numata Castle.
In November of the twelfth year of Eiroku, he went out to Kantō and entered Numata Castle, urging the generals of Kantō to join the battle, and passed the New Year in Kantō. In April of the next year (the first year of Yuangui), he returned to Kasugayama Castle.
(In addition, in January of the second year of Tianzheng and in January of the sixth year of Tianzheng, Kenshin issued Guan Gong's battle order twice, and immediately sent troops to Guandong, but because they did not cross the year, they are not within the scope of our discussion. There is also Yuangui Er
In December of 1571, Uesugi attacked Ishikura Castle, a subordinate city of Takeda Shingen, and entered Amabashi Castle in Kanto to celebrate the new year. Although it was not aimed at Hojo, it also complied with the above rules.)
Although Uesugi Kenshin's dispatch of troops to Northern Shinano has a strong tendency to send troops against Takeda Shingen, we can still sort out the differences between Uesugi's army's deployment on Kawanakajima and Northern Shinano's agricultural operations
There is a linkage relationship between the harvest periods of crops: the first Battle of Kawanakajima (the 22nd year of Astronomy, 1553, August-September), the second Battle of Kawanakajima (the 24th year of Astronomy, 1555)
, July to leap October),
The third Battle of Kawanakajima (the third year of Hongzhi, 1557, April to August), the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima (the fourth year of Yonglu, 1561, August to September), and the fifth Battle of Kawanakajima
(Yonglu seven years, 1564, seven
January to October). Basically it occurs at the turn of autumn and winter, coinciding with the maturity and harvest period of rice.
In addition, according to Uesugikata's record ("Procedure of the Gokado Battle of Kawanakajima"), on the occasion of the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima, with Kenshin's approval, the Uesugi Army's miscellaneous soldiers
A large-scale "random harvesting" operation (grabbing crops) was launched around the Takeda side's stronghold Kaizu Castle and the area around Takeda Territory's Tsumeyama. As a military memento, its main purpose was to promote the daimyo's own martial arts and great achievements. From then on, this example
Come
See, describing indiscriminate taking as one of the martial arts shows that the institutionalized "indiscriminate taking" behavior that was common among the Daimyo armies of the Warring States period also occurred in the Uesugi army. It can be seen that the battle of Kawanakajima was not only important to Uesugi Kenshin.
only right
The war against Takeda Shingen's territorial expansion also included the special mission of snatching food and solving domestic hunger and poverty.
Correspondingly, what is the situation of the Takeda family? You can see the pattern from the following list of famines, disasters and epidemics in the Takeda clan's territory. This list mainly spans the history of Takeda Nobutora
The period from the fourth year of Eisho (1507) when he succeeded the family governor to the sixth year of Eiroku (1563), the year before Takeda Shingen's fifth battle of Kawanakajima. Here, a part is excerpted for explanation. (See the following "Takeda Territory"
fierce
"Record Table of Works, Disasters, and Diseases" (part), the first sentence is the year, the second sentence is the famine, disaster, epidemic and crop situation, the third sentence is the major events of the year. Mainly based on "Miaofa Temple Records" and "Shengshan Records"
Wait for the record.)
"Record List of Crimes, Disasters, and Diseases in the Takeda Territory" (Part)
In the ninth year of Astronomy, there were heavy rains from May to June, and strong winds broke out on August 11 (Typhoon in the ninth year of Astronomy), a major disaster, and there was no snow that year; there was a bumper barley harvest. Takeda Nobutora sent troops to Shinano, and wars continued frequently, and all the people were exhausted.
In the ten years of the Astronomical Period, he died of starvation in the spring (the great famine in the Ten Astronomical Years), strong winds blew from August to September, and the world was unlucky. Takeda Nobutora was chased and released by his legitimate son, Harunobu.
In the autumn of the eleventh year of Astronomy, strong winds struck three times, leading to famine (three consecutive years of famine). Takeda Harunobu attacked Suwa.
In the 12th year of Astronomy, it is unknown. He surrendered to Oi Sadataka.
In the thirteenth year of Tianwen, there was a severe barley crop and famine, which intensified in autumn. At that time, people ate dry leaves to satisfy their hunger. The barley harvest was seriously poor. The Takeda clan began to negotiate with the Hojo clan.
Astronomical Year 14. Strong winds in January, famine in spring, heavy snow in February (but good for crops), drought from May to July; winter wheat destroyed, large and small crops unlucky. Takeda Harunobu sent troops to Ina, Kadong Rebellion, and then Takeda
, Hojo, and Imagawa began to be at peace.
Astronomical Year 15. Heavy rain, floods and landslides on July 5th, typhoon on the 15th, crop destruction, famine. Takeda Harunobu's strategy for the mountain castle in Saku County.
It is the sixteenth year of Astronomy. Unknown. It appears twice a year.
Astronomical Year 17. Great harvest. Battle of Uedahara and Shiojiri Pass.
The Great Earthquake in April of the 18th Year of Astronomy (the Great Earthquake of the 18th Year of Astronomy). After an agreement between Takeda and the Oyamada clan, "excess money" was levied in the county.
In the spring of the 19th year of Astronomy, herpes was prevalent among children. In June, there were heavy rains and floods. In July and August, there were strong winds and famines. Due to the strong winds, ferocity occurred. Takeda was defeated in the battle to attack and defend Toishi Castle.
Astronomical Years 20. Last year, the famine lasted until the spring. From February to May, people dug ferns for food. There was a bumper barley harvest. The Takeda Army captured Hirase Castle and so on. The farmers fled due to the collection of material money.
The twenty-first year of Astronomy. January was a warm winter with no wind; the harvest was good and the late rice harvest was bumper. The Takeda army captured Koiwatake Castle and Yoshinobu married Imagawa Yoshimoto.
In the 22nd year of Astronomy, there was a severe drought from May to September; there was a bad harvest of barley. Takeda Harunobu expelled Murakami Yoshikiyo, and the first battle of Kawanakajima took place.
Astronomy twenty-three years. Heavy snowfall from January to March, followed by drought, dry up of river mouths and lakes (three consecutive years of drought), strong winds on August 13th, houses collapsed, crops lodging, no snow in winter; crops grow for thirty years
It was not as good as it has been since then, but a strong wind in August caused serious damage. The Takeda army completely occupied Xiaoxian County and surrendered to the Chihisa clan of Ina County. Takeda Harunobu's daughter married the Hojo clan's Yasuko Umasa.
In the 24th year of Tianwen (the first year of Hongzhi), January and February were warm winter. The second battle of Kawanaka Island.
The second year of Hongzhi. Unknown.
In the third year of Hongzhi, there was a drought in December, a mild winter, and famine; there was a severe drought, and the taro was spoiled. In the third year, there was a battle on Kawanaka Island.
In the first year of Yonglu, there was a strong wind on August 5th; nearly half of the harvest of millet, taro, and barley was harvested, and the harvest of rice and soybeans was bumper. The Yonglu Great Famine began.
In the second year of Yonglu, there was heavy snow in January, which caused great damage. On April 15, there was heavy hail, which damaged the crops. It rained heavily in December, and the epidemic began to spread. In April, there was hail, which damaged eggplants, hemp, etc., and nearly half of the barley harvest was harvested.
Okatora went to Luo for the second time.
In the third year of Yonglu's reign, there was heavy snowfall on February 20th and continuous rainfall from June to October. The epidemic from last year continued and many people died. Long rains from June to October destroyed crops and villages. Nagao Kagetora sent troops to Kanto.
In the fourth year of Eiroku, it snowed heavily from January to February, and the epidemic since the second year of Eiroku continued (three consecutive years of epidemics); in autumn, the harvest was nearly half. Nagao Kagetora surrounded Odawara Castle, and then inherited the Uesugi family, and the fourth battle of Kawanakajima
.
In the fifth year of Yonglu, there was a drought from October to December, and all the rice was lost.
It can be seen from this table that starting from the great disaster and famine in the ninth year of Tianwen (1540), the following year, the tenth year of Tianwen (1541), we encountered unprecedented disasters.
The extremely severe famine lasted until the following year, and the rare famine for three consecutive years pushed the disaster to its peak. From then on, except for the 17th and 18th years of Tianwen (1548~1549), and the 23rd year of Tianwen (1554), the corresponding three years
ease
In addition, there were still successive years of famines and natural disasters. There was a break from the end of Tianwen to the beginning of Eiroku, and then the sudden "Eiroku Great Famine" came. Correspondingly, the Takeda clan's external expansion was relatively concentrated during this period.
According to the farming cycle at that time, autumn from August to October was the time for rice to mature and harvest; in spring and February of the next year, wheat planting began, and from April to June we ushered in the harvest.
ripe, harvest period. As mentioned earlier, the timing of Uesugi Kenshin's dispatch of troops to Kanto coincided with the gap between the two main agricultural periods of the enemy - the transition period. For Uesugi, the goal of sending troops in autumn and winter was, on the one hand, to launch plundering of the enemy
On the other hand, by mobilizing domestic soldiers to fight, reducing the country's population ("population reduction"), and reducing possible famine during the transition period. Of course, other considerations are also
Arrive at war
The impact of fighting on reducing the opponent's combat effectiveness, farmers and crops. On the Takeda side, Shingen's dispatch of troops to Shinano did not show the pattern of adapting to this transition period, but showed: 1) During the wheat maturity season from late spring to summer
Send troops in 2) The rules of sending troops during the rice maturity and harvest period from July to November. (See the following "List of Takeda Shingen's Main Foreign Military Periods", from the 10th year of Astronomy to the first half of the 12th year of Eiroku. The first column is combined
day of war
In this period, the second column is the location of the battle, and the third column is the date of departure and return to Kofu. It is mainly found in "Gaobaizhai Ji", "Miaohoji Ji", "Shouya Documents", "Jiayang Military Mirror", "Zhuzhou"
"Book", "Chijian Documents", "Chronicles since Xianglu", "Jia Zhong's Diary Supplement" and other historical materials.)
"List of Takeda Shingen's Major Foreign Military Periods"
May 25th of the tenth year of Astronomy, Uminohira, Xiaoxian County, early May to late June
Astronomical Year 11, July 4th, Suwa Kuwahara Battle, April 15th to July 9th
September 25th, the 11th year of Astronomy, Anguo Temple battle, September 19th ~
September 28, the 11th year of Astronomy, Fukuyojo, Ina County ~ late October
September 17, the twelfth year of Tianwen, Xiaoxian County Changwa City, September 9th to October 1st
October 29, the Thirteenth Year of Astronomy, Xiaoxian County Fuyucheng, October 16th to November 9th
April 17, the 14th year of Tianwen, Gaoyuan City, Ina County, April 11~
June 10, the 14th year of Astronomy, Fukuyojo, Ina County ~ June 17
May 20th, Astronomical Year 15, Saku-gun Uchiyama Castle, May 3rd to mid-June
Astronomical Year 16, August 6, Odaihara Battle, July 13~
August 11, 16th year of Astronomy, Shiga Castle, Saku-gun ~ August 22
February 14, the 17th year of Astronomy, Uedahara Battle, February 1st to March 26th
The Battle of Shiojiri Pass on July 19th, the 17th year of Astronomy, July 17th ~
The invasion of Saku County on a day in July and September of the 17th year of Astronomy ~ late October
Astronomical Year 18, September 4th, Pingyuan City, Saku County, July 1st to September 21st
July 15th of the 19th year of Astronomy, Chikuma County Forest City, etc. July 3rd~
October 1, the 19th year of Astronomy
Astronomical Year 20, July 20th, Iwao Castle, Saku-gun, July 2nd to July 25th
October 24, the 20th year of Astronomy, Hirase Castle, Azum County, October 15th to November 21st
August 12, the 21st year of Astronomy, Koiwatake Castle, Azumi County, August 1st to August 25th
April 9, the 22nd year of Astronomy, Kuzuo Castle in Nanko County, March 23rd to May 11th
August 5, Xiaoxian County, Yantian City, July 25, the 22nd year of Tianwen~
The first battle of Kawanakajima from September to October of the 22nd year of Astronomy ~ October 17
August 6, the 23rd year of Astronomy, nine castles in Saku County, July 24, unknown
August 16, the 23rd year of Astronomy, Kaminomine Castle, Ina County, July 24 - Unknown
From April to Leap October in the 24th year of Tianwen, the second battle of Kawanakajima was held on March 7th ~ Unknown
Leap October to November of the 24th year of Astronomy. The invasion of Kiso Valley took place on March 7th ~ Unknown
February 15th of the third year of Hongzhi, Geshan Castle in Shuinei County is unknown ~ October 16th
July 5, the third year of Hongzhi, Xiaogucheng, Anzhen County, March 25 to October 16
The third battle of Kawanakajima on August 29, the third year of Hongzhi, March 25-October 16
The Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima on September 10, the fourth year of Eilu, from August 18 to late September
In November of the fourth year of Yonglu, we sent troops to pass the East and West Ueno. In late November, it is unknown.
In September of the fifth year of Yonglu, we sent troops to close the East and West Ueno. In September, it is unknown.
February 4, Eiroku 6th year, Musashi Matsuyama Castle, November to February
On March 18th, the seventh year of Eiroku, troops were sent to Nojiri Castle in Mininai County. March ~ Unknown
May of the seventh year of Eiroku, Kanto (Nishi Ueno), May ~ unknown
July of the seventh year of Eiroku, Hida's invasion, July to late July
The Fifth Battle of Kawanakajima in August of the Seventh Year of Eiroku, early August to early October
June of the eighth year of Eiroku, Kuragano Castle, etc. Early May ~ Unknown
September 29, Yonglu 9th year, Jilun City, Leap August ~ Unknown
April of the 10th year of Yonglu, wild fruits in the mountains, Shirai Castle, etc., May ~ unknown
July 10, the 11th year of Eiroku, Iiyama Castle in Mininai County, Echigo Kunoseki Mountain Castle, June 3rd to October
December 11th year of Eiroku to April 12th year of Eiroku The First Suruga Invasion Operation December 6th ~ April 24th
Among the above examples, there is only one time when Takeda’s troop dispatch period is in line with the transitional period, and that is the Kanto troop dispatch in the sixth year of Eiroku (1563) (to conquer Musashi Matsuyama
Castle). In addition, the only troop dispatches in February and March were the Uedahara battle in the 17th year of Tenmon (1548) in which the attempt to eliminate Murakami Yoshikioshi failed, and the Nojiri Castle capture battle in the Shinetsu Kingdom (1564) in the 7th year of Eiroku.
or
The former was due to Shingen's eagerness to defeat the Murakami clan's rash advance, while the latter was based on the special situation of heavy snowfall on the Shinetsu border and military judgment that Uesugi Kenshin would find it difficult to march, so he took the opportunity to attack his military key points.
Takeda Shingen's war against the neighboring countries of Shinano was directly related to the maturity and harvest period of local crops. The main factor taken into consideration when sending troops was Soda. According to the analysis of Takeda Shingen's military deployment period in his life,
Whenever the turn of spring and summer or the turn of autumn and winter comes, the peak of troop dispatches is ushered in. (See the following "Xinxuan Yue Farewell Troop Dispatch Table")
"Shigenzuki's Special Dispatch Table" (Astronomical Tenth Year to Gengui Third Year, refer to "The Battle of Mikagahara" written by Tetsuo Owada)
January: 3 times
February: 6 times
March: 10 times
April: 7 times
May: 8 times
June: 10 times
July: 11 times
August: 16 times
September: 11 times
October: 6 times
November: 6 times
December: 6 times
Through the above analysis, it can be seen that although Uesugi and Takeda had different patterns in the timing of sending troops, their underlying motivations also revealed the famine, disaster, and epidemic during the Warring States Period.
It has a huge impact on the launch of war, and a very important aspect that distinguishes war from battle is that its motivation may include more and more complex factors. I hope that the discussion in this article can provide some useful ideas for analyzing other joint wars.
