Kawanakajima Battle Field in Nagano

Kawanakajima Battle Field, Nagano

The site of Kawanakajima Battle Field is located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, where approximately 3.5 kilometers north from the ruins of Matsushiro Castle. At Kawanakajima, TAKEDA Shingen(1521 - 1573) and UESUGI Kenshin(1530 - 1578) had battles at least five times between 1553 and 1564. TAKEDA Shingen and UESUGI Kenshin are very well-known and popular feudal lords in the late "Muromachi" Age (1336 - 1573).

Please refer the page of "Ruins of Matsushiro Castle" in Nagano
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chubu/MatsushiroCastle_E.html

In the middle Age, Japan was the age of civil war. Warlords tried to expand his own territory and made wars against their neighbors. TAKEDA Shingen had his original territory in Kai Province, present Yamanashi Prefecture, and conquered Middle and south of Shinano Province, present Nagano Prefecture. TAKEDA Shingen further expanded his territory to the northern part of Shinano Province. To the north of Kawanakajima, UESUGI Kenshin had his territory in Echigo Province, present Niigata Prefecture. He expanded his territory to the south, to the northern part of Shinano Province. As a result, they had battles at Kawanakajima.

The site of residence of TAKEDA Shingen is TAKEDA Shrine in Kofu City.
Please refer the page of "Takeda Shrine"
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chubu/TakedaShrine_E.html

Tenkyuji Temple

I rent a bicycle at Matsushiro Station and visited the site of Kawanakajima Battle Field. You will cross the Chikuma River.

After crossing the Chikuma River, you are in the Kawanakajima Area. You will find Tenkyuji Temple on your left. Tenkyuji Temple was built sixty years after the fouth-Kawanakajima-Battle between TAKEDA Shingena and UESUGI Kenshin in 1561. Among five battles between TAKEDA and UESUGI, the fourth battle in 1561 was the greatest battle.

At the forth battle, TAKEDA Nobushige(1525 - 1561), who was the younger brother of TAKEDA Shingen, died at the battle. Tenkyuji Temple was founded to mourn his soul.

"Emma-Do Hall, the temple hall dedicated to Yama and the Yama Statue is very impressive.

Emma-Do Hall was built in 1860, by SANADA Yukitsura(1791 - 1852), who was the eighth generation of feudal lord of Matsushiro Fuedal Domain. At the fourth battle at Kawanakajima, total six to seven thousand military commanders and soldiers were killed.
Yama Statue at Tenkyuji Temple is the largest Yama Statue in Japan.

In Tenkyuji Temple, the grave of TAKEDA Nobushige is located.

He died at thirty-seven years old. He had high popularity. Many people regretted his death. The below picture is the well, that his bloody cut-head was washed.

Kawanakajima Battle Field Memorial Park

If you go to the north from Tenkyuji Temple, Kawanakajima Battle Field Memorial Park is located. It is said that this place was the site of the camp of TAKEDA Shingen at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima Battles. At Kawanakajima Battle Field Memorial Park, Hachiman-Sha Shrine is located.

You will see small banks in the shrine. These banks were made to protect the camp of TAKEDA Shingen.

In the shrine, you will see statues of sitting "Samurai" and horse-riding "Samurai". The statue of sitting "Samurai" is TAKEDA Shingen. The horse-riding "Samurai" is UESUGI Kenshin.

According to an anecdote, UESUGI Kenshin rode alone into the TAKEDA Shingen's main position and attacked TAKEDA Shingen with his Japanese sword. Shingen had no time to prepare the attacks of Kenshin and protect by himself with his "Gunbai", a war-fan.

In the shrine area, the Burial Mound is located.

The Burial Mound was made by Kosaka Danjyo(1527 - 1578), who was the castle lords of Matsushiro Castle at the fourth Kawanakajima Battle and a retainer of TAKEDA Shingen. He buried six to seven thousands of bodies of military commanders and soldiers, killed by the battle.

Tomb of YAMAMOTO Kansuke

Approximately seven hundred meters south from Kawanakajima Battle Field Memorial Park, "Doaibashi" bridge is located. "Doaibashi" means bridge where a body and a head are connected.

"Doaibashi" bridge is a small bridge. An anecdote says the head and the body of YAMAMOTO Kansuke(1493 - 1561) were connected on "Doaibashi" bridge. YAMAMOTO Kansuke was the strategist for TAKEDA Shingen. TAKEDA Shingen lost many important military commanders at the fourth battle in Kawanakajima.

From "Doaibashi" bridge, I headed to the tomb of YAMAMOTO Kansuke along the bank of Chikuma River. His tomb is located on the other side of the Chikuma River. The view from the bank of Chikuma River is beautiful and spectacular.

The tomb of YAMAMOTO Kansuke is located on the opposite side of Chikuma River from Kawanakajima Battle Field Memorial Park. It is located on the riverside of Chikuma River.

YAMAMOTO Kansuke was born in 1493 (or 1500), in present Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture. He left his house where he was born, when he was twenty-six years old. In 1543, he served the TAKEDA Clan. Between 1520 and 1543, there was no record where he was and what he did.

The tomb of YAMAMOTO Kansuke is simple and kept very clean. An offering of flowers had been placed at the tomb of YAMAMOTO Kansuke.

There is a temple 200m south. The temple is Daihoji Temple. The mausoleum of SANADA Nobuyuki(1566 - 1658) is located in the temple.

Please refer the page of "Daihoji Temple in Matsushiro"
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chubu/Matsushiro_E.html#Daihoji

The battles in Kawanakajima are very well-known battles in Japan. TAKEDA Shingen and UESUGI Kenshin fought against each other in this area for twelve years. Thousands of soldiers died in these battles.
I am just wondering what they obtained after these battles with such sacrifices.