Uesugi Kenshin
The "Dragon of Echigo," a Warring States daimyo who claimed to be an incarnation of Bishamonten and placed great weight on righteousness.
Life
Dragon of Echigo
Uesugi Kenshin, originally named Nagao Kagetora, unified Echigo and then inherited the name of the Uesugi clan, holders of the office of Kanto Kanrei. A devout Buddhist, he claimed to be an incarnation of Bishamonten and used the character "Bi" on his war banner.
Kawanakajima
He repeatedly sent armies into the Kanto to fight the Hojo clan, and he also fought Takeda Shingen five times at Kawanakajima. He was renowned for his devotion to righteousness: according to legend, when the Takeda domain's salt supply was cut off, he still allowed Echigo merchants to carry salt to Kai, which is the origin of the expression "sending salt to one's enemy."
Righteousness
In 1577 he defeated the Oda army at the Tedori River, and he died of illness in 1578 as he was preparing to march on the capital.
Legacy
Uesugi Kenshin is beloved by the Japanese for his image of honor and good faith, and "sending salt to one's enemy" is still an idiom in Japanese.
Did you know? He never married, and some writers have even used this as the basis for novels in which "Kenshin was a woman."
Key dates
- 1548Became deputy governor of Echigo
- 1561Inherited the Uesugi name; Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima
- 1577Defeated the Oda army at the Battle of Tedorigawa
- 1578Died of illness