Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen (武田 信玄 Takeda Shingen) (December 1, 1521 – May 13, 1573) of Shinano and Kai Provinces, was a preeminent daimyo who fought for control of Japan during that country's Sengoku or "warring states" period.

Story of Shingen and Itagaki

Shingen is a popular Sengoku Jidai warlord, of whom a lot of written stories are dedicated (either dramatized fiction or factual). Here is one example of Shingen in dramatization.

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After becoming Daimyo in Kai and successfully repelled the combined forces of Suwa and Ogasawari who tried to advantage of the young lord. Shingen who was still a teenager started to enjoy the fruit he fought so hard, the young Shingen started to forget his duty and thus became arrogant and lazy. He held grand parties to his generals and having Chinese poetry competition every night, Itagaki Nobukata one of Shingen loyal retainer was dismayed at his young lord hedonic livestyle. So Itagaki pretended to be sick for several month and took intensive lesson from a Buddhist monk who was an expert in writing Chinese poetry. When Shingen was having another poetry competition Itagaki offered to compose and recite some Chinese verses, when Shingen heard his old retainer offers, he couldnt believe it since he knew Itagaki had been an warrior who didnt had anytime for cultural activities.

Related Topics:
Chinese poetry - Itagaki Nobukata - Buddhist

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However Itagaki did an impressive Chinese verse that surprised everybody at the banquet including Shingen himself, so he asked Itagaki how he managed to do that. Itagaki told him about the intensive lesson he took from the monk while pretending to be sick, then went on to point out Shingen that he was acting like his father Nobutora and that if he didn't change then somebody will might try to take Shingen's title just as he took the title from his father. Shingen heard that and started to realise his fault, and from that day on he dedicated his life to take care of his domain and politics.

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