The Three Unifiers

 

"The unification by these three figures is a rice cake; Oda made it, Toyotomi shaped it, and only Tokugawa ate it."

       

Examples of student-generated questions can be found at the bottom of this page - CLICK HERE.

 

Watch the following video:

                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family crests        (kamon 家紋  かもん)

With so many samurai on the battlefield at once, it would be quite difficult to distinguish ally from foe, as seen in this model display inside Osaka Castle.

 

 

                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, the samurai would always distinguish themselves with either their own family crest or the crest of their daimyo.  This could be located on their armour (usually a higher ranked samurai) or on a banner attached to their backs. 

 

Here are the banners of the three unifiers:

Oda had two famous banners.  One was his family crest and the other (right) was a battle crest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                

 

 

 

Toyotomi developed his own banner.  As we now know, Toyotomi was not his birth name.  In fact, his birth name was Kinoshita, which he changed to Hashiba when he joined Oda's army.  After crowning himself ruler of Japan, he then changed his name to Toyotomi. The Toyotomi seal (crest) is still seen today as the official seal of the Japanese government. 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     　　  

Tokugawa was also not the birth name of Ieyasu, however he did not change his name due to family lineage issues like Toyotomi. Tokugawa's family crest represents the three houses of the Tokugawa family, located in three different areas in Japan.  In case needed, they could continue the Tokugawa line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zojo-ji is one the main temples attributed to the Tokugawa family, and hence became the burial site for many of the Tokugawa Shoguns.  It is located in the heart of Tokyo, close to the landmark Tokyo Tower.  However, this is not where Ieyasu Tokugawa is buried.  Watch the following video to learn a little more about this temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions from students

After a basic introduction to the topic of the Three Unifiers, here are some examples of questions that arose from 13 year old students (Year 8 in Australia).  They are excellent examples of where discussions could lead, or mini-research projects.

 

Why didn't Oda and Toyotomi become shogun?

 

Who is your favourite of the 3 unifiers?

 

How was Toyotomi Hideyoshi actually able to rise through the ranks?

 

Why is the shogun situated below the emperor, even though he has all the power?

 

Do people still worship / revere these men?

 

Did the three unifiers have mistresses as well as a wife?

 

Why didn't Oda's extended family just fight back to regain power?

 

During the Tokogawa period, what was THE significant event that cemented the unification of Japan?