Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen (武田信玄) (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.

He fought a long series of famous battles with Uesugi Kenshin; particularly notable of these battles were those of Kawanakajima. Both military leaders were also of high religious rank.

Upon the death of Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin reportedly cried at the loss of one of his strongest and most deeply respected rivals.

At Mitaka, Takeda Shingen easily defeated the combined armies of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu; but he could not defeat old age. After Shingen died in 1573 (due to an illness that, according to one theory, resulted from a musket ball wound), Ieyasu seized the opportunity and defeated his son Takeda Katsuyori in Tenmokuzan. Katsuyori committed suicide after the battle, and the Takeda clan would never recover.

In addition to his battlefield prowess, Shingen was also a master of administration. He is credited with developing several improvements to agricultural practice and water control methods.

Takeda Shingen in fiction and drama

A dramatization of Shingen's life was made into a television series by NHK. Akira Kurosawa's 1980 movie Kagemusha was also inspired by his life.

Takeda Shingen is the player's persona in the NES game Shingen the Ruler.

Shingen's conquest is also portrayed in the PC game, "Takeda".

Takeda Shingen also appears in the new "Samurai Warriors" series of games for the Playstation 2. He appears with many famous warriors, including those mentioned in this article. If one wanted to learn about the history behind the "warring states" period, Samurai Warriors would be an excellent game to play.

[[ko:다케다 신겐]] ja:武田信玄 zh:武田信玄

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