Japan. Warring States. Azuchi-Momoyama 安土桃山 period (1568-1600) Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Eiraku Tsuho 永樂通寳。Silver. 1587. Osaka mint The Azuchi-Momoyama period is one of Japan's most prominent and significant period in history before the Meiji Restoration. This period marks the warring states period where various warlords or Daimyos battled for supremacy after the fall of the Ashikaga Shogunate leading to the eventual reunification under Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and cemented by Tokugawa Ieyasu after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Thus the famous Japanese saying "Nobunaga baked a cake, Hideyoshi completed it and Tokugawa ate it". The period is named after the castles of Oda Nobunaga (Azuchi) and Hideyoshi (Momoyama). Period of Disunity - Oda Nobunaga The period leading to the period was a time where various warlords or Daimyo were string enough on their own to threaten the authority of the Ashikaga Shogunate. When one actually did, Oda Nobunaga took the opportunity to support the last Ashikaga Shogun to defeat the threat. However, it was short-lived as Oda Nobunaga was driven by ambition instead of true loyalty. This led to increasing uprisings involving rival Daimyos as well as transingent monks rising against him including the incumbent Shogun whom he earlier supported. When Nobunaga finally deposed the last Ashikaga Shogun himself, various powerful clans rose against him. However, his strategic base in Kyoto, coupled with him embracing western technology such as the arquebust gave him the military advantage over his medieval rivals. He was close to achieving his political ambitions until ironically he was attacked by one of his own generals Akechi Mitsuhide in a secret coup during a rest at Honnoji Temple forcing him to commit sepukku. Completion of unification - Toyotomi Hideyoshi The vacuum left by his death was soon avenged by Nobunaga's successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi who defeated Mitsuhide and subsequently united the rest of the country under his rule. Having built Osaka castle as his new seat of government, he even had ambitions of conquering the Ming Dynasty in China starting with his expeditions against the Koreans but failed. Soon after his death, the powerful Tokugawa Ieyasu battled rose against the Toyotomi clan and defeated the loyalists in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate that lasted through the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. Significance of the Eiraku Tsuho For centuries after the last of the 12 antique coins, Japan reverted primarily to a hodgepodge of barter system and issuance of poorly minted imitations of their Chinese counterparts. On top of that, Chinese coins were imported and circulated for use in Japan due to their superior quality over the Japanese Bita-sen 惡錢 or "Crude cash". The Yong Le Tong Bao of the Ming Dynasty during the reign of the Yong Le Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was the favorite of Oda Nobunaga and featured prominently in his official banner as well as personal artefacts such as his personal sword guard featured below. The following was a story behind why (source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/markussesko.com/2013/05/30/the-invincibility-tsuba/amp/) In the fifth month of Eiroku three (永禄, 1560), Nobunaga was about meeting Imagawa Yoshimoto (今川義元, 1536-1560) and his huge army of about 40.000 men (the transmissions range between 25.000 and 45.000 men) at the upcoming Battle of Okehazama (桶狭間の戦い). He was only able to gather about 2.500 men and went thus to the close Atsuta-jingû (熱田神宮) to pray for victory. He asked the gods for giving him a sign if his prayer is answered, grasping a handfull of Eiraku-Tsûhô coins and tossing them into the air. When they came down, every single one was showing heads. Thus he told his men that their victory is assured and really, Nobunaga was able to win and become one of the most influental warlods of his time. Another reason was that the Chinese inscriptions "Yong Le" which was the Regnal title of Zhu Di, the 3rd Emperor of Ming, it coincidentally had an auspicious meaning of "Everlasting Joy" which Nobunaga favored. Minting of the Eiraku Tsuho. Perhaps for political expediency and legitimacy, following the death of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi started the localised minting of the Eiraku Tsuho imitating the Ming variant. Whilst AE variants are meant for general circulation, he also issued rare silver and gold variants exclusively as gifts or rewards for officers with merit. With the unification of Japan and the Tokugawa Bakufu, they ceased issue. Apart from the Eiraku Tsuho, the only other coin minted after centuries of disuse is the extremely rare Tensho Tsuho 天正通寳 also in 1587 by Hideyoshi. Unlike the Eiraku, they were exclusively in silver and as gift or rewards of merit as AE variants were not known to exist or failed to be introduced for circulation.
Thanks.. this is a most fascinating period.. it marked the first wave of modernization for Japan from the medieval age through western influences
I really enjoy your posts @Loong Siew ! Not only do I learn a lot, but you inspire me to expand my collecting areas! Fun!
My first introduction to this bit of history was through James Clavell's most famous novel. A fun book, and I understand the history in it is at least OK (though the names are changed). I'd like to get a related coin or two...
Thanks for the encouragement @Alegandron. I couldn't contribute much on the Greco-Roman side but I'm more than happy to share some Eastern cultures.. inspired in a large degree by @Ancientnoob also..
Ironically I got interested and learned a lot about these periods in Japanese history through video games and anime.. no joke.. a bit of a geek myself and it's all the rage here this part of the world..
Just one of several reasons why I bought a momoyama- early edo period kabuto. I also watched the mini-series as a teenager. My house has a pronounced Asian theme, as far as decor.
The kabuto look awesome. I don't have any kabuto but I kept samurai swords and coins in substitution.
No swords. But I am looking for coins now shaped liked tsuba... My kabuto reminded me of this one I saw in the Met when I was very young. http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/22158 There are so many wonderful styles. And lots of fakes.
These people will custom make you any type of Samurai suit of armour from any period, and will tailor it perfectly to your body size, height, etc. And they only use authentic materials, and have excellent craftsmanship skills, etc. Their suits have been tested and highly recommended by reenactors and experts in ancient armour. I don't think I would consider this as making fake armour, as they don't pretend these are antiques, but rather modern fully useable Samurai suits made to traditional standards, and they honor Japanese traditions and Japanese history. http://www.ironmountainarmory.com/
I'm trying to use the Tokugawa coinage in a story I'm writing. Can anyone give me an idea of their worth (in dollars and cents) around 1604? Coins in question: Oban, Koban, and the Katei, tensho, kobu, and eiroku tsuhou denominations? Also, did all aforementioned coins exist in 1604 and what would a ryo and bu loosely translate to in contemporary U.S.D. Thanks in advance and sorry for any errors made in ignorance. Oh, the story has a merchant; common and in demand trade items of this period would really help also. Thanks again -Coabien
