---
title: Azuchi-Momoyama Period
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Azuchi-Momoyama Period

_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_

The Azuchi-Momoyama Period (*Azuchi-Momoyama Jidai*, aka Shokuho Period, 1568/73 - 1600 CE) was a brief but significant period of [medieval Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medieval_Japan/)'s history which saw the country unified after centuries of a weak central government and petty conflicts between hundreds of rival warlords. [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) (r. 1568-1582 CE) would establish himself as the military ruler of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/), and his castle at Azuchi, east of Kyoto, gives the period the first half of its name. Nobunaga's successor [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) (r. 1582-1598 CE) would continue his work to unify all of Japan, and his base of Momoyama, south of Kyoto, provides the second half of the period's name. Hideyoshi came unstuck with his two failed invasions of [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/), and the period ended with the succession conflict that would see [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tokugawa_Ieyasu/) establish the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868 CE).

### The [Muromachi Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Muromachi_Period/)

The Muromachi Period (1333-1573 CE) had been one of turmoil for Japan with the Ashikaga shoguns never quite in control of all their provinces. The biggest crisis came with the Onin [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) (1467-1477 CE), a civil war which destroyed [Heiankyo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Heiankyo/) and created a century-long aftermath of bitter infighting between rival warlords. It would require one warlord to gain total supremacy for Japan to enjoy peace and a stable government again. Oda Nobunaga would turn out to be that man. Nobunaga had expanded his territory gradually throughout the 1550/60s CE from his base at Nagoya Castle in Owari Province, central Japan, as he defeated all comers through a mix of sieges, battles, and diplomacy. He finally seized the capital Heiankyo in 1568 CE and then exiled the last Ashikaga [shogun](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shogun/), Ashikaga Yoshiaki, in 1573 CE. With these two actions, the Azuchi-Momoyama Period begins (hence some scholars choose 1568 CE as the start date while others plum for 1573 CE).

### Oda Nobunaga

In 1579 CE and now in control of all central Japan, Oda Nobunaga established a new headquarters at the magnificent Azuchi castle outside the capital on the edge of Lake Biwa, hence this period of history's first name. Nothing remains today of the castle except its stone base, but it was the first to combine a plush residency with defensive features and have the huge multi-storey [castle keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) that became the norm in Japanese medieval castles. Unfortunately, Azuchi castle was burnt down in 1582 CE but was later rebuilt.

Nobunaga was able to defeat and maintain his position above rival warlords and to continue to expand his territorial control thanks to his large army which was well-equipped and which included the gifted general Toyotomi Hideyoshi (who would become Nobunaga's successor). Nobunaga was an innovator as he was one of the first Japanese leaders to adopt firearms, his armies having a corps of 3,000 musketeers who, in [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/), fired in rotating ranks to create a continuous and devastating volley of fire. Nobunaga's army was also the first to have each man, including the infantry, issued with a full suit of armour. The territories Nobunaga gained were given to his loyal commanders to govern, and the lands of captured warlords were frequently redistributed and relocated to break old ties of loyalty.

[ ![Oda Nobunaga Portrait](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/10886.jpg?v=1701494886) Oda Nobunaga Portrait Kano Soshu (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10886/oda-nobunaga-portrait/ "Oda Nobunaga Portrait")In order to secure his grip on power, Nobunaga attempted to reduce the income of his rival *daimyo* (feudal lords) by abolishing the tolls on all roads. He boosted his own coffers by minting the first Japanese currency since 958 CE and standardising the exchange rates between all the different coins then in use. Another lucrative source of cash was to release merchants from their guilds and have them pay the state a fee instead. From 1571 CE an extensive land survey was begun to make the tax system more efficient. Another policy was to confiscate all weapons held by the peasantry from 1576 CE onwards, the so-called 'sword hunts', something his successors would also do. Meanwhile, Nobunaga continued to expand his territory, his goal was nothing less than a unified Japan. Not for nothing did the warlord emblazon on his personal seal 'Tenka Fubu' or 'a Unified Realm under Military Rule.'

It was not just rival lords who suffered under Nobunaga's ambition, many [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) temples - rich and powerful institutions at the time, several of which could field small armies - were attacked, too. The most infamous example of this policy was his destruction of the [Enryakuji](https://www.worldhistory.org/Enryakuji/) monastic complex on the sacred Mt. Hiei near Kyoto in 1571 CE. 25,000 men, [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/), and children were butchered in the attack. In contrast, Nobunaga encouraged the work of Christian missionaries in Japan as he saw the benefit of European contacts which brought [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) and technology such as the firearms he put to such devastating use. The decline of the Buddhist temples also had repercussions in Japanese art with paintings, screens, sculptures and architectural decorations like door panels now becoming more secular in their subject matter - birds, flowers, and people doing everyday tasks were especially popular - and a great deal more flashy with bold colours and gilding aplenty.

[ ![Map of Japan in the 16th Century CE](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/10865.png?v=1772047929) Map of Japan in the 16th Century CE Zakuragi (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10865/map-of-japan-in-the-16th-century-ce/ "Map of Japan in the 16th Century CE")On 21 June 1582 CE Nobunaga, a man with innumerable enemies, was betrayed by one of his vassal allies, Akechi Mitsuhide. In an episode known as the Honnoji Incident, Mitsuhide, for reasons unknown, successfully attacked Nobunaga's position and, according to one version of the story, when it became clear that his capture was imminent, the man who then controlled half of Japan committed suicide. In a different version, the warlord died in flames as the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) burnt down. Nobunaga's son and chosen heir, Nobutada, died in the same disaster.

### Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Nobunaga's [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) would be avenged swiftly when his foremost general Totoyomi Hideyoshi defeated Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki and declared himself Nobunaga's successor. Hideyoshi would rule Japan from 1582 to 1598 CE. Hideyoshi's choice of base at his Momoyama castle ('Peach Mountain') in Fushimi, south of Heiankyo, would give the period the second half of its name. Castles, which had sprung up everywhere in the troubled times of the preceding Muromachi Period, were now clearly more for show than defence, although many had impressive wide moats and the introduction of firearms to Japan did necessitate a greater use of stone, thicker walls and windows for musketeers (often triangular) just in case a castle were ever attacked. However, as with the famous [Himeji Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Himeji_Castle/) (1581-1609 CE), most castles were never actually attacked. Many castles, too, continued to create ever-widening settlements around them and some of these castle towns would eventually become major cities like Edo (Tokyo) and Osaka.

Hideyoshi commanded a force of some 200,000 men and, like his predecessor, he successfully combined military campaigns with diplomacy amongst his rival *daimyo* to establish himself as the ruler of most of Japan in 1590 CE. In a five-year period beginning in 1585 CE, Hideyoshi had attacked western Japan, Kyushu, and Shikoku. As with other military leaders, Hideyoshi still sought legitimacy from the monarchy. To gain royal favour from the emperor (who had no real power of his own), he gave money for court ceremonies and rebuilt the [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) at the capital. Hideyoshi ultimately awarded himself the title of Taiko ('retired regent').

[ ![Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Horseback](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/10867.jpg?v=1701494889) Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Horseback Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10867/toyotomi-hideyoshi-on-horseback/ "Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Horseback")Hideyoshi is noted for his policies and reforms when he governed Japan. To fund the state he extracted taxes from the peasantry and the commercial activities in larger cities. In 1591 CE Hideyoshi developed a rigid class system with different levels for a warrior (*shi*), farmer (*no*), artisan (*ko*), and merchant (*sho*), the often-called *shi-no-ko-sho* system. Each class was given an importance based on its production value, and no movement between the levels was permitted, meaning that, for example, only a young man born into a [samurai](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samurai/) family could become a samurai. Another consequence was that samurai could not be both warriors and part-time farmers as they had been in the past and so now they had to choose one way of life over the other, making them wholly dependent for their pay on their lord if they did choose to serve as samurai. The system, although a little confused in practice and certainly not rigidly imposed everywhere, would remain in place right through the [Edo Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edo_Period/) (1603-1868 CE).

In 1587 CE Hideyoshi passed an edict to expel all Christian missionaries from Japan but it was only half-heartedly enforced. Concerned that the Jesuits were encouraging the persecution of Buddhist and [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) believers and that Portuguese traders were selling Japanese as slaves, another edict was passed in 1597 CE. This time a more serious intent was established with the mutilation and execution by [crucifixion](https://www.worldhistory.org/crucifixion/) of 26 Christians in Nagasaki which included priests who had defied the first edict. Still, after this brutal beginning, the campaign to rid Japan of this foreign [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/) was largely abandoned as impractical and, in any case, Hideyoshi did not want to jeopardise the lucrative [silk](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silk/)-for-[silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) trade with Portuguese-controlled Macao. The Japanese leader's preoccupation with trade is evidenced in his determined campaign to wipe out the *[wako](https://www.worldhistory.org/Wako/)* pirates that plagued East Asian seas. Putting them to his own use, Hideyoshi permitted pirate ships to legitimately trade, provided they carried his own personal red seal, hence their common name of *shuin-sen* or 'red seal ships.'

### The Japanese Invasion of Korea

Such was his total grip on Japan, Hideyoshi began to look elsewhere for military action. Between 1592 and 1598 CE Hideyoshi would twice invade Korea in a conflict known as the Imjin Wars. The attack was meant to pave the way for an invasion of [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/), then ruled by the [Ming Dynasty](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ming_Dynasty/) (1368-1644 CE), and this hugely ambitious plan has led some to consider Hideyoshi deranged.

[ ![Map of Japanese Invasions of Korea, 1592-98 CE](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/10904.png?v=1696524186) Map of Japanese Invasions of Korea, 1592-98 CE Yug (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10904/map-of-japanese-invasions-of-korea-1592-98-ce/ "Map of Japanese Invasions of Korea, 1592-98 CE")Whatever his motives and mental state, Hideyoshi certainly displayed his renowned planning and logistics skills as a fleet carrying 158,000 men landed in Korea at Busan (Pusan) and got off to a flying start. Cities like [Pyongyang](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pyongyang/) and Seoul were captured as the Koreans were caught entirely by surprise and King Seonjo (r. 1567-1608 CE) fled to the north of his country. The Japanese advantage in possessing firearms was another telling factor in the success.

Eventually, though, the combined operations of the Korean navy led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin (l. 1545-1598 CE) which had covered-deck 'turtle-ships' (*kobukson*) armed with cannons, a large land army from Ming China, and well-organised local rebels resulted in the first invasion stalling in 1593 CE as the Japanese could not resupply their northern armies. The Japanese did remain in occupation of the south of the peninsula.

After protracted and unsuccessful peace talks, Hideyoshi launched a second, much less successful invasion in 1597 CE, and when the warlord died the next year, the Japanese forces withdrew from the peninsula. One of the largest military operations ever undertaken in East Asia prior to the 20th century CE, the conflict would not only have devastating consequences for all concerned in terms of loss of life and the depredation of [agriculture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Agriculture/) and culturally important properties but permanently sour relations between Japan and Korea. The war had also cost the Ming Dynasty a fortune and contributed to its ultimate decline.

### Tokugawa Ieyasu

Hideyoshi died of natural causes on 18 September 1598 CE, but he had already arranged for five senior ministers (*tairo*) to share the role of regent for his young son. These men, though, only fought amongst themselves for supremacy. One of these was Tokugawa Ieyasu (r. 1603-1605 CE) of the Matsudaira family, who had already unsuccessfully challenged Hideyoshi way back in 1584 CE. Ieyasu would eventually establish himself as military supremo after winning the 1600 CE Battle of Skeigahara against those generals who supported Hideyoshi's son. Ieyasu took the title of shogun in 1603 CE and thus established the Tokugawa Shogunate which finally saw the complete unification of Japan and which then enjoyed some 250 years of peace. As the old Japanese saying goes, "Nobunaga mixed the cake, Hideyoshi baked it, and Ieyasu ate it" (Beasley, 117). This next period of Japanese history would be known as the Edo Period after the capital was moved to that [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/), now known as Tokyo.

 This content was made possible with generous support from the [Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation](http://www.gbsf.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## Bibliography

- [Beasley, W.G. *The Japanese Experience.* University of California Press, 2000.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0520225600/)
- [Deal, W.E. *Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan.* Oxford University Press, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195331265/)
- [Ebrey, P.B. *Pre-Modern East Asia.* Cengage Learning, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1133606512/)
- [Henshall, K. *Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945.* Scarecrow Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0810878712/)
- [Mason, R.H.P. *A History of Japan.* Tuttle Publishing, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/080482097X/)
- [Tsuda, N. *A History of Japanese Art.* Tuttle Publishing, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/4805310316/)
- [Yamamura, K. (ed). *The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 3.* Cambridge University Press, 1990.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0521223547/)

## About the Author

Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.

## Timeline

- **1568 CE - 1582 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) seizes [Heiankyo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Heiankyo/) (Kyoto) and is the dominant military leader in central [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **1568 CE - 1600 CE**: The [Azuchi-Momoyama Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/) in [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **1571 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) attacks the [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) [Enryakuji](https://www.worldhistory.org/Enryakuji/) monastic complex near Kyoto.
- **1573 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) exiles the last Ashikaga [shogun](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shogun/), Yoshiaki.
- **1575 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) wins the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Nagashino.
- **1576 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) instigates a 'sword hunt' to confiscate all weapons from the Japanese peasantry.
- **1579 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) establishes a new headquarters at Azuchi castle.
- **1580 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) attacks the [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/)-fortress of Ishiyama Honganji in Osaka using ship-mounted cannons.
- **1581 CE**: The first version of [Himeji Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Himeji_Castle/) was built by [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/).
- **1582 CE - 1598 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) is the military leader of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **1582 CE - 1598 CE**: [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) and his successor [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) conduct an extensive land ownership survey across [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **21 Jun 1582 CE**: [Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) of [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/).
- **1586 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) builds the huge Osaka castle.
- **1587 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) passes his first edict to banish Christian missionaries from [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **1588 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) prohibits commoners from carrying weapons, including swords.
- **1588 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) rules that only full-rank [samurai](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samurai/) may carry two swords.
- **1591 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) builds the massive Odoi ("Great rampart") fortification [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/) around [Heiankyo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Heiankyo/) (Kyoto).
- **1591 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) redefines the class system of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **1591 CE**: [Samurai](https://www.worldhistory.org/Samurai/) are no longer permitted to farm their own land making them dependent on their lords for income.
- **1592 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) sends an army to invade [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/). It is not successful.
- **1594 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) builds the Fushimi Castle outside [Heiankyo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Heiankyo/) (Kyoto).
- **1597 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) passes his second edict to remove Christian missionaries from [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/) and executes 26 Christians in Nagasaki.
- **1597 CE**: [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) sends a second army to invade [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/). It is not successful.
- **18 Sep 1598 CE**: [Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) of [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/), the military leader of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).
- **1600 CE**: [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tokugawa_Ieyasu/) wins the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Sekigahara against those generals who supported [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/)'s son. End of the [Azuchi-Momoyama Period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/).
- **1603 CE - 1868 CE**: [Edo period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edo_Period/). The Tokugawa Shogunate rules [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/).

## Cite This Work

### APA
Cartwright, M. (2019, June 25). Azuchi-Momoyama Period. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama\_Period/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/)
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Azuchi-Momoyama Period." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 25, 2019. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama\_Period/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/).
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Azuchi-Momoyama Period." *World History Encyclopedia*, 25 Jun 2019, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama\_Period/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/).

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 25 June 2019. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.