--- title: Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Unifier of Japan author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2025-11-18 --- # Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Unifier of Japan _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) was a Japanese military leader who, along with his predecessor [Oda Nobunaga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oda_Nobunaga/) (1534-1582) and his successor [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tokugawa_Ieyasu/) (1543-1616), is credited with unifying [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/) in the 16th century. Hideyoshi rose from a humble background to become the country's military supremo, and he then reorganised the class system, instigated tax reforms, built castles, restored temples, and launched two invasions of [Korea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Korea/). Hideyoshi's foreign ambitions may have met with disaster but his restructuring of the state would establish the social and political norms which endured in Japan until the 19th century. ### Nobunaga & Taking Power Hideyoshi, originally named Kinoshita Hiyoshimaru, was born into a peasant family in 1537. As a young man, he joined the army of the military leader/warlord Oda Nobunaga and rose through the ranks to eventually become a general and the most important military commander in Nobunaga's endeavour to [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) rival feudal lords and so unify Japan. Hideyoshi might have gained his overlord's respect as a commander but his small physique resulted in Nobunaga giving him the unflattering nickname of Saru or 'monkey.' In 1582 Nobunaga was betrayed by one of his vassals, Akechi Mitsuhide, and obliged to commit suicide to avoid being handed over to his rivals. Hideyoshi, first killing Mitsuhide, then manoeuvred to gain the support of Nobunaga's relations and other important *daimyo* or feudal lords. He was thus able to install himself as the new military supremo in Japan, as yet, still only half of which was unified. Hideyoshi, now commanding a force of some 200,000 men, successfully combined military campaigns with diplomacy amongst his rival *daimyo* to establish himself as the ruler of most of Japan in 1590. In a five-year period beginning in 1585, Hideyoshi had attacked western Japan, Kyushu and Shikoku. Success followed success, but there were some troublesome battles, notably the 100-day siege needed to take the castle of Odawara, the seat of the powerful Hojo family. The castle finally fell in 1590 and with it the last obstacle to Hideyoshi's rule. Other enemies had proved more amenable to negotiation and were offered to keep some of their lands. Notable amongst these were the Shimazu of Satsuma and the Mori of Choshu. [ ![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")As with other military leaders before and after, Hideyoshi might have dominated the field of [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) but he 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 [Heiankyo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Heiankyo/) (Kyoto). Hideyoshi added another, much more bizarre claim to his legitimacy to rule by stating his belief that he was descended from the [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) sun [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/). There were even performances of [Noh theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Noh_Theatre/) telling this story which Hideyoshi himself performed in. The cherry on the cake came when Hideyoshi adopted the prestigious family name of [Fujiwara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Fujiwara_Clan/), began to call himself Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and ultimately awarded himself the title of *Taiko* ('retired regent'), which was higher than that of the [shogun](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shogun/), the title his military predecessors had taken. ### Castles & Fortifications To secure his gains and maintain his grip on power, Hideyoshi built several important fortifications and ordered the destruction of any secondary castles that might be used by any rival. Hideyoshi built the first version of [Himeji Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/Himeji_Castle/) (Hyogo Prefecture) in 1581, which included a three-story keep. The famous castle as it is seen today belongs to the remodelling done by Ikeda Terumasa (1564-1613) in the first decade of the 17th century. A second famous castle that Hideyoshi had built was the picturesquely named Momoyama ('Peach Mountain') in Heiankyo which gave its name to the [Azuchi-Momoyama period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Azuchi-Momoyama_Period/) (1568/73-1600). The capital was also given a massive surrounding defensive [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/), the Odoi ('Great rampart'), in 1591. Reaching a total length of some 22.5 km (14 miles), certain stretches of the earth and bamboo wall were 6 metres (20 ft) high and 9 metres (30 ft) thick while the whole was protected by a moat. A third great castle credited to Hideyoshi's building mania is Osaka castle in 1586, which was built by the Kiso River estuary and given a seven-storey [castle keep](https://www.worldhistory.org/Castle_Keep/) and massive stone defensive walls. Finally, a fourth castle was built at Fushimi outside the capital in 1594 which was, alas, destroyed by an [earthquake](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/earthquake/) a mere two years later but then rebuilt. Fushimi was so lavishly decorated it became known as the 'golden palace.' The modern reconstructed version of this castle, built in 1964, today houses a museum dedicated entirely to Hideyoshi. [ ![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")### Government Policies 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 Osaka and Sakai. Regional feudal lords were expected to build their own fortifications and assemble their warriors for national service when required. As an added precaution against any rival warlord becoming too powerful, Hideyoshi relocated the estates of some to be more distant from the capital and imposed on them certain restrictions such as forbidding marriages of alliance and collecting hostages to be kept at Heiankyo. Between 1582 and 1598 Hideyoshi, continuing the policies of his predecessor, undertook an extensive land survey and compiled statistics of how much rice was produced and where in order to determine more accurately everybody's tax liabilities. He also supported greater use of transportation to boost the [economy](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/economy/). In 1591 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. The other side of the [coin](https://www.worldhistory.org/coinage/) was that samurai could not leave the profession either. Another consequence was that samurai could not be both warriors and part-time farmers as they had been in the past and so now 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 actual practice and certainly not rigidly imposed everywhere, would remain in place right through the [Edo period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edo_Period/) (1603-1868). In 1587 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](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) and Shinto believers and that Portuguese traders were selling Japanese as slaves, another edict was passed in 1597. 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](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/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.' Besides the traditional Japanese religious beliefs, Hideyoshi was also a promoter and great patron of the arts, albeit largely to furnish his own impressive collection of castles and palaces. The Taiko even found time and money to help out the odd religious site, notably adding the Senjokaku assembly hall, the largest building at the [Itsukushima shrine](https://www.worldhistory.org/Itsukushima_Shrine/) in Hiroshima Prefecture, and restoring the Buddhist [Daigoji](https://www.worldhistory.org/Daigoji/) [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) in Heiankyo. In 1588 Hideyoshi promoted a lasting peace by forbidding anyone but members of the warrior class from carrying weapons, a strategy used by his predecessors. 'Sword hunts' ensured that nobody outside his own army possessed swords, bows, spears, or muskets. The confiscated weapons were melted down and cast into a [giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/) [Buddha](https://www.worldhistory.org/Siddhartha_Gautama/) for Heiankyo and several bells to adorn temples. Despite these measures and because of the rigid class system of samurai and the general militarization of Japan, Hideyoshi could still call upon an impressively large army when required, and it was equipped with muskets and cannons. The question was, what to do with it? ### Korean Campaigns In 1592 and 1597 Hideyoshi twice attempted to conquer Korea (and so from there move into Chinese territory), neither of which resulted in success. Hideyoshi amassed a huge fighting force which consisted of 158,000 samurai and a navy with 9,200 mariners. In reserve, he had another 100,000 armed men. This army was sent to Korea, but Hideyoshi himself remained in Japan. Initially, things went well for the Japanese as they met a totally unprepared Korean army, and they captured [Pyongyang](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pyongyang/) and got to within 20 days of Seoul, but then logistics became decisive and supplies dwindled. Eventually, the defenders rallied as the Korean navy, thanks to their gifted admiral Yi Sun-sin, won several important engagements. The invaders were reduced to defending a line of coastal forts (*wajo*), but even these were ultimately abandoned following Hideyoshi's [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). The failures in Korea meant that mutually beneficial trade relations between the two countries became impossible. The [Ming Dynasty](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ming_Dynasty/) of [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/) (1368-1644) had, crucially for the invasion's outcome, sent military aid to the Koreans, no doubt seeing the longer-term threat to their own borders. Emperor Wanli (r. 1573-1620) had massively overspent on the campaign, though, and it would contribute to the fall of the Ming regime in the middle of the 17th century, first when a rebel army took over Beijing and then when the Manchus established the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The wars had not done Korean [agriculture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Agriculture/) any favours either; production levels would take two centuries to recover. There was one fortunate side effect of the whole debacle which resulted in Hideyoshi's forcible relocation of Korean potters to the Kyushu region of Japan. The Koreans were world-class experts in ceramics, and this transfer of knowledge helped kick off the Japanese porcelain industry from the 17th century. [ ![Golden Tea Room of Fushimi Castle](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/10868.jpg?v=1599162303) Golden Tea Room of Fushimi Castle Fg2 (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10868/golden-tea-room-of-fushimi-castle/ "Golden Tea Room of Fushimi Castle")Besides helping the ceramics industry, Hideyoshi also helped develop the definitive form of the [Japanese Tea Ceremony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Japanese_Tea_Ceremony/). This was done through his appointment of Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) as official tea master, and he would establish the tone and setting for the ceremony which was followed thereafter. Unfortunately for Rikyu, he fell out of favour with Hideyoshi for unknown reasons and was obliged to commit suicide. Hideyoshi himself had two teahouses for the ceremony which perhaps illustrate the complexity of the man - one was a traditional rustic house of plain materials and the other a gilded monument to bling and bad taste within Fushimi castle. ### Death Hideyoshi died of natural causes on 18 September 1598 but with no viable heir to his position as his son was but 5 years old at the time. Before his son had been born, Hideyoshi had selected his nephew, Hidetsugu, as his official heir, but on the news of his son's birth, the nephew was cast aside. As a symptom perhaps of the aged leader's growing paranoia that rivals were conspiring against him, Hidetsugu was compelled to commit ritual suicide and his wife, three young children, and his retainers were all executed. Hideyoshi arranged for five senior ministers (*tairo*) to share the role of regent for his young son, but in the end, these men only fought amongst themselves for supremacy. Instead, the new supremo of Japan would be Tokugawa Ieyasu (r. 1603-1605) who won the Battle of Skeigahara against those generals who supported Hideyoshi's son. Ieyasu 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 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, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0520220501/) - [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, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0547005393/) - [Henshall, K. *Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945.* Scarecrow Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0810878712/) - [Huffman, J.L. *Japan in World History.* Oxford University Press, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195368088/) - [Mason, R.H.P. *A History of Japan.* Tuttle Publishing, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/080482097X/) - [Turnbull, S. *Japanese Castles 1540–1640.* Osprey Publishing, 2003.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1841764299/) - [Turnbull, S. *Japanese Castles AD 250-1540.* Osprey Publishing, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1846032539/) - [Yamamura, K. (ed). *The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 3.* Cambridge University Press, 2001.](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 - **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/). - **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. - **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/). - **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/). ## External Links - [The Three Unifiers, Heroes of Nagoya Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu | Feature | Visit Nagoya-Nagoya City Guide](https://www.nagoya-info.jp/en/feature/detail/62/) - [Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum](https://saga-museum.jp/nagoya/language/english/) - [Osaka Castle Toyotomi Ishigakikan | Experiences, Events ...](https://en.osaka-info.jp/special/dc/event/detail384/) - [OSAKA CASTLE MUSEUM](https://www.osakacastle.net/pdf/leaflet/english_202510.pdf) ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2019, June 05). Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Unifier of Japan. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi\_Hideyoshi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Unifier of Japan." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 05, 2019. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi\_Hideyoshi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Unifier of Japan." *World History Encyclopedia*, 05 Jun 2019, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi\_Hideyoshi/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 05 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. 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