A short picture diary of Yamaguchi Prefecture

[Hazbones]

Lord Ouichi


A short picture diary of Yamaguchi Prefecture
by Hazbones

I started a trip through Yamaguchi Prefecture in southern Honshu this week and I thought I would share some of the pics of the places I visited.

Day 1: Yamaguchi City May 16, 2014

Yamaguchi Prefecture (aka Suo and Nagato Provinces in Shogun 2) was the power base of the Ouichi Clan from the Genpei War and up through the start of the Sengoku Period. The first Lord Ouichi built Yamaguchi City in central Suo Province to look like Kyoto. Lord Ouichi even married a woman from Kyoto. The city became known as the "Kyoto of the West" due to the luxury and outside influences.

Kozan Park, Yamaguchi City

Since this city was so influenced by the Ouichi (just about everywhere you looked had something left over from them) I was a bit surprised to find an unexpected family buried right here at the foot of the mountain which was the location of Lord Ouichi's own castle (now just stone foundation ruins). This was in the Kozan Cemetary right behind the Rurikoji Temple:

Mori family grave sites; Kozan Park

So that was pretty interesting to find not one or two but THREE Mori men buried here with their wives and relatives! The graves are marked "The 13th, 14th, and 15th Mori Lords". I took a couple pics of a couple favorites of mine:

Grave of Lord Mori Motoaki (one of six sons by Motonari)

And here was the man himself, the guy from a small fief in Aki Province that conquered not only the Ouichi lands but also 10 of the 11 provinces of southern Honshu! Lord Mori Motonari!

Grave of Lord Mori Motonari

You cannot read the stones very well anymore since they are pretty weathered but you can make out enough of the writing and using the sign posted at the entrance of the gravesite, you can locate each family member pretty easily.

Well, that is all for today's episode...
Stay tuned because I will be shining some light on why Lord Mori, who was a vassal of Lord Ouichi and in fact were good friends even at the start of the Sengoku Jidai decided to conquer Lord Ouichi's lands.

[Hazbones]

Day 2: Yamaguchi City (Suo Province) May 17, 2014

Ok, back to the story...
The Ouichi Clan was powerful and during the Onnin War helped to return the rightful Ashikaga Shogun to his position in Kyoto. At the highest point, the Ouichi lands extended across southern Honshu and into parts of Shikoku Island. When Lord Ouichi returned to Yamaguchi from his campaigns and duties in Kyoto, his lands had slowly declined. He immediately began to carry out his vision to copy Kyoto in Yamaguchi City to restore the prestige of his domain. Lord Ouichi Yoshioki remained on guard at home constantly having to repel the Amako Clan in Iwami who were intent on destroying the Ouichi vassal (Mori) in Aki Province.

30th Lord Ouichi Yoshioki

Everything Yoshioki did to improve Yamaguchi City he did not forget affairs of the military or State. He was very grateful to his samurai who helped to defend his lands and made this monument near his residence (Palace) to commemorate them.

Ouichi Samurai Monument- Ryufukuji Temple

At long last, Yoshioki died. His heir, Ouichi Yoshitaka took over the clan and he was very content with continuing his father's vision of building up Yamaguchi City and strengthening trade ties to China and Korea. This infatuation with the arts, crafts, trade, and extravagance would lead to some serious problem later but, his loyal vassal Lord Mori Motonari of Aki Province soon appeared to declare his loyalty to the new Ouichi daimyo.

31st Lord Ouichi Yoshitaka


Lord Mori Motonari (red) & eldest son Mori Takamoto (blue)

Soon after Yoshitaka's father died, the Amako saw an opportunity to invade Mori's lands yet again. This time, the Amako were successful and defeated Mori. The Amako made Mori their vassal and immediately made Mori go on the offensive against the Ouichi in a two-pronged invasion. Motonari was successful in capturing his objective in the invasion but the Amako daimyo failed in his. The Amako retreated back to their homelands and over the next year, Motonari drifted back over to his former Lords, the Ouichi. The next year after the invasion, the Amako daimyo Tsunehisa died. Seeing an opportunity, the Ouichi and Mori invaded Izumo in 1542. By the time they reached Toda Castle (a year later), the army was exhausted and nearly out of supplies. The Amako took advantage and counter attacked throwing Ouichi and Mori all the way back to their home provinces. Mori returned to Aki and Yoshitaka to Nagato.

Over the next few years, Yoshitaka took a break from warring and turned his attention back to the luxuries of Yamaguichi. He brought in outsiders from China, Korea, and even the famous Christian missionary Francis Xavier who had been converting Japanese to Christianity in Kyushu.

St. Francis Xavier statue (in Hagoshima)

Yoshitaka's vision of Kyoto was like his father's and soon nobles from all over Japan came to Yamaguchi City to excape the war-torn Kyoto in the East. Yoshitaka brought in famous swordsmen, artists, craftsmen, etc. to work in the city. One such person was the famous painter Sesshu who created gardens and other works in the city. He was given a residence nearby the Ouichi Palace in which to live and use as a studio.

Sesshu- painter

Yamaguchi City had finally become the jewel of Ouichi's domain. Shrines, temples, Palace, etc. all rivaled anything one would have seen in Kyoto.

Gokoku Jinja Shrine

While Yoshitaka was busy in Yamaguchi City, Mori was in Aki consolodating his holdings and making new allies. Unfortunately for Yoshitaka who was contenting himself with court intrigue and China trade, turmoil had gripped his home province of Suo. Yoshitaka's main general and retainer Sue Takafusa repeatedly tried to warn his Lord not to neglect military affairs but after Yoshitaka's defeat against the Amako in 1543, the next seven years Yoshitaka left all military affairs to his senior retainers never once trying to instill any loyalty or bond between himself and his troops. Sue still pleaded going so far toward the end to insinuate that someone close to Ouchi would rebel. In 1550, that someone turned out to be Sue himself.

The stage was now set for the fall of the Ouichi in Yamaguchi... (to be continued).

[Fujiwara]

awesome pictures

did you integrated the Yoshitaka's letter to Moto in your mod as an event? (wondering, if never Yoshitaka is overthrown by that evil Sue, would be quite immersive to must accomplish Yoshitaka last will...)