So its leader Azai Nagamasa commit Seppuku and his line came to an end. It was during this siege that he led his forces to retreat. In fact, they effectively ruled as the shogun, reducing the shogun himself as the powerless figurehead who in turn did the same to the emperor. Some samurai banded together to form the Akuto, a group that did not belong to the present government. These fierce battles were fairly indecisive, but they cemented Takedas influence and he became one of the most powerful military leaders in the region. The Julio-Claudian dynasty refers to five of Rome's greatest emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero, all related by marriage and adoption, who ruled between 14 BC and 68 AD. Daimyo (, daimy, Japanese pronunciation: ()) were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. He came of age in a Japan wracked with civil war and bloody feuds between territorial lords. iamshiozaki.blogspot.jp When his father died, the family struggled to maintain control of the area until he secured it, gaining control of neighboring provinces in the process. Like Fujibayashi and Momchi, he commanded the Iga ninjas. Why? Disappointed with the rewards he received, Takauji schemed and then made war to take control from the emperor, installing himself as shogun. After acquiring a good deal of wealth, the Oda clan took the Azai and Asakura clans as their own vassals. Although he was not from Iga or Koga, he practiced many ninja-style tactics in his battles. Shopping, The Wonder 500 At four years old, Ieyasu was sent as a hostage to the Imagawa clan to secure an alliance. From there the Minamoto Clan slowly grew to political prominence, commanding both wealth and an array of highly qualified warriors. Other samurai traveled Japan seeking work independently. These clans spawned many famous warriors and officials who influenced Japan to the modern day. In folk tales, Ishikawa Goemon is a Japanese Robin Hood, but he likely was a real historical figure and a thief from a samurai family that served the Miyoshi clan of Iga and supposedly trained as a ninja under MomochiSandayu. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BA%90%E6%B0%8F. She served him in the Genpai Wars, commanding 300 samurai against 2,000 warriors of the Taira clan and winning. can be read as both Taira-uji or Hei-shi, while the clan is also referred to as , or Heike, literally meaning House Taira. Oda Nobunaga Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) Ruler of Owari, a coastal province in central Japan, Nobunaga was a ruthless warrior who skillfully adapted new methods to his battlefield tactics. He abolished road checkpoints to make transportation easier and conducted land surveys. Photos used with permission. 12 Taira no Kiyomori (1118 - 1181) via wikipedia.org Taira no Kiyomori was a military leader and warrior who established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan. Here are 12 of the most famous samurai in Japan! Which clan is most powerful in Japan? For the next twenty-five years, he grew in military renown following a series of successful campaigns. Then in 1560 a new head of the clan took over, rallying the samurai and fighting the rival clan for freedom. He was born in March 4, 1533 and died in March 5, 1611. 1. Beppu Japanese spelling: Meaning: Separate borough. The centuries following his death would see the clan grow stronger than ever before. At its peak, Chiyome's ninja band included between 200 and 300 women and gave the Takeda clan a decisive advantage in dealing with neighboring domains. The 7 Most Famous Ninjas of Feudal Japan. Leading armies of tens of thousands, three daimyo stood out as the most successful warriors of their time, becoming known as the three unifiers of Japan. The Azai long ruled as feudal lords from their castle in southern Japan. With the help of another uncle, the usurper was killed. When a retained defected to the rival Ashina clan, he hunted him down, casting aside alliances and conquering lands as he hunted down the man he viewed as a traitor. In Japan, the samurai class arose in the 12th century and lasted until the 1870s. Undiscovered Japan, Learning Japanese They were so powerful it took the emperor himself to rise up and retake power in order for them to lose control. By 1582, Oda Nobunaga became the de facto leader of Japan and the most powerful warlord among the clans but was betrayed by one of his own generals, Akechi Mitsuhide during a tea ceremony. He quickly ended the fight by striking Kojiro on the head with a wooden sword. Sasuke is currently the strongest, most powerful, and only surviving member of the Uchiha Clan. The Shimadzu family were one of Japan's most powerful clans and ruled over southern Kyushu for a period of over 700 years. Jakob Mekel was one of the senior German military advisers in Japan. There are other greatest Japanese samurais to learn about, such as Miyamoto Musashi, and Tomoe Gozen, a fearsome Japanese female samurai. The struggle is recounted in the epic poem The Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari), believed to have been compiled sometime before the year 1309. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E6%B0%8F. In fact, chief of the council to the shogun was an Abe leader at the time America forced Japan to open its borders. By beating the Ikko-Ikki, a religious warrior cult, he contained their expansion. Mekel himself was a writer, but most of his works are treatises on military tactics and war along the lines of Clauswitz. He is closely associated with ninjas due to his association with his native Iga Province, the center of ninjutsu. Szczepanski, Kallie. Their daughter would eventually marry Emperor Shomu and become Empress Komyo. Born in 1584, Myamoto Mushashi was a famous and accomplished soldier, swordsman, and artist. The old clans (Gzoku) mentioned in the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki lost their political power before the Heian Period, during which new aristocracies and families, Kuge, emerged in their place. You may have heard of the Three Views of Japan (Matsushima, Amanohashidate, and Itsukushima), the Three Great Gardens of Japan (Kenroku-en, Koraku-en, and Kairaku-en), or the Three Sacred Mountains of Japan (Mount Fuji, Mount Haku, and Mount Tate). B. a Roman Catholic missionary in China. E. mainly responsible . He achieved this by forging an alliance with the larger Asakura clan and a group of Japanese warrior monks. 5) Date Masamune - One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu. The samurai were a hereditary caste that held a great deal of political and military power, as well as a unique culture adhering to the martial code of bushido. It was thanks to his leadership skill that a fraction of the Tokugawa army was able to escape advancing Takeda troops before their decisive clash. Minamoto Yoshitsune, their greatest general, led them to victory against the Taira and is one of the most famous samurais in history. One of the oldest Japanese clans is known by this name. His most famous act was smuggling Tokugawa Ieyasu, the future founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, to safety after Oda Nobunaga's death in 1582. Many samurai moved into business or professional roles, while their cultural influence upon Japan is still very great. But in time they would emerge as greater lords themselves. The samurai were an elite class of warriors who enjoyed a good deal of power in Japan from the 12th to 19th centuries. Because the most powerful Japanese prime minister of modern times, Shinzo Abe, is a member of the clan. He held his own during the Winter Siege of Osaka Castle, causing his enemy to lose many men against his smaller force. In 1594, Goemon tried to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, allegedly to avenge his wife, and was executed by being boiled alive in a cauldron at the gate of the Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto. This is why it's a shame that he succumbed to the wounds that he suffered in his fight . Go on, take my head as your trophy.. The Ambani family is now twice as wealthy as the Kwoks of Hong Kong and has triple the fortune of South Korea's Lee dynasty. Minamoto and Taira, REMOVED 's biggest clans, are most well-known for their roles in THE TALE OF HEIKE, a work of historical fiction as popular in Japan as THE TALE OF GENJI. They are known to be magical, highly intelligent Japanese mythical creatures that possess many powerful magical and spiritual abilities . The conflict between them continued, as the Asakura made alliances with Nobunagas other enemies. One of the few female samurai know, Tomoe Gozen was regarded as a great beauty. The family of Fujiwara was one of the most powerful clans in the history of Japan. She was the daughter of Nakahara Kanet, a supporter of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, and she inherited his loyalty. AllAbout-Japan.com - All rights reserved. (Too bad they don't give acting awards in the Senate.) Other clans can keep their land however; they must abide by the emperor's set of rules. He has been represented in many media that chronicle both real and imagined versions of his life. During the 12th century, they and the Taira fought for control of Japan. The clan was founded because the imperial court grew to large and the emperor needed to exclude some family members in order to maintain power. In Ancient Rome, two powerful families merged into one even greater dynasty that would write the history of the Empire. Torajin is used to describe migrants in many contexts, from the original migration of a Yamato peoples to more recent migrants. Learn about how this influential warrior clan survived through the age of the samurai and played a key role in the modernisation of Japan in the late 19th century. Why? He launched a campaign to unify Kyushu, and tasted many victories. The 20 most representative gods of Japan 1- Izanagi Izanagi and Izanami Also known as 'the first man', along with his wife Izanami, was given the mission to create the first land. Kitsune - The Divine Mythical Creatures of Japanese Folklore. Through military might they came to rule over several provinces of eastern Japan. Still, he began to study ninjutsu at the age of six and learned not only combat and espionage techniques but also chemical and medical knowledge handed down from the Sengoku period. He was an incredible tactician. The Tokugawa clan was the last samurai clan in Japanese history. Even the Date Clan claims descent from the Fujiwara, including mighty samurai Date Masamune, who fought at Ieyasu's side. The surname Minamoto, using the kanji , or "origin," indicated their preferred status and proximity to the imperial line. During Japan's most violent period of political and social upheaval, one man rose from the ranks of footsoldier to become the leader of the nation's warring clans. Being the seventh born, he had no place in the line of succession to the Imperial throne. The Fujiwara clan is one of the oldest and most powerful families in all of Japanese history. Goemon likely fled Iga after Nobunaga's invasion, although a spicier version of the story states that he was having an affair with Momochi's mistress and had to flee from the master's wrath. Yukimura was born in 1567 and was known as A Hero who may appear once in a hundred years and Crimson Demon of War. The Tokugawas oversaw a period of unprecedented peace and unity. The last clan to hold out against the dominance of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, they clung to their independence even as they withdrew to their great fortress of Odawara. His family was eventually brought down by the same combination of machinations and warfare that had raised them up. The Tachibana Clan (Tachibana-shi) is the smallest of the four powerful clans of the Heian Period, though it's the second oldest after the Fujiwara. It gained dominance over provinces in eastern Japan after becoming wealthy. It fell after an extended siege at the start of the 1590s signaling the end of a period of independence by the warrior clans. Due to their dramatic downfall, legends of ghosts and seas of blood haunted the site of the battle for generations. Oda Nobunaga was born on June 23, 1534, somewhere in Owari Province, most likely the city of Nagoya. The Three Great Unifiers of Japan: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu were not the only well-known samurai warriors that you find in the history of Japan. Hanzos ferocity and skill in battle caused him to be known as Demon Hanzo. Ironically it was during the Ashikaga shogunate that the Minamoto clan died out. The most famous bearer of this surname is Shinz Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan. His humility and skill as a tactician make him beloved in Japan. Born on 5 th September 1567, Date Masamune was born in a powerful Daimyo family. After this campaign, he fought many battles with his neighbors. With each enemy defeated the Oda clan became ever more powerful, like a corporation merging with its competitors. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was responsible for solidifying the caste restrictions that marked Tokugawa Japan. 7 Japanese House Features That Every Home Should Have, The Road to Koyasan: A One-Day Pilgrimage with Kobo Daishi, Shop for the Best Japanese Denim on Kojima Jeans Street, My Bucket List of 5 Favorite Tokyo Restaurants, Kumamon Invites You to The Perfect Weekend in Kumamoto City, 5 Awesome Plant-Based, Vegan Restaurants in Tokyo, Our Otaku Journey: Part II, The Big Move to Japan, 6 of Japan's YouTubers that Will Have You Hooked, Pioneers of Sustainable Living in Japan: The Remarkable People of Kamikatsu, Discover Japanese Woodwork Traditions at Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum. After her husband's death, Chiyome stayed with his uncle, the Shinano daimyo Takeda Shingen. Hattori led Tokugawa across Iga and Koga, assisted by the survivors of the local ninja clans. The remaining families which serve as . Momochi Sandayu was the leader of the Iga ninjas in the second half of the 16th century, and most believe he died during Oda Nobunaga's invasion of Iga. Lately, Mexican federal law enforcement has declared the Jalisco New Generation cartel as the most powerful of the country's transnational crime syndicates (others include the Sinaloa, Los Zetas, Gulf, Juarez . This support for his opponents would later prompt Nobunaga to invade Iga and Koga and try to stamp out the ninja clans for good, but many of them went into hiding to preservethe culture. Claiming to have descended from the Taira clan, the Oda emerged in the 13th century. After her feats, she was considered the first general of Japan. But eventually a power struggle broke out, which saw the Minamoto forces defeat the Taira in a large naval battle. His son Yoshitaka was more interested in the arts than in war. The clan built large castles and acquired land, which it farmed to make money. Then in 1592 the Japanese shogun launched a disastrous attempt to conquer Korea. At 16, he took over a single district of Owari Province after his fathers death. The Ashikaga clan arose in the 13th century from a branch of the Minamoto clan. He helped finish to 16th-century unification of Japan, helping to create the country we know today. But seeing an opportunity, the Ashikaga betrayed him, establishing their own shogunate and reducing him once again to a figurehead. Born in 1521, Takeda Shingen was the feudal lord of Shinano Province, now Nagano prefecture. Establishing their own naval trade routes made the Mori rich, enabling them to build a strong military force. Considered one of the greatest leaders of his time, Shimazu Yoshihisa was lord of the Satsuma Province. But Ieyasu was a gifted strategist, slowly building up his armed forces and establishing the city of Tokyo. At the time Buddhism was only just beginning to take hold in Japan, and a lot of people saw it as a threat to the Japanese way of life. Despite being a covert agent employed hundreds of years ago in feudal Japan, the ninja or shinobi has penetrated pop culture as one of the most iconic warriors in history. He lest home when e was still a boy and became a page to one of the feudal barons retainers. Even after a truce, Yukimura and his allies continued to fight against Tokugawa forces, enduring yet another siege on Osaka castle. The clan ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. Takeda is best known for a series of battles he fought against another famous warrior, Uesugi Kenshin. function ml_webform_success_5620821(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-5620821 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-5620821 .row-form").hide()}, Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact | About. They were the clan who reduced the Japanese emperor to a figurehead. Member of the Fujiwara clan created laws, often married in to the imperial family and literally wrote Japanese history. With his forces whittled down to 70, he committed suicide and died in 1336. The surname Minamoto was granted to demoted members of the imperial family beginning under Emperor Saga, the 52nd emperor of Japan. While the family's power declined with the rise of the Kamakura Shogunate, it still remained important centuries later, as many major figures behind the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868) were variously related to the Fujiwara: Oda Nobunaga, the first of Japan's Three Great Unifiers, was descended from both the Fujiwara and the Tiara, while his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was related to the Fujiwara by marriage, as was Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun. The Fujiwara Clan actually predates both the Minamoto and the Taira, stretching all the way back into the Asuka Period (592-710). Kiyama Japanese spelling: , Meaning: Tree mountain. Takeda defeated an army led by Ieyasu and began to make inroads into Tokugawa territory. . He failed two times, despite striking a temporary truce with China. Born in 1534, Nobunaga lived in a deeply fractured Japan. After Hideyoshis death, he supported Tokugawa Ieyasu, becoming one of the most powerful lords. Kyuhoshi does not own any of the photographs used in any posts and pages unless it is mentioned. Zaibatsu were the industrial and financial vertically integrated business conglomerates in the Empire of Japan, whose influence and size allowed control over significant parts of the Japanese economy from the Meiji period until the end of World War II. Another rebellion and alternate government arose in Kysusu, led by Ashikaga Takauji, whom Masashige had helped escape to Kyushu. 4. He appeared on the scene suddenly and began immediately winning notable victories over well-respected armies, eventually controlling 10 of the 11 Chugoku provinces. But soon became a prominent family in their own right. He may or may not have really shared the spoils with impoverished peasants, Robin Hood-style. Samurai, a member of a powerful military in Japan, would use nicknames. His most famous duel is against his archrival Saski Kojiro on a small island off the coast. This was just in time, as one of Nobunagas uncles took seized his lordship. The most popular name for demons in Japan is Yokai. Like several Japanese clans, this one had its origin in the Imperial family, specifically with the seventh son of an emperor. After the unfortunate death of his ally Toyotomi Hideyoshi, civil war broke out again. You can learn more about the various Samurai clans at your local . Ieyasus influence on Japan cannot be overstated. Travel. Because the most powerful Japanese prime minister of modern times, Shinzo Abe, is a member of the clan. The runaway ninja then spent about 15 years robbing daimyo, wealthy merchants, and rich temples. can also be read Genji, and Emperor Saga's grandson Minamoto no Toru is believed to be the model for Hikaru Genji, the philandering protagonist of the 11th century work The Tale of Genji, or Genji Monogatari (). 4 The Brief Family (Dragon Ball Z) A family with a mixed lineage of Saiyan and Human blood, The Briefs are home to some of the most powerful warriors to ever exist in the universe. 3. His devotion and cunning have made him a very popular samurai and he is renowned as a hero especially in his native Osaka. The earliest clan 'superpower' was the Fujiwara clan - Wikipedia, who ran Japan fr. Their authority was based not on political planning or military excellence but diplomacy and judicious intermarriage. Left to fight as Ieyasu departed to fight another battle, he rode out to meet the vast enemy host with a small contingent of troops and challenged the army. The clans lands were given to one of Nobunagas generals. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. With the shogun reduced to a figurehead, the Hj were able to gain authority through skillful administrative practices and lawmaking. Rengoku is easily one of the most lovable Hashira in Demon Slayer. Founder of the city of Sendai, Date Masamune lived from 1567 to 1636. One of the most famous Japanese samurai clans is the Minamoto clan. His special forces troops used guerrilla warfare and espionage to fight against the Takeda clan. Then in the 1330s they were overthrown as the emperor himself briefly gained control of the country. He set out to develop the perfect sword technique and developed a style of fencing with two swords (the nito ichi ryu). The Ninkyo Code And Humanitarian Aid Gempeitkitsu (), 4 noble clans of Japan: From the late ancient era onward, the family name (Myji/ or ) had been commonly used by samurai to denote their family line instead of the name of the ancient clan that the family line belongs to (uji-na/ or honsei/), which was used only in the official records in the Imperial court. Learn how Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful strategist and shrewd negotiator, managed to bring peace to a place where such an idea once seemed impossible. It led to their warriors committing one of the largest mass suicides in samurai history. It was founded by the famous Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early 17th century. Among the many enemies of the Azai were the Mori. Realizing defeat was imminent, they commit mass suicide, crippling the Taira clan forever. Rivals of the Imagawa, the Takeda saw their greatest success under Takeda Shingen. They had amazing fighting skill and strategy, and were brave when in battle. Shibuya, Historical Shops The last truly powerful Japanese clan would of course be the TOKUGAWA clan. Shigeharu Shirai, a top Yakuza boss in Japan, was arrested in Thailand in January 2018. So began the Tokugawa shogunate. Nuwer, Rachel. Chiyome recruited girls who were orphans, refugees, or had been sold into prostitution, and trained them in the secrets of the ninja trade. The clans power waxed and waned over time, but the Azai did find stability after allying with the Asakura clan. The Fujiwara were undoubtedly the most powerful clan of medieval Japan, predating all others mentioned on this list. The Abe were especially successful at finding their way onto such councils, achieving influence indirectly by winning the trust of shoguns and emperors. Nobunaga defeated the Asakura at the Battle of Anegawa in 1570. Various samurai warlords and clans fought for control . And they are inexorably tied to 400 years of Japanese and Yakuza history. In feudal Japan, there were three main . . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Japan Travel Resources | Best Guide for 2023, List of the Regions and Prefectures of Japan, Japan Travel Guide for First Time Visitors, 2022-2023 Japan Winter Festivals Calendar, Japan Ski Season Dates: Opening & Closing 2022-23. Ieyasu sought to restore stability in a war-torn Japan. Born around 152, Hattori Hanzo (Hattori Masanari) was samurai in service to the Tokugawa clan. Member of the Fujiwara clan created laws, often married in to the imperial family and literally wrote Japanese history. He would later build a castle in Osaka. Yukimura perished in the Battle of Tennoji-guchi, the last battle in the Siege of Osaka. The term shogun appeared in various titles given to military commanders commissioned for the imperial government's 8th- and 9th-century campaigns against the Ezo (Emishi) tribes of northern Japan. But the Taira were one of just four clans who held massive influence over the emperor. No name casts as great a shadow across medieval Japan as that of Hojo. Copyright 2023 Kyuhoshi.com All Rights Reserved. Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. He defeated his opponents, took control of Japan, and set himself up as shogun. Abe Japanese spelling: , , , or Meaning: A means peace while be means multiple times. For a time, he became a foot soldier, then his cheer, intelligence, and tact helped him to be elevated to the status of samurai. Tomoes life is the stuff of legend. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. He was considered an eccentric (at best) or a fool (more often). Stephen Turnbull (1987), Samurai Warriors, Andrew Knighton is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. The following is a list of some of the most famous and powerful samurai clans in Japanese history. He then tried to walk the Emperor into fleeing into exile, but that was refused as well. daimyo, any of the largest and most powerful landholding magnates in Japan from about the 10th century until the latter half of the 19th century. But just like medieval Scotland, not all Japanese clans were equal. . Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born a peasant. The most famous band of Ronin were the Forty-seven Loyal Ronin who in the eighteenth century banded together to seek vengeance against the killer of their master. The clan is remembered for having both a strong samurai army and a naval fleet. The battles have become legendary. It was founded by Agata Inukai no Michiyo (655?-733), a court lady first married first to a minor imperial prince and then, after his death, to Fujiwara no Fuhito, second son of Fujiwara no Kamatari. Hanzo has been depicted in many media in various ways, and the character who shares his name in the film Kill Bill is no doubt inspired by this legendary Samurai. The last clan to hold out against the dominance of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, they clung to their independence even as they withdrew to their great fortress of Odawara. During the Yayoi Period (300 BC-300 AD), Japan had developed a system of clans: people who were related to each other by blood, marriage, or common ancestor would use clan names as family names. . In 1868, the Meiji Restoration ended a centuries-long tradition of samurai in Japan. From then until 1573 they were the absolute rulers of Japan, cementing themselves as one of the most powerful Japanese clans of all time. The emperor intended to then rule as the leader of Japan. He did not take to the life of the monks, however, and left with a gold merchant who knew his father, coming into the care of Fujiwara no Hidehira, a powerful clan lord. In 1573, Yoshikage led a force to assist one of those allies but was intercepted and defeated by Nobunaga. By being granted key positions within the imperial court, and then using those positions to gain more for Fujiwara clan members. He also encouraged foreign trade and sought to improve foreign relations. The Tokugawas retained the role for the next two and a half centuries. It is the largest and most violent mafia group in Italy having more than 100 clans and approximately 7000 members. The odds were against them, but Masashige was certain his cunning could win the day. Thomas Shiozaki Kikuchi clan ( ) - The Kikuchi clan is one of Japanese clans. He passed away in 1616 and his mausoleum at Nikko is one of the most important shrines in the country. In feudal Japan, two types of warriors emerged: the samurai, nobles who ruled the country in the name of the Emperor; and ninjas, often from the lower classes, who carried out espionage and assassination missions. Medieval Japan was largely dominated by the Taira clan. Common Japanese Last Names 1. The Taira clan is most well known for fighting against the Minamoto clan during the Genpei War of 1180-1185. In the end. During both the Sengoku and Tokugawa shogunates they held significant influence within the Japanese political system. There are other greatest Japanese samurais to learn about, such as Miyamoto Musashi, and Tomoe Gozen, a fearsome Japanese female samurai. Masashige led an army to battle Ashikagas forces with slim hope for victory; his army was 899 men while Ashikagas was near 200,000.