Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima
Kawanakajima plain, Nagano city, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
What happened
The warlords Takeda Shingen of Kai and Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo, two famous rivals of Japan's Warring States period. Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin fought five battles on the Kawanakajima plain between 1553 and 1564. In the biggest, in 1561, Kenshin guessed Shingen's plan and came down the mountain at dawn, with cloth wrapped around his horses' hooves to muffle the sound. Kenshin reached Shingen's command post and, according to the story, Shingen blocked his sword with a war fan; neither side won.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The rivalry between Shingen and Kenshin became one of the most loved stories in Japanese history. It was retold for centuries in books, woodblock prints and films as a tale of courage and honour.
What came next
A fifth and final battle was fought in 1564, and neither leader ever gained control of the plain.
Did you know?
A Japanese chess game, Kawanakajima shogi, is named after these battles.
Timeline
- 1553The first battle of Kawanakajima.
- 1555The second battle.
- 1557The third battle.
- 18 October 1561The fourth and greatest battle ends in a draw.
- 1564The fifth and last battle.