Title: A Copy of a Letter Written by Imperial Regent and Chancellor Toyotomi Hideyoshi, addressed to Nonaka Shizukane, June 8th, 1586, but Likely Circa 1700-1800. Rare Letter with the Regent’s Kao, the Man to Succeed Oda Nobunaga as Ruler of Japan, which my Dog Then Chewed On
Author: Attributed to Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Condition: Fair
A Mid Edo Period, mid 18th to 19th century letter, being a later copy of an original later whose authorship was attributed to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), written in the 14th Year of the Tensho Era.
The letter appears to of a less important nature, lacking his vermillion seal, and is addressed to Nonaka Shizukane, a member of the Buzen Utsunomiya Clan, though Hideyoshi’s Kao is present
Raised from humble origins with a peasant background, Hideyoshi Toyotomi later grew to become a retainer of the prominent lord Oda Nobunaga. He distinguished himself in many of Nobunaga's campaigns and was among his closer retainers. After Nobunaga's death in the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, Hideyoshi defeated his assassin and Nobunaga’s former retainer Akechi Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki and became Nobunaga's successor.
He then continued the campaign to unite Japan that led to the closing of the Sengoku period. Hideyoshi became the de facto leader of Japan and acquired the prestigious positions of Daijō-Daijin (Chancellor) and Kampaku (Imperial Regent) by the mid-1580s. He is the first person in history to become a Kampaku who was not born a noble. Though there is no definitive reason, it is believed that the reason he passed on or was unable to receive the title of shogun was due to his humble peasant origins.
While the letter is written on early paper, it is not appropriate to manuscripts of the 16th century, and the Kao looks far too fresh for the Sengoku Jidai.
One manuscript on paper, 29 × 42 cm
This manuscript is in fair shape, having been neatly folded several times, and then, unfortunately, being eyed as a snack by one of my dogs, who proceeded to chew the upper and lower margins. The text is unaffected, but the margins are very clearly damaged.