豊臣秀吉
とよとみひでよし
noun (proper)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), warlord who completed the unification of Japan
1.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, warlord who unified Japan
A general who rose from peasant origins to become 織田信長's most trusted commander, and after Nobunaga's death completed the unification of Japan. His rise from a common foot soldier to the country's supreme ruler makes him the archetype of the self-made man in Japanese history.
豊臣秀吉 is the second of the three great unifiers of Japan, following 織田信長 and preceding 徳川家康. He began as a low-ranking foot soldier and rose through talent and political skill to become supreme ruler, making him the classic Japanese rags-to-riches figure.
Cultural note
- Nicknamed 猿 ("monkey") by Nobunaga for his appearance, a detail widely known from period dramas and fiction.
- Famous for grand displays of power such as the 醍醐の花見 (a lavish cherry-blossom viewing party) and for building 大坂城 (Osaka Castle).
- A well-known saying, "if the cuckoo won't sing, make it want to sing," is attributed to him and used to contrast his persuasive style with 信長's ruthlessness and 家康's patience.
- His attempted invasions of Korea in the 1590s are also a standard reference point in discussions of the period.