Tanegashima Tokitaka

Tanegashima Tokitaka
Tanegashima Tokitaka
	Statue of Tanegashima
Native name	種子島時堯
Born	1528
Died	October 21, 1579
Allegiance	Tanegashima clan; Shimazu clan
Rank	Daimyo
Unit	Tanegashima clan
Commands held	Tanegashima island
Battles/wars	Siege of Kajiki (1549)

Tanegashima Tokitaka (1528 – October 21, 1579) was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku period, the 14th head of the Tanegashima clan. He is known for having first established contact with the Europeans, and producing the first European type firearms of Japan.

Early life

Tokitaka was born in 1528, the son of Tanegashima Satotoki (種子島恵時), a retainer of daimyō Shimazu Takahisa. He became head of the Tanegashima clan when his father abdicated.[1]

Contact with Europeans

In 1543, a ship transporting Portuguese sailors arrived near Tanegashima island. The Europeans were brought to Tokitaka, who was only 15 years old, and demonstrated in front of him the use of arquabus firearms.[2] Lord Tanegashima Tokitaka instructed his swordsmith, Yaita Kinbei Kiyosada (八板金兵衛清定), to create functional replicas of the objects, the first ever Japanese-made. The smith (Yaita) did not have much of a problem with most of the gun but "drilling the barrel helically so that the screw (bisen bolt) could be tightly inserted" was a major problem as this "technique did not apparently exist in Japan until this time." [3]

The following year, a Portuguese blacksmith was brought back to Japan and the problem solved.[4]

Tanegashima Tokitaka, quickly acquired the methods of producing firearms and gunpowder. Due to Tanegashima's role in the spread of firearms, firearms were colloquially known as "Tanegashima (gun)" in Japan. Tanegashima Tokitaka was reported to have constantly practiced with the firearm.[3][5]

Siege of Kajiki

The Siege of Kajiki was fought in the year of 1549 when forces of the Shimazu clan besieged the castle of Kajiki in Ōsumi Province. The siege succeeded and the castle was taken. Shimazu vassal, Ijuin Tadaaki used a gun given by Tanegashima Tokitaka. The siege is notable for Shimazu Takahisa made use of European arquebuses, being the first time "Portuguese derived" arquebuses were used in battle in Japan.

Later life

Lord Tokitaka died in 1579.

References

Giraudo, Alessandro (2015). Quand le fer coûtait plus cher que l'or. Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-6858-78.
Varley, Paul (June 2007). "Oda Nobunaga, Guns, and Early Modern Warfare in Japan" (PDF). Publications.nichibun.ac.jp.
Lidin, Olof G. "Tanegashima – The Arrival of Europe in Japan" (PDF). Diva Portal.org.
Tanegashima: the arrival of Europe in Japan, (Google eBook)Olof G. Lidin, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, Taylor & Francis, 2002, p. 142
Sabouret, Jean-François, ed. (2016-06-16). L'empire de l'intelligence : Politiques scientifiques et technologiques du Japon depuis 1945. Anthropologie (in French). Paris: CNRS Éditions. ISBN 9782271091161.

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[1] Giraudo, Alessandro (2015). Quand le fer coûtait plus cher que l'or. Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-6858-78.

[2] Varley, Paul (June 2007). "Oda Nobunaga, Guns, and Early Modern Warfare in Japan" (PDF). Publications.nichibun.ac.jp.

[:0-3] Lidin, Olof G. "Tanegashima – The Arrival of Europe in Japan" (PDF). Diva Portal.org.

[4] Tanegashima: the arrival of Europe in Japan, (Google eBook)Olof G. Lidin, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, Taylor & Francis, 2002, p. 142

[5] Sabouret, Jean-François, ed. (2016-06-16). L'empire de l'intelligence : Politiques scientifiques et technologiques du Japon depuis 1945. Anthropologie (in French). Paris: CNRS Éditions. ISBN 9782271091161.