[Sanuki Secret History] The Awa Navy Mori Family and the Naoshima Takahara Family: The Seto Inland Sea Navies that Intersected during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Invasions of Korea — Exploring through the 'History of Naoshima Town' and Mr. Jinichiro Mori's Thesis 'The Awa Navy and the Korean Campaign'

Introduction

Across the Seto Inland Sea, the Mori family, based in Tsubakidomari in Awa Province, and the Takahara family, based in Naoshima in Sanuki Province, were families deeply involved in maritime transport and naval affairs from the Sengoku period.

Regarding the Awa Navy's Mori family, the thesis 'The Awa Navy and the Korean Campaign' by Mr. Jinichiro Mori, the 19th head of the Mori Jingobei family, is an important source.

・Thesis by Mr. Jinichiro Mori, 19th head of the Mori Jingobei family

This thesis was published in the 9th issue of the Awa Gakkai research bulletin 'Bulletin of the Local Research Presentation Meeting,' and it details the activities of the Awa Navy during the Bunroku-Keicho campaigns, focusing on Mori Shima-no-kami Muraharu and Mori Jingobei Murashige. (Tokushima Prefectural Library)

On the other hand, regarding the Takahara clan of Naoshima, the 'History of Naoshima Town' is important. In the section 'The Takahara Clan's Rule of Three Islands,' the book summarizes everything from the origins of the Takahara clan to Hideyoshi's conquest of Shikoku, the Kyushu campaign, and 'The Bunroku-Keicho Campaigns and Takahara Tsugukatsu.'

The Kagawa Prefectural Library also cites pages 223–256 of the 'History of Naoshima Town' as a primary source for researching the Takahara clan. (Kagawa Prefectural Library)

Regarding both families, it is not possible to confirm documents showing direct 'negotiations between the families' or 'joint operations' from the materials currently available.

However, it is noteworthy that both families were incorporated into the Toyotomi regime's military mobilization as naval forces in the Seto Inland Sea during the same era, and appeared on the same military stages of Shikoku, Kyushu, and Korea.

🔸Bunroku-Keicho Campaigns:

・Naoshima's Takahara Tsugukatsu served as a yoriki (military subordinate) to Terasawa Masanari

・Hachisuka Iemasa's Awa Navy, led by Mori Shima-no-kami Muraharu and Mori Murashige (Mori Jingobei), participated in the war

・Genealogy of the Mori Jingobei family and the Mori Jidayu family

・Jinichiro Mori Posthumous Manuscript Collection: The Scent of Quince

1. The Mori Family: A Representative Navy of Awa

The Mori family is known as a naval force based around the Muya and Tosadomari-ura areas of Awa Province.

Jinichiro Mori's 'The Awa Navy and the Korean Campaign' cites the 'Ashu Kiji Zatsuwa' regarding the Mori family, stating that the Mori clan resided around Tosadomari-ura, were skilled in 'ship tactics and naval warfare' for generations, and trained sailors.

Furthermore, it states that they followed the Hachisuka family from the Tensho era and became 'Generals of the Fleet'.

It is recorded that during the Bunroku era's invasions of Korea, they participated in naval battles such as those at Busan and achieved military merit. (Tokushima Prefectural Library)

Of particular importance is Mori Shima-no-kami Muraharu.

In the first year of Bunroku (1592), when the 5th Division led by Hachisuka Iemasa and others crossed to Korea, the paper cites 'Kodenki' (Old Records), stating that Hachisuka Iemasa crossed the sea on a ship owned by Mori Shima-no-kami Muraharu.

Furthermore, it is recorded that Muraharu, as a commander of the Awa Navy, was the 'first to land' at Gungok and occupied Okinoshima.

Afterward, Muraharu was killed in action at the Battle of Dangpo.

After Muraharu's death, it is said that his nephew, Mori Jingobe Murashige, served as the acting commander of the Awa Navy and recovered Muraharu's remains.

Murashige continued to participate in battles such as Suncheon, Jinju, Chilcheollyang, Ulsan, and Noryang, and documents are introduced showing that in the 3rd year of Keicho (1598), he was granted a wakizashi sword and a fief of 115 koku for his achievements in naval warfare in Korea. (Tokushima Prefectural Library)

In other words, the Mori family was not merely a shipping power providing vessels, but a family that took on actual naval combat in Korea as a navy belonging to the Hachisuka Iemasa military organization.

・Bunroku-Keicho Campaign

The current location of 'Dangpo', where Mori Muraharu was killed in action during the Bunroku Campaign

The 'Dangpo' (Battle of Dangpo) in the Battle of Dangpo of the first year of Bunroku (1592) was a port located near the present-day Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

In current place names, it is called Dangpo in Korean.

Current location

In current administrative divisions, it corresponds to
Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
. The official commentary at Gwanghwamun Square in South Korea also identifies 'Dangpo = Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do' regarding the 'Battle of Dangpo' on the 2nd day of the 6th month of the lunar calendar in 1592. Also, according to currently confirmed location data, the site of the Battle of Dangpo is approximately at 34°50′45″ N latitude and 128°25′25″ E longitude.

In historical materials and research on the Awa Navy side, such as Jinichiro Mori's 'The Awa Navy and the Korean Campaign,' it is recorded in tradition that the Awa Navy captured the Tangpo Strait (Tangpo) on June 1, 1592, and on the following day, June 2, they were met with a counterattack by the Korean Navy, resulting in a great naval battle in which Mori Shima-no-kami Muraharu was killed in action.
This is the tradition and description.

Furthermore, it is said that Mori Jingobei Murashige, a nephew of Muraharu, and others recovered Muraharu's bodyIt is also stated that

According to Awa Navy-related historical materials and research, Mori Muraharu was killed in action at the Battle of Tangpo on June 2, 1592 (the first year of the Bunroku era), at Tangpo, which corresponds to the vicinity of Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, in present-day South Korea.

2. The Takahara Family: A Navy of the Seto Inland Sea Based in Naoshima

Meanwhile, in Naoshima, Sanuki Province, the Takahara clan led a navy.

The 'History of Naoshima Town' summarizes the history of the Takahara clan under the heading 'The Takahara Clan's Rule of the Three Islands.'

Particularly important is Takahara Tsugutoshi.

In 1582, the Takahara clan was recognized for their military service during the Siege of Takamatsu Castle and was granted control of three islands centered on Naoshima, including Ogijima and Megijima, by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. By the end of the Sengoku period, they had become a powerful naval force involved in maritime traffic in the Seto Inland Sea.

In the 'History of Naoshima Town,' the Takahara clan is described in the following order:

• The Siege of Takamatsu Castle and the Takahara Clan
• The Takahara Clan's Rule of the Three Islands
• Hideyoshi's Conquest of Shikoku
• The Kyushu Campaign and the Takahara Clan
• The Bunroku-Keicho Campaign and Takahara Tsugukatsu

This order is used in the description.

In other words, it is clear that the Takahara clan also expanded their sphere of activity as a navy in the Seto Inland Sea along with the development of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military operations. (Kagawa Prefectural Library)

In particular, the 'History of Naoshima Town' has an independent chapter on the Bunroku-Keicho Campaign, covering topics such as 'The Mobilization of Sanuki Forces,' 'The Activities of the Takahara Clan,' and 'The Soldiers and the Hardship of Their Home Villages.' (Kagawa Prefectural Library)

Therefore, it can be considered that the Takahara family, like the Mori family, was incorporated into Hideyoshi's overseas military expeditions as a maritime force.

3. Commonalities between the Mori and Takahara families

Comparing the two families here reveals some very interesting commonalities.

The Mori family followed the route of:

Awa/Tsubakidomari → Awa Navy → Hachisuka Iemasa → Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military campaigns → Korea

which is the route they followed.

The Takahara family, on the other hand, followed the route of:

Naoshima → Naoshima Navy → Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military campaigns → Shikoku, Kyushu, and Korea

which is the route they followed.

In other words, both families share the commonality of having been incorporated from naval forces based in the Seto Inland Sea into the large-scale military mobilization of the Toyotomi regime.

This is a common trait they share.

Furthermore, the areas of activity for both families were in the adjacent waters of Awa, Sanuki, and the Bisan Seto.

In the Seto Inland Sea at that time, unlike land borders, naval and maritime transport forces from various regions were connected through maritime traffic.

End of section.

Therefore, there is sufficient geographical and historical background for the fact that the Mori and Takahara families operated in the same sea area and were incorporated into large-scale military mobilizations such as Hideyoshi's Shikoku Conquest, Kyushu Conquest, and the Invasions of Korea.

- The Stage for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Kyushu Conquest: The Battle of Hetsugigawa

4. However, it cannot yet be concluded that the Mori and Takahara families directly cooperated.

This must be handled carefully in terms of historical sources.

Jinichiro Mori's "The Awa Navy and the Korean Campaign" details the activities of Mori Shima-no-kami Muraharu and Mori Jingobei Murashige in Korea. (Tokushima Prefectural Library)

On the other hand, the "History of Naoshima Town" contains chapters on the Takahara clan regarding the Shikoku Conquest, the Kyushu Campaign, and the Bunroku-Keicho Campaigns. (Kagawa Prefectural Library)

However, based only on these materials that can be confirmed at this time,

"Mori Muraharu and Takahara Tsugukatsu met directly in Korea"

or

"The Mori and Takahara families fought together in Korea"

cannot be concluded.

Therefore, at this stage,

"While it can be confirmed that both families operated within the same military mobilization of the Toyotomi regime, further historical sources are needed to confirm direct contact between the two families"

is the most accurate statement.

In the Battle of Hiketa and the Shikoku Campaign, it is easy to imagine that Sengoku Hidehisa and Mori Motoyoshi (younger brother of Mori Motoharu), who frequently visited Shodoshima, and the Takahara family, who governed Naoshima, Ogijima, and Megijima, encountered one another as they operated within the same sea area.

5. The Significance of Considering the Relationship Between the Two Families

So, why is it worth considering the Mori and Takahara families together?

It is because both families were part of the naval society of the Seto Inland Sea.

Tsubakidomari in Awa and Naoshima in Sanuki are separated by modern prefectural borders. However, from the perspective of maritime traffic during the Sengoku period, Awa, Sanuki, Bizen, Bitchu, and Awaji were connected by the sea.

The Mori family was based in the waters of Awa, while the Takahara family was based in the Bisan Seto, centered on Naoshima.

Furthermore, through Toyotomi Hideyoshi's conquest of Shikoku, conquest of Kyushu, and the invasions of Korea, these regional navies were incorporated into a nationwide military network.

The history of the Mori and Takahara families is a fascinating case study for considering this very transition from 'regional navies to the maritime military power of the Toyotomi regime.'

Conclusion

The Awa Navy Mori family, centered on Mori Shima-no-kami Motoharu, and the Takahara family, based in Naoshima, are not families whose direct blood relationship has been confirmed.

However, both families...

That they were naval forces based in the Seto Inland Sea

That they were involved in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Shikoku and Kyushu campaigns

That they participated in the Bunroku-Keicho campaigns, the largest overseas military operations of the Toyotomi regime

These are the important commonalities.

Regarding the Mori family, Jinichiro Mori's paper 'The Awa Navy and the Korean Campaign' provides detailed accounts of the death of Shimanokami Muraharu Mori at the Battle of Tangpo, the subsequent battles of Jingobei Murashige Mori, and even the Battle of Noryang. (Tokushima Prefectural Library)

Regarding the Takahara family, the 'Naoshima Town History' summarizes the activities of the Takahara clan, from their control of the three islands to Hideyoshi's Shikoku campaign, the Kyushu campaign, and the Bunroku-Keicho campaigns. (Kagawa Prefectural Library)

Therefore, the most reasonable conclusion at this stage is:

While there are no historical documents confirming a direct relationship between the Mori family and the Naoshima Takahara family, both families were incorporated into Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military mobilization as naval forces of the Seto Inland Sea and were active on the same historical stage of Shikoku, Kyushu, and Korea.

This is the conclusion.

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