Toyotomi Hideyoshi saw a burning Japan. As he looked over his country he realized that since Oda Nobunaga was gone, he would have to take control. Japan was in ruins and there was no central power. The country continued to shatter as daimyo (Military Rulers) fought each other day after day for territory. Then three people set out to restore Japan to its once peaceful society. One of these three is Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This great general avenged Oda Nobunaga and continued his remarkable legacy after Nobunaga died. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the only during the Sengoku Jidai to rule a unified Japan, send out great military expeditions, and rise through the social structure. Toyotomi Hideyoshi started at the lowest of the low. “He was born a peasant;
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China would become his essential target, but he sorely underestimated them. “Even control of the Korean peninsula, which he first invaded in 1592, was not possible since Japan’s forces were entirely inadequate for an undertaking of such magnitude. Unfortunately for Hideyoshi's dreams of true ascendancy, the Korean expedition bogged down after initially impressive gains.”(Britannica.com) This was Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s greatest military expedition. He was actually able to take all of Korea except for the capitol until China’s military came and put an end to his army. “Hideyoshi's forces were unable to invade China. Rather than strengthen his position, these military expeditions left his clan's coffers decreased, his vassals at odds over responsibility for the failure, and the clans that were loyal to the Toyotomi name weakened.”(Britannica.com) This is an example of one of the few failures of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He used all of the military might and skill he had and although he failed he was able to nearly conquer all of Korea when duties in Japan called him back.“With the death of his only son Tsurumatsu in September 1591 and his half-brother Toyotomi Hidenaga, Hideyoshi named his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, his heir, adopting him in January 1592. Hideyoshi's second son, Toyotomi Hideyori, was born in 1593, creating a problem of succession because Hidetsugu had already been designated the Toyotomi heir. To avoid a succession struggle, Hidetsugu was exiled to Mount Koya and then ordered to commit suicide in August 1595. Hidetsugu's family members who did not follow his example were then murdered in Kyoto, including 31 women and several children.”(Britannica.com) Toyotomi Hideyoshi again knew how to keep chaos from erupting after his death. He ensured there would be no one who could take the throne from his legitimate son and that all of Japan could see his
China would become his essential target, but he sorely underestimated them. “Even control of the Korean peninsula, which he first invaded in 1592, was not possible since Japan’s forces were entirely inadequate for an undertaking of such magnitude. Unfortunately for Hideyoshi's dreams of true ascendancy, the Korean expedition bogged down after initially impressive gains.”(Britannica.com) This was Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s greatest military expedition. He was actually able to take all of Korea except for the capitol until China’s military came and put an end to his army. “Hideyoshi's forces were unable to invade China. Rather than strengthen his position, these military expeditions left his clan's coffers decreased, his vassals at odds over responsibility for the failure, and the clans that were loyal to the Toyotomi name weakened.”(Britannica.com) This is an example of one of the few failures of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He used all of the military might and skill he had and although he failed he was able to nearly conquer all of Korea when duties in Japan called him back.“With the death of his only son Tsurumatsu in September 1591 and his half-brother Toyotomi Hidenaga, Hideyoshi named his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, his heir, adopting him in January 1592. Hideyoshi's second son, Toyotomi Hideyori, was born in 1593, creating a problem of succession because Hidetsugu had already been designated the Toyotomi heir. To avoid a succession struggle, Hidetsugu was exiled to Mount Koya and then ordered to commit suicide in August 1595. Hidetsugu's family members who did not follow his example were then murdered in Kyoto, including 31 women and several children.”(Britannica.com) Toyotomi Hideyoshi again knew how to keep chaos from erupting after his death. He ensured there would be no one who could take the throne from his legitimate son and that all of Japan could see his