Hiroyo Ouchi

A military commander during the Northern and Southern Courts period. Shugo of Suo, Nagato, and Iwami provinces. His father was Hiroyuki, and his childhood name was Magotaro. During the Kanno Disturbance, Hiroyo sided with Ashikaga Tadafuyu, but in 1354 (Shohei 9, Bunwa 3), he subjugated his fellow clansman Hironao, who was opposing him, and gained control of the Ouchi clan. He then expelled the Koto clan, who were the Nagato Shugo of the Northern Court, and took control of Nagato. Around 1363 (Shohei 18, Sadaharu 2), Hiroyo switched sides to the shogunate through the mediation of Hosokawa Yoriyuki, and was given the position of Shugo of both Suo and Nagato provinces. In 66 he was appointed as the governor of Iwami, and in 71 (Kentoku 2, Oan 4) he assisted Kyushu Tandai Imagawa Sadayo (Ryoshun) in defeating the Southern Army in Kyushu, but after the capture of Dazaifu in August of the following year he returned to his home country due to disagreements with Sadayo. Hiroyo also moved his base from Ouchi Village to Yamaguchi, and built the foundation for the development of the Ouchi clan by introducing Kyoto culture. His grave is at Shojuin (Jofukuji, Ouchi Mibori, Yamaguchi City).

[Toyomoto Hinomoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

南北朝時代の武将。周防(すおう)、長門(ながと)、石見(いわみ)国守護。父は弘幸(ひろゆき)。幼名孫太郎。観応(かんのう)の擾乱(じょうらん)において足利直冬(あしかがただふゆ)方に属した弘世は、対抗していた同族の弘直(ひろなお)を1354年（正平9・文和3）ごろ屈服させ、大内氏一族の統率権を得た。ついで北朝方の長門守護厚東(ことう)氏を追放し、長門を掌握した。63年（正平18・貞治2）のころ弘世は細川頼之(よりゆき)の調停に応じて幕府方に転じ、周防、長門両国の守護職を得た。66年には石見守護に補任(ぶにん)され、71年（建徳2・応安4）には九州探題今川貞世(いまがわさだよ)（了俊(りょうしゅん)）を助けて九州の南軍を討ったが、翌年8月の大宰府(だざいふ)攻略後、貞世と意見があわず帰国した。弘世はまた本拠を大内村から山口に移し、京都文化の移入を図るなどして大内氏発展の基礎を築いた。墓所は正寿院（山口市大内御堀、乗福寺）にある。

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