Honda Masanobu

A close aide to Tokugawa Ieyasu. During the early days of the Edo Shogunate, he played roles equivalent to those of the future Tairo and Roju. Born into a family of long-standing Matsudaira Fudai (hereditary retainers) he was known by the nickname Yahachiro for generations. In 1563 (Eiroku 6), he participated in the Mikawa Ikko Ikki uprising and opposed Ieyasu, leaving the province the following year and fleeing to Kaga (Ishikawa Prefecture). It is unclear when he returned to the province, but there is a legend that he distinguished himself in the Battle of Anegawa in 1570 (Genki 1). In 1582 (Tensho 10), he was involved in the issuance of documents by Ieyasu, indicating that he had become a close aide to Ieyasu by this time. In 1586, he was appointed Sado no Kami (Lord of Sado) with the rank of Junior Fifth Rank. In 1690, he was given 10,000 koku in Yawata, Kozuke (Gunma Prefecture) (some say it was in Sagami Tamanawa). Later, his fief was increased to 22,000 koku. From around 1605 (Keicho 10), he was placed as a close aide to Hidetada, and at Ieyasu's command, he essentially guided Hidetada. He and Ieyasu were in close acquaintance, and there are many anecdotes that suggest their relationship was as good as that of fish and water. He died in Edo on June 7, 1620. It is said that "Honsaroku," which describes the essentials of governing a country, was written by Masanobu, but this is likely an assumption made by a later author.

[Akira Takagi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

徳川家康の側近。江戸幕府創業期に、後の大老・老中に相当する役割を果たした。古くからの松平氏譜代(ふだい)の家柄の生まれ。代々通称を弥八郎(やはちろう)。1563年（永禄6）三河一向一揆(いっこういっき)に参加して家康に敵対し、翌年国を出て加賀（石川県）に逃れた。帰参の年は明らかでないが、70年（元亀1）姉川(あねがわ)の戦いで軍功をたてたという言い伝えがある。82年（天正10）には家康の文書の発給に関係しており、このころまでに家康の側近となっていたことがわかる。86年従(じゅ)五位下佐渡守(さどのかみ)。90年上野(こうずけ)（群馬県）八幡(やわた)（相模(さがみ)甘縄(たまなわ)説もある）で1万石。のち加増されて2万2000石を領した。1605年（慶長10）ころから秀忠(ひでただ)の側近に配置され、家康の意を受けて実質的に秀忠を指導した。家康とは気心の通じ合った主従であり、君臣水魚の交わりともいうべき逸話が伝わっている。元和(げんな)2年6月7日江戸で没。治国の要を記した『本佐録(ほんさろく)』は正信の著と伝えられるが、後人による仮託であろう。

［高木昭作］

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