Utsunomiya Kintsuna

A military commander from Shimotsuke (Tochigi Prefecture) during the Nanboku-cho period. His first name was Takatsuna. He was called Shogen'an. During the Genkō Incident (1331), he was ordered by Hojo Takatoki to march westward, and led his trusted retainers, the "Ki and Sei parties" (Taiheiki), who were feared for "thinking of laying down their lives on the battlefield as if they were nothing more than dust or dirt," to fight against Kusunoki Masashige at Shitennoji Temple in Osaka. He later served Emperor Godaigo, and after the establishment of the Kenmu government, he was appointed Hyobu no Sho and served as the first magistrate of the Zassoketsu Dansho. When Ashikaga Takauji rebelled in Kamakura, he accompanied Nitta Yoshisada eastward, where he fought against the Ashikaga forces at Takenoshita in Hakone, where he was defeated and surrendered, but he returned to the side of the Imperial Court and fought in various places. He also served in the Anzaisho in Yoshino, where he was appointed Shosho (Left Major General) of the Fourth Rank for his achievements. He later became a monk and retired to Ooba in Mashiko Town. His posthumous name was Riren. He died on October 20, 1356.

[Takashi Shinkawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

南北朝時代の下野(しもつけ)（栃木県）の武将。初名高綱。正眼庵と号す。元弘(げんこう)の変（1331）に北条高時の命を受けて西上し、「戦場で命を捨てることなどまるで塵(ちり)か芥(あくた)のようにしか思っていない」と恐れられた股肱(ここう)の臣「紀(き)・清両党(せいりょうとう)」（『太平記』）を率いて大坂・四天王寺で楠木正成(くすのきまさしげ)と戦った。のち後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇に投じ、建武(けんむ)政権成立後、兵部少輔(ひょうぶのしょう)に任じ、雑訴決断所(ざっそけつだんしょ)一番の奉行(ぶぎょう)を務めた。足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)が鎌倉で反すると、新田義貞(よしさだ)に従って東下し、箱根竹ノ下で足利軍と戦って敗れ、いったん降伏するが、ふたたび朝廷方に帰順し各地を転戦した。吉野の行在所(あんざいしょ)にも参じ、その功により正四位下左少将に叙任された。のち出家、益子(ましこ)町大羽(おおば)に隠栖(いんせい)した。法名理蓮。1356年10月20日没。

［新川武紀］

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