Otomo Sorin

Sengoku daimyo. Born in Bungo Funai (Oita City) as the eldest son of Yoshiaki, the 20th head of the Otomo clan. His childhood name was Shiohoshimaru. He came of age and took the name Yoshishige. In 1550 (Tenbun 19), he succeeded to the family. In 1562 (Eiroku 5), he shaved his head under the priest Iun (Soetsu) (1518-1589) and became Zuiho Sorin. He later took the names Sanpisai, Ensai, Furan, and Soteki. During this time, he met Francis Xavier, who was visiting Japan, and protected the spread of Christianity. He himself was baptized in 1578 (Tensho 6) and received the baptismal name Don Francisco. Portuguese ships arrived in the territory, and trade with Korea was also conducted. In 1582, together with the Omura and Arima clans, they sent the Tensho Embassy to the Pope (although there is doubt as to whether it was Sorin's initiative). On the other hand, they brought the Otomo clan to its peak by taking control of the shugo position in six Kyushu provinces (Bungo, Buzen, Chikuzen, Chikugo, Hizen, and Higo). However, in 1563, they moved to Nyujima Castle in Usuki, and placed their eldest son Yoshimune in Funai, forming a duopoly. In 1578 (Tensho 6), they were defeated in a battle with the Shimazu clan of Satsuma at Mimikawa in Hyuga. After this, the division and unrest among his vassals intensified, and in 1586, when the Shimazu forces invaded Bungo, Sorin himself went to Osaka Castle to ask for help from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The following year, in 1587, Hideyoshi pacified Kyushu, and it was announced that Yoshimune would be given Bungo and Sorin would be given Hyuga. However, Sorin declined, and died of an illness in Tsukumi in May of the same year.

[Tatsuo Akutagawa March 19, 2018]

"Akutagawa Tatsuo, "Sengoku History Series: Bungo Otomo Clan" (1972, Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)" ▽ "Toyama Mikio, "Otomo Sorin" (1975/New Edition, 1988, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

戦国大名。大友氏20代義鑑(よしあき)の長子として豊後府内(ぶんごふない)（大分市）に生まれる。幼名塩法師丸(しおほうしまる)。元服して義鎮(よししげ)。1550年（天文19）家督を継ぐ。1562年（永禄5）怡雲(いうん)（宗悦(そうえつ)）和尚(おしょう)（1518―1589）について剃髪(ていはつ)し瑞峯(ずいほう)宗麟となり、以後三非斎(さんぴさい)、圓斎(えんさい)、府蘭(ふらん)、宗滴(そうてき)と称す。この間、来日中のフランシスコ・ザビエルと接してキリスト教布教を保護し、自らも1578年（天正6）受洗してドン・フランシスコの洗礼名を受けた。領内にはポルトガル船の来航もあり、朝鮮貿易も行った。1582年には大村氏、有馬氏とともに天正遣欧使節をローマ法王のもとに送った（宗麟の発意であったかについては疑いがもたれている）。一方、九州6か国（豊後(ぶんご)、豊前(ぶぜん)、筑前(ちくぜん)、筑後(ちくご)、肥前(ひぜん)、肥後(ひご)）の守護職を手中に収めて大友氏の最盛期をもたらした。しかし、1563年臼杵(うすき)の丹生島(にうじま)城に移り、府内に長子義統(よしむね)を置いて二頭政治となり、1578年（天正6）薩摩(さつま)の島津氏と日向(ひゅうが)耳川(みみかわ)で合戦して大敗した。これ以後家臣団の分裂、動揺が激化し、1586年島津勢が豊後に進攻するに及んで、宗麟自ら大坂城に赴き豊臣秀吉(とよとみひでよし)の救援を求めた。翌1587年秀吉の九州平定が行われ、その所領は義統に豊後を、宗麟に日向を与える旨伝えられた。しかし宗麟はこれを辞退し、同年5月津久見(つくみ)で病死した。

［芥川龍男　2018年3月19日］

『芥川龍男著『戦国史叢書　豊後大友氏』（1972・新人物往来社）』▽『外山幹夫著『大友宗麟』（1975／新装版・1988・吉川弘文館）』

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