* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Honda Tadakatsu
本多忠勝
The Mightiest Warrior of the Sengoku Era
Description
The Legend of Invincibility
Born in Tenbun 17 (1548) in Mikawa Province, Honda Tadakatsu rose to prominence as the warrior most distinguished in martial prowess among those serving Tokugawa Ieyasu, his name forever inscribed in the annals of the Sengoku period. The legend that despite participating in fifty-seven battles throughout his life he never sustained a single wound speaks succinctly to Tadakatsu's superhuman martial valor. Oda Nobunaga praised Tadakatsu as "a commander who embodies both refinement and substance," and it is said that after the Battle of Hikotozaka, Kosugi Sakon of the Takeda faction left graffiti reading, "There are two things excessive in Ieyasu: the crown of Tang and Honda Heihachi."
The Valor of the Rearguard
The greatest feat that made Tadakatsu's name resound throughout the realm was his rearguard action at the Battle of Mikatagahara (Genki 3, 1572). Faced with a devastating defeat at the hands of Takeda Shingen's elite cavalry corps, Tadakatsu, commanding but a small force, stood firm before the pursuing Takeda army and ensured Ieyasu's successful withdrawal. In this action, Tadakatsu wielded his beloved spear Tonbokiri in all directions, successively piercing down the advancing enemy soldiers. At the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute, with merely five hundred troops, he undertook a provocative feint against Hideyoshi's vast army, drawing from Hideyoshi the accolade "the peerless general of the eastern provinces." At the Battle of Sekigahara as well, he took the vanguard, and though past sixty years of age, displayed unwaning martial valor that bolstered his allies.
The Beloved Spear Tonbokiri
The beloved spear Tonbokiri, synonymous with Tadakatsu, is counted among the Three Great Spears of Japan—a masterwork renowned throughout the realm. It was forged by the Mikawa smith Fujiwara Masazane. The spearhead measured approximately 43.8 centimeters in length, and the total length including the shaft is said to have reached six meters. The name derives from an anecdote wherein a dragonfly alighting upon the spearhead was instantly cleft in two by mere contact. Masazane is also said to have been a disciple of Muramasa, and his blades possessed both the razor-sharp cutting edge demanded by Mikawa warriors for practical battlefield use and sturdy construction. The spearhead of Tonbokiri displays an elegant spade-shaped form, and its slender profile with engraved grooves seems to mirror Tadakatsu's stalwart character.
Training in Swordsmanship
Though celebrated as a master of the spear, Tadakatsu was equally skilled in the handling of the tachi. In battle, he deftly switched from spear to tachi depending on the situation, displaying exceptional prowess in close-quarters combat. The Nakatsukasa Masamune, said to have been owned by Tadakatsu, is a masterwork by Masamune combining the powerful, well-defined hamon of the Soshu tradition with the refined beauty of the jigane in harmonious unity. Tadakatsu possessed multiple swords forged by Fujiwara Masazane, favoring blades of practical merit befitting a Mikawa warrior.
Armor and Faith
Tadakatsu's armor was distinctive for its deer-antler side ornaments and black-thread lacing, and he is also known to have worn a rosary when proceeding to the battlefield. This is said to have been to console the spirits of the enemy soldiers he had vanquished in combat, demonstrating that Tadakatsu possessed not merely the ferocity of a fierce general, but also the pride and compassion befitting a samurai.
Later Years and Death
In his later years, Tadakatsu served as daimyo of Kuwana domain with one hundred thousand koku, exercising considerable administrative skill. In Keicho 15 (1610), while handling a small blade, his hand slipped and he suffered a wound, upon which it is said he murmured, "Honda Tadakatsu's time seems to be drawing to a close." The man who throughout his life never sustained a wound upon the battlefield shed blood for the first time in the tranquility of everyday life. Days later, Tadakatsu passed away.
TOUKENZA's Connection
TOUKENZA is honored to handle precious works by Fujiwara Masazane, the very smith who forged Tonbokiri. We invite you to seize this rare opportunity to encounter an authentic work by the swordsmith to whom the mightiest warrior of the Sengoku period entrusted his life.
Notable Swords
- Tonbokiri (spear, by Fujiwara Masazane)
- Nakatsukasa Masamune