* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Maeda Gen'i
前田玄以
From monk to one of Hideyoshi's Five Commissioners — the Kyoto shoshidai who managed the court and the temples
Description
Origins
Maeda Gen'i (1539-1602) was from Mino Province, and is said to have been a monk in his youth. Some say he was a monk of Mount Hiei or a Zen monk, and some theories hold that he was the abbot of Komatsu-ji in Owari. Much about his early life remains unclear. He later served Oda Nobunaga and attended closely on Nobunaga's eldest son, Nobutada. His learning as a monk and his thorough knowledge of the imperial court and of temples and shrines formed the foundation of his later duties.
From the Honnōji Incident to Service Under Hideyoshi
At the time of the Honnōji Incident in Tenshō 10 (1582), he is said to have fled the capital on Nobutada's orders and moved Nobutada's eldest son, Sanbōshi (later Oda Hidenobu), from Gifu Castle to Kiyosu Castle. After the incident, he served Oda Nobukatsu, and in Tenshō 11 (1583) he was appointed Kyoto shoshidai. He later served Toyotomi Hideyoshi and continued to be entrusted with the civil administration of Kyoto.
Duties as Kyoto Shoshidai
Gen'i oversaw negotiations with the imperial court, the administration of temples and shrines, and civil affairs within and outside the capital. During Emperor Go-Yōzei's imperial visit to Jurakudai in Tenshō 16 (1588), he served as a commissioner and handled the arrangements. He was granted domains as lord of Kameyama Castle in Tanba. His distinctive position lies in the fact that for many years he continued to administer Kyoto, a unique governing space where court nobles and temples and shrines were concentrated.
As One of the Five Commissioners
In Keichō 3 (1598), by Hideyoshi's order, he was appointed one of the Five Commissioners (go-bugyō). Together with Ishida Mitsunari, Asano Nagamasa, Mashita Nagamori, and Natsuka Masaie, he handled the affairs of the Toyotomi regime. Among the Five Commissioners, he was in charge of matters concerning the imperial court and temples and shrines. He handled the fields of ceremony and religious administration rather than militaristic duties.
Relations with Christians and Death
Initially, following Hideyoshi's edict expelling the missionaries, he carried out the suppression of Christians. In later years, however, he showed understanding and took a conciliatory stance. In Bunroku 2 (1593), he is said to have secretly protected Christians in Kyoto. Two of his children became Christians. In the Battle of Sekigahara in Keichō 5 (1600), he served as caretaker of Osaka Castle. Although his name was listed among the Western army, he is said to have been in communication with Ieyasu, and he was confirmed in his domains even after the war. He died in Keichō 7 (1602) at the age of 64.