Hojo Family in Kamakura and Odawara (Go-Hojo Clan)

The Dictionary of A walk in nakayama shimousa

Hojo Family in Odawara

Hojo Family in Odawara / Go-hojo Family

There are several stories about the origin of Hojo Family in Odawara, but it is not clear now.
The first generation Soun Hojo appeared on the history in 1476. In this year, he succeeded to get negotiation the dispute among the retainers of Imagawa Clan that his younger sister Kitagawadono had got married with. After that he played the important role in the clan. In 1487, Ujichika who was the nephew of Soun inherited the power to control Imagawa Clan successfully.
Even though Soun was a retainer of Imagawa Clan, he attacked and Horikawa Kubo (Horikawa Shogun) in Izu province and overthrew him, so he got his land in 1493. Next he captured Odawarajo Castle from Omori Clan, so he took west part of Sagami Province. And he moved to Odawarajo Casle to control Sagami and Izu province. Then he became the first Sengoku Daimyo.
Moreover, Soun supported his nephew Ujichika and invaded Mikawa province with him. On the other hand, he formed an alliance with Ougigayatsu Uesugi Clan to fight against Yamanouchi Uesugi Clan, but Soun was opposed to Ougigayatsu Uesgi Clan since 1509. In 1516, he destroyed Yoshiatsu Miura and he completely gained the control over Sagami province.
In 1523, Ujitsuna, the son of Soun, changed their family name to Hojo.
Ujitsuna captured Edojo Castle from Tomooki Ougigayatsu Uesugi in 1524, and he took Kawagoejo Castle and he advanced to the central part of Musashi province in 1537. In 1538, Ujichika defeated Yoshitaka Satomi and Yoshiaki Ashikaga of Oyumi Kubo (Shogun) in the first battle of Konodai in Shimousa (Ichikawa city).
In 1546, his son Ujiyasu destroyed Ougigayatsu Uesugi Clan and defeated Norimasa Uesugi of Kanto Kanrei (the chief deputy of Muromachi Shogun in Kanto Region) to Echigo (Niigata Prefecture). Then he installed Yoshiuji Ashikaga in Koga Kubo (Shogun) and he took the position of Kanto Kanrei though he had no authority to do it. He worked to manage his territory so he reformed the taxation and conducted land surveying.
Hojo Family have fought against and took peace treaties with Takeda Clan in Kai (Shingen Takeda) and Uesugi Clan in Echigo (Kenshin Uesugi) several times since 1560 to gain the control of Kanto Region. After the fall of Takeda Clan and Oda Caln in 1582, the Hojo tried to gain the power to control over Kanto Region. To unite Japan under his power, Hideyoshi Toyotomi attacked to Hojo and captured Odawarajo Castle in 1590. As a result, Hojo Family in Odawara was ruined.
Sometimes, they are called Go-Hojo as they are distinguished from Hojo Clan in Kamakura.

The List of Head of Hojo Family

1 Soun Hojo / Nagauji Shinkuro Ise / Sozui Ise 1432-11519
2 Ujitsuna Hojo 1486-1541
3 Ujiyasu Hojo 1515-1571
4 Ujimasa Hojo 1538-1590
5 Ujinao Hojo 1532-1592

参考
クロニック戦国全史
大辞林
新制版　日本史辞典

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Ujiyasu Hojo / Hojo Ujiyasu

Ujiyasu Hojo / Hojo Ujiyasu 1515-1571

Ujiyasu Hojo was one of the greatest samurai worriers and Sengoku Daimyos in Sagami Province in Sengoku Period. He was the third lord of Hojo Family in Odawara.
Ujiyasu and his arms fought against Ougigayatsu and Yamanouchi Uesugi at Kawagoe and won the battle in 1546. In 1552, he drove out Norimasa Uesugi to Echigo and Haruuji Ashikaga. In 1561, he withdrew Kenshin Uesugi, so he won several battles throughout Kanto Region. He also formed ties of marriage with Shingen Takeda, Yoshimoto Imagawa, Kenshin Uesugi and so on. Finally, he gained the power to rule Izu, Sagami, Musash and Kamitsuke province. In his era, he built the golden ages of Hojo Family. And he fought against Satomi Family in Awa at the Battle of Konodai twice and he won the both, then his power spread to Boso Peninsula. During those battles, he camped Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple and he stayed a night at Jokoji Temple and wrote a tanka poem there.
Moreover, he supported to rebuild Ashikaga Gakko (the first school in Japan). And he edited 'Odawarashu Shoryo Bungencho (a book showing the retainers estates)' and built Ekiden (putting stations to keep horses).

参考
市川市ホームページ
里見公園内案内板
江戸川区ホームページ
江戸名所図会６　ちくま学芸文庫
クロニック戦国全史
大辞林
新制版　日本史辞典
日本世界人名辞典
美術人名辞典
新編　市川歴史探訪　崙書房
江戸川ライン歴史散歩　崙書房

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Ujinao Hojo / Hojo Ujinao

Ujinao Hojo / Hojo Ujinao 1562-1591

Ujinao Hojo was one of samurai worriers and Sengoku Daimyos in Sagami Province in Sengoku period. He was the 5th lord of Hojo Family in Odawara.
At the Siege of Odawara by Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1590, Ujinao opened Odawarajo Castle so the battle was ended.
After that, he went to Mt. Koya for his retirement.
His wife, Toku Hime was a daughter of Ieyasu Tokugawa. And his mother was a daughter of Shingen Takeda.
In Jounji Temple, a legend of Katsu Hime (the princess Katsu), a daughter of Ujinao Hojo remains.

参考
題目山常運寺内勝姫龍神碑
改訂新版　市川のむかし話
題目山常運寺門前案内板
市川市ホームページ
クロニック戦国全史
大辞林
日本人名大辞典
新編　市川歴史探訪　崙書房
江戸川ライン歴史散歩　崙書房

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Ujiteru Hojo / Hojo Ujiteru

Ujiteru Hojo / Hojo Ujiteru 1540?-1590

Ujiteru Hojo was a famous Sengoku Busho who was the second son of Ujiyasu Hojo. He was the lord at Takiyamajo Castle. He gained Kurihashijo Castle by force in Shimousa in 1568. In the battle of Konodai, he camped at Nakayama Hokekyoji Temple with his father Ujiyasu and won them, so he contributed a lot to expand to the northern Kanto Region. Later he built Hachiojijo Castle and supported the Hojo to rule Kanto region. At the Siege of Odawara by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, he and his family lost the battle, and he lost his life by himself in July 11th of 1590.
According to legends, sons of his retainers deeply connected to Genshinji Temple in Gyotoku.

参考
西光山安楽院源心寺門前案内板
西光山安楽院源心寺内案内板
市川市ホームページ
クロニック戦国全史
美術人名辞典
日本人名大辞典
改訂新版　市川のむかし話
新編　市川歴史探訪　崙書房
江戸川ライン歴史散歩　崙書房

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Hojo Family in Kamakura

Hojo Family in Kamakura was the family succeeded the position of the regent in Kamakura Bakufu, so the family seized the power to control the Bakufu.
Hojo Family is descendants of Sadamori Taira joining to Kanmu Heishi Clan. Tokiie Hojo settled in Hojo in Izu province as their basic territory and he named their family name Hojo.
In 1185, Tokimasa Hojo helped Yoritomo Minamoto whom his daughter Masako Married with when he raised his arm to fight against Taira Clan in Kyoto, and he contributed a lot to build Kamakura Bakufu. After the Yoritomo and his sons died out, the Regents from the Hojo Family seized administrative power and they controlled the shoguns from the nobles and the Imperial Family. And the family succeeded the seat of the regent and the most important governmental and military position in the Bakufu.
In 1333, Hojo Family was ruined by Yoshisada Nitta and Kamakura Bakufu ended.

The Successive Regent: A List Of The Head Of Hojo Family