The Battle of Sekigahara

The fateful day arrived. The forces of Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu stared each other down with only one mile of muddy ground separating their sharpened spears. Mitsunari represented the loyalist western army (81,000) supporting the late regent, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Tokugawa Ieyasu represented the eastern army (88,000) of daimyo loyal to the Tokugawa and hateful of Mitsunari's underhanded ways. This was going to be the last great battle of the bloody Sengoku period that saw clan after clan vying for power.

From the start of the battle, Tokugawa Ieyasu placed himself and his armies in a very weak position. He did not have the high ground and his retreat route was covered by enemy forces. He was trapped. Military strategists, to this day, shake their heads at the mistake made by this astute leader.

Mitsunari, on the otherhand, had the high ground and a clear route of retreat. Maybe this was why he lost? With all their bridges burned, the desperate Tokugawa warriors fought with all their reserves. They held nothing back. Maybe this was Ieyasu's strategy? Who knows? People still question why General Lee ordered his men into a meat grinder at Gettysburg. Tokugawa's reasons are also still debated today.

The night fog burned away with the morning sun and Mitsunari realized the battle belonged to him. He would be supreme commander of Japan by day's end.

The fighting commenced with Ii Naomasa's red armored troops leading a vanguard attack against the western army's front line. These shock troops were renowned throughout Japan as Tokugawa's best fighting force. They cut a swath deep into the enemy lines with their initial cavalry charge and paved the way for advancing infantry.

The first hours of the battle saw both armies taking and retaking ground. Blood, mud, fierce hand-to-hand combat characterized the struggle. No one seemed to gain the upper hand, until an unforeseen predicament occurred on the western side, mass defections. About a third of the western army defected to the Tokugawa. This turned the tide.

Mitsunari had only one option, retreat. The remains of his massive army turned on their heels and retreated in confusion. Tokugawa Ieyasu and his army carried the day. Even with victory in his grasp, he shouted the command, "Victory is ours, but tighten your helmet straps." These words of caution in the midst of victory became a famous quote passed down to all Japanese school children.

Mitsunari was eventually captured and marched through Kyoto and beheaded. Toyotomi Hideyori, the remainig heir of Hideyoshi, mounted a final rebellion and eventually committed seppuku within the flames of Osaka castle. This sealed the fate of the Toyotomi and consolidated Tokugawa rule for the next two hundred and fifty years.

In hindsight, the battle was already won by Tokugagwa Ieyasu even before the first sword was drawn. The eastern forces were supremely loyal to Tokugawa Ieyasu and orders were unquestioningly obeyed. Mitsunari was a politician trying to lead a loosely held confederation of disgruntled daimyo. His orders on the battlefield were continually rebuffed by more seasoned warriors who considered Mitsunari unfit as a military commander. They actually disliked him, but hated Ieyasu more.

This love-hate relationship between politicians and warriors was and is still very common. Mitsunari had no chance against the superior leadership abilities of Ieyasu. He exuded confidence and commanded the respect of all his troops. Unity, character, and good battle field strategy eventually led to victory on that day. Even the western turn coats, who sided with Ieyasu, realized Mitsunari lacked the character and strength to rule Japan. They saw the writing on the wall. Maybe Ieyasu saw this happening before the battle. Whatever the case, he took a gamble with his initial battle tactics and won.

Sun Tzu had a favorite quote, "Victorious warriors win the battle before they fight. Defeated warriors fight and then try to win battle." It's like discipleship. We also need to count the cost before we choose to follow Jesus. The cost is high, but the fruit of victory filled with the eternal weight of glory. Many fall away, but for the few that stay the course, we will the hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Gokurosama deshita!