Kira Chikazane
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Kira Chikazane (吉良親実? 1563 - 1588) was a senior retainer under the Chōsokabe clan, during the latter Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. Married to the daughter of Chōsokabe Motochika--and thus regarded as the former's respective nephew--Chikazane was regarded throughout his retainer life as a hot-tempered and highly aggressive warrior, following his nephew in service to the Toyotomi clan, in 1584. During 1586, Chikazane was assigned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as Task Leader of creating a Great Buddha statue; but as the former stated that a large sum of lumber would need to be retrieved from the province of Tosa Province for the sake of this construction, Chikazane loudly protested against this demand, either finding some other means at which the statue would be created, or abandoning the project and giving it to someone else. Following the unfortunate and sudden death of Motochika's son--Chōsokabe Nobuchika--in 1587, Morichika became the next designated heir to headship; but as Chikazane intended for Kagawa Chikazane to be the new heir, he vocally criticized his fellow retainers and nephew, causing him to be thrown into confinement. Being seen as a figure of shame, following this initial event, Motochika ordered Chikazane to commit ritual suicide a year later after displaying continued defiance.
[edit] References
- Kira Chikazane - SamuraiWiki. (Samurai Archives) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005
