Statue of Takeda Shingen

武田信玄公之像 〒400-0031 山梨県甲府市丸の内1丁目

甲府駅前に信玄の像があることは知っていたのですが、じっくり見たのは、2025年4月6日でした。 甲府の街を見つめているような迫力感を感じました。 碑文を文字起こししておきます。

武田信玄公(武田大膳太夫信濃守信玄) 大永元年(一五二一)十一月三日～元亀四年(一五七三)四月十二日 武田信玄は、武田信虎と大井夫人の長男として生まれる。成人して晴信を名乗るが、一般に知られている信玄は法名である。 天文十年(一五四一)、父信虎を駿河に追放して甲斐の守護となり、信濃を制圧して上杉謙信と対立し、五度に及び川中島で合戦を繰り返す。 その後将軍足利義昭ら反織田信長勢力と結び、戦国最強と謳われた甲斐軍団を率いて京都進出を企て、徳川家康を三方ヶ原に破る。天正元年(一五七三)三河の野田城攻略中に発病。帰国途中の信濃国伊那駒場で没する。享年五十三歳。三年間喪が秘され、天正四年に恵林寺で葬儀が行われた。 甲州法度(はっと)の制定、信玄堤の名で知られる治水工事など、民政家として抜群の手腕を振るって領国経営にも尽くした。

TAKEDA SHINGEN November 3,1521-April 12,1573 Takeda Shingen of Kai Province (Yamanashi Prefecture) was a preeminent lord, "Daimyo " in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of Sengoku era (Japan's civil war). He was the eldest son of the aggressive warlord, Takeda Nobutora, and his wife, Ohi. When he celebrated his coming of age, he received his formal name, Harunobu. His Buddhist master gave him Houmyou (Dharma name) of Shingen which is widely known. In 1541, Shingen suddenly rebelled and expelled his father Nobutora to Suruga Province. He then took over leadership of Kai. His army occupied Shinano Province (Nagano Prefecture) and engaged in five battles against Uesugi Kenshin," the Battles of Kawanakajima". Then, Shingen allied with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and other forces opposed to Oda Nobunaga. Shingen had an ambition to invade Kyoto and led a force, "Koshu Gundan or Koshu Army" said to be the most formidable in that era. During this campaign, Shingen defeated Tokugawa Ieyasu' s army at Mikatagahara (Shizuoka Prefecture). In 1573, while laying siege to Noda Castle in Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture), Shingen fell ill and could not realize his ambition to invade Kyoto. Shingen died shortly after at Inakomanba in Shinano Province on his way back home. He was 53 years old. His followers kept his death a secret for three years and in 1576, held a solemn funeral at Erinji Temple. Using his outstanding administrative abilities, Shingen also dedicated himself to managing his territory. His accomplishments include legislating the Koshu Hatto(the Laws of Kai Province) and establishing a flood control project called Shingenzutsumi.