13 Facts About Matsuhime

Matsuhime or Shinsho-ni was a Japanese noblewoman who was a member of the Takeda clan, an important samurai family of the Sengoku period.

Matsuhime was the daughter of Takeda Shingen and wife of Oda Nobutada.

Matsuhime is best known for trying to strengthen an ailing alliance between Takeda and Oda, two rival families.

Matsuhime was born in Kai province as Shingen's fifth daughter.

Matsuhime stayed with the Takeda family and was formally treated as 'the entrusted lawful wife of Nobutada,' and was called Niitachi-Goryonin.

At that time, Matsuhime was 12 years old and it was almost time to get married.

Matsuhime lived with her brother for several years, and in 1580 her brother finally became the governor of Takato Castle.

Matsuhime was under his biological brother's protection in Takato until 1582, when Oda Nobunaga turned his attention to Matsuhime's home.

Days after the fall of Takato Castle, Nobutada continued his campaign against Matsuhime's family, chasing after Takeda Katsuyori who set Shinpu Castle on fire.

Matsuhime called herself Shinsho-ni and they say that she prayed for the soul of Nobutada as well as the Takeda family.

Okubo Nagayasu, who used to be a vassals of Takeda family and then daikangashira of the Edo bakufu, is said to have helped Matsuhime including building a thatched hut for her.

Matsuhime survived throughout the later Warring States period, dying at age 59 in 1616, a year after the Siege of Osaka, a battle that would end the war period for the next 200 years.

Matsuhime was buried in Shinsho-in, a temple built in her honor.