HARA HAYATO SA¹
The name Hayato was unanimously added in the Jingo Kishōmon², along with 47 other names. This name was also associated with the II³ family, in the same way as with the Yamagata Ichijōshu⁴. Within the “Nanba Senki”⁵, Hayato Sadatane, who was renowned as “strongest warrior”, was recruited as an Echizen truce bearer for the Black Horo squad⁶ after the death of Takeda⁷.
In the winter of 1554, Saemon (Sanada Nobutsuna) invited Hayato Sadatane to his place in Koshū, since Sadatane was an old acquaintance of his. There was a dispute regarding Saemon receiving the title “Hayato”. Many historical record keepers, along with publication on said subject matter, have some form of disagreement regarding the time period of this event, where Sadatane is listed as 58 and Saemon as 46. If we go based on when the Jingo Kishōmon was created (1582) and space out the time by 33 years later, it is doubtful that there is a way we can pinpoint his youth, nor are there any methods possible for figuring out his age.
In the Osaka Gunki⁸ it’s stated that, in regards to Sadatane’s ‘Hayato’ title, Yukimura (Sanada Nobushige) would became the next in line to receive it after Sadatane. This is due to Yukimura being very young at the time, as well as Sadatane being an old acquaintance through Tanenage⁹, his father.
It’s said that Sadatane inherited head of the Hara household from Masatane (father) was close to being 20 in Tenbun 19 (1550). Yet when the battle of Nagashi took place (1575), he was not over the age of 52. More than 5 years later, when the 2nd successor (Masatane) died after the incident at Zenjō Castle, Sadatane, as the 3rd successor, could not have assumed the role as jindai (one who takes over military duties) due to the issue of him being underage at the age of 32 .
If we take the two individuals listed in the Jingo Kishōmon document and place them in the history as mentioned above, it is impossible to imagine that at a childish age, Sadatane actually bear the title “Hayato”.
1) This title was inherited by Hara Sadatane (原貞胤). The name Sadatane appeared over the years unchanged within numerous significant documentations. This particular record about him was produced by Masahiro in Tenshō 11 (1583).
2) 壬午起請⽂. Also known as Tensho Jingo Kishōmon (天正壬午起請⽂). This was an agreement where warriors of Kai province, Shinshu province, and Ueno province sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu and his forces in late 1582. This came about after the decimation of the Takeda family at the hands of the Oda-Tokugawa joint forces. This brought about many significant events as a power struggle to control those 3 provinces once loyal to the Takeda family ensued, which is labeled as “Tenshō Jingo no ran” (天正壬午の乱). Later in the same year, this came to a close as the forces of the Tokugawa clan defeated the forces of the Hojo clan in the battle at Kurokoma (黒駒の合戦).
3 Ii clan (井伊家). This is in reference to Ii Naomasa (井伊直政), who helped to have the life of Sanada Masayuki (真田昌幸) spared from punishment at the hands of Tokugawa Ieyasu after losing alongside with the Western allies in the battle at Sekigahara in 1600.
4) 山縣一條衆。This appears to be referencing the 4 top retainers that served Takeda Shingen, which includes Ichijo Nobutatsu, Yamagata Masakage, Tsuchiya Masatsune, and Hara Masatane.
5) 難波戦記. An account on the historical events that took place during the Siege of Osaka (大阪の陣) from 1614 to 1615, from the perspective of the Tokugawa Alliances. Also can be pronounced as “Naniwa Senki”.
6) In the original text, it is written as “黒幌衆”. Nowadays in modern sources it is written as “黒母衣衆”. The word horo (幌/母衣) refers to a large tarp or cape that is connected to the back of the armor. Usually puffed out, it serves several purposes, one being to defend against arrows from behind.
7) It does not state which member, but possibly referring to Takeda Shingen
8) 大阪軍記. This is another name title for the Nanba Senki (see point #5).
9) This is in question. In the Kai-Hara family line (甲斐原氏), Hara Masatane (原昌胤) is listed as Sadatane’s father. There is a Hara Tanenaga (原胤長), but he is from the Chiba-Hara family line (千葉原氏). It is also doubtful that Tanenaga was another name used by Masatane. Could this possibly have been a typo?