Yodo-Dono

nihongo|Yodo-Dono|淀殿|Lady Yodo, also known as Yodo-Gimi (淀君) and sometimes Lady Chacha, was one of the most favoured concubines of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the niece of the great Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga. She was born in 1567 (or 1569) during the Sengoku period to Nobunaga's sister O-ichi and his rival daimyo Azai Nagamasa.

During the Edo period, she was often referred to as "Yodo-Gimi", which is believed to be a derogatory name.

Early years

During her childhood, Lady Yodo was known as Chacha (茶々). In 1570, her father, Nagamasa, broke his alliance with Oda Nobunaga and there was a three year period of fighting until 1573 when Nobunaga's army surrounded Nagamasa at Odani Castle. Nobunaga, however, requested his sister, Lady O-ichi's safe return, and Lady Yodo along with her mother, and her two sisters (O-go and O-Hatsu) left the castle with her. Odani Castle fell, and amongst those who died were Lady Yodo's father and her brother.

Nobunaga's death in 1582 caused open hostilities between Katsuie and Toyotomi Hideyoshi over the issue of succession. Katsuie's forces were defeated at the Battle of Shizugatake.

However, before O-ichi perished, she passed Lady Yodo and her other daughters to the care and protection of Hideyoshi.

Concubine of Hideyoshi

Lady Yodo became Hideyoshi's concubine and soon moved to Yodo Castle (from which she inherited her title). Hideyoshi's wife, Kita-no-Mandokoro (or Koudaiin), was unable to conceive, and thus Lady Yodo inherited many of her privileges. She had two sons with Hideyoshi, Tsurumatsu, who died young, and Hideyori born in 1593 who became the designated successor of Hideyoshi.

In 1594, the family moved to Fushimi Castle, but tragedy befell when Hideyoshi died in 1598 and the Toyotomi clan lost much of its influence and importance. Lady Yodo moved to Osaka Castle with her son Hideyori and plotted the restoration of the Toyotomi clan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu, who seized control from Hideyori after the death of his father, now viewed Hideyori as an obstacle to his unification of Japan. He laid siege to Osaka Castle in 1614, but the attack fell through, and subsequently he signed a truce with Hideyori.

However, in 1615, Ieyasu broke the truce and once again attacked Osaka Castle, and this time he succeeded. Lady Yodo and her son Hideyori committed suicide, thus ending the Toyotomi legacy.

Allegations

Lady Yodo was said to have committed adultery with a number of Toyotomi vassals, the two most often mentioned names being Ishida Mitsunari and Oono Harunaga, who were both highly loyal to Hideyoshi. The speculation and allegations were widely spread as Hideyoshi had never been able to have a child with his wife and other concubines and was possibly sterile. She was also sometimes consideredFact|date=April 2008 an obnoxious woman who bewitched Toyotomi Hideyoshi, took over the rightful place of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife, and tried to manipulate the Toyotomi clan for her gains, indirectly leading to its demise.

However, manyFact|date=April 2008 also believe that accusations against her were in fact partially propaganda spread and encouraged by the rising Tokugawa shogunate. As Lady Yodo—being the guardian of the young Toyotomi Hideyori—was the virtual ruler of the Osaka Castle and the Toyotomi clan, she having a bad image would have helped justify Tokugawa's military actions against Osaka.

In fiction

Yodo Gimi appears in James Clavell's Shogun as "Lady Ochiba", who dislikes Toranaga (Tokugawa Ieyasu) because he presumably knew her son wasn't fathered by the Taikō (Toyotomi Hideyoshi). However, she admires and trusts the Taikō's widow, Yodoko (Nene), who urges both her and Toranaga that they marry so that Japan remains united, and when the heir, Yaemon (Toyotomi Hideyori) comes of age, he can safely take control. In James Clavell's later novels it is revealed that, just as in real history, Toronaga eventually besieged Ochiba and Yaemon in their castle, prompting them to commit suicide.

She also appears in Capcom's recent addition of the Onimusha series, Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, as Toyotomi Hideyoshi's concubine and sister to playable character O-Hatsu, who affectionately calls Yodo by her childhood name, "Cha-Cha". She was transformed into the Genma Mother Tree, and was replaced by Ophelia, who took on her form. Ophelia, the Genma High Priestess, is a member of the Genma Triumvirate, whose ultimate goal is to resurrect the Genma/Demon God of Light Fortinbras by using Hideyoshi as his vessel. Yodo was rescued by Soki and his friends, and she fled Fushimi Castle. At the end of the game, it is seen that Yodo now lives with her sister O-Hatsu.

External links

* [http://www.sengoku-expo.net/text/person/E/082.html Biography on Sengoku Expo]