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　The Mogami Chronicles -

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最上義光歴史館
〒990-0046
山形県山形市大手町1-53
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（山形市文化振興事業団）

400年記念アップグレード

最上義光没後四百年の記念事業を前に、最上義光所用三十八間総覆輪筋兜の展示ケースをアップグレードしました!!

ケースの照明を蛍光灯からLEDに改修!!
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蛍光灯
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LED
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製造メーカーのKOKUYOさんの話では、このタイプ(行灯型ともいう)を蛍光灯からLEDに改修したのは全国でも初めてだそうです!!※現在製造されているものはLED仕様。

金覆輪の金色や鉢の黒漆の再現力もアップ…細部の質感まで鑑賞できるようになりました!!

是非ご一覧ください!!

最上義光歴史館：[メモ/歴史館からのお知らせ]

＜Part1-12＞ Saijoki - The Mogami Chronicles -

The Battle of Jugorigahara

　　Upon gaining control of Shōnai, Lord Yoshiaki placed Tōzenji Umanokami in Oura Castle to serve as administrator of the district, and sent his close advisor Nakayama Genba to act as Umanokami’s deputy. These two men occupied the castle and ran the affairs of the district for a number of years, but they apparently engaged in a self-serving agenda that earned them the enmity of the lower-ranking officers and general people.
　　“Lord Uesugi of the Echigo province would be far more compassionate than either of these two,” the people said, “and we should offer him our allegiance and ask that he send his troops here.” Talk did not quickly lead to action, however, and many fruitless days were spent doing nothing more than convening councils of one sort or another.
　　“If we allow things to drag on like this,” they lamented, “news of our planning will reach the ears of those two in the castle, and we will feel their wrath. We must make our wishes known to Lord Uesugi at once.” They swore their fidelity in a written pledge which was delivered to Echigo, and Lord Uesugi received their request with great pleasure. He sent a force of several thousand mounted samurai, led by a stalwart general by the name of Honjō Shigenaga, to come to the aid of these men, and when these developments became known to Umanokami and Genba, they immediately dispatched a swift steed to convey the news to Lord Yoshiaki. In response, his lordship sent Kusaoka Toranosuke with reinforcements from Yamagata, and it was decided that Lord Yoshiaki would himself bring up the rear guard. Accompanied by only his personal attendants and mounted bodyguard, his lordship left Yamagata, letting it be known that the various Mogami detachments were to rendezvous at the Shōnai border.
　　When Toranosuke arrived at Oura Castle, he met with Umanokami and Genba, and the three men convened a war council.
　　“We are preparing to do battle with a large army,” said Umanokami, “and with all of the lower-ranking officers turned against us, many of the ordinary garrison soldiers will no doubt go over to the enemy’s side as well, which will make it impossible for us to hold the castle. Rather than allowing the castle to be taken easily, I would prefer that we charge forth when the enemy strikes, allowing us to die gloriously in battle and do honor to our names. However, we must not let the women and children within the castle be captured by the Echigo force, for this would allow the enemy to make a spectacle of the wives and mothers of our men. Genba, you must take these women and children and see them safely to the Mogami border. The inhabitants of the mountain hamlets along your way will undoubtedly attempt to rise up against you, so it is imperative that you leave at the soonest possible time.”
　　However, Genba was fiercely resistant to this plan. “I myself have served in this castle for some years, and if I abandon the both of you during this time of trouble and leave the castle with our womenfolk and children, people will say that Genba was a coward who used woman and children as a pretext to make his own escape. I will become a laughingstock, and I could never bear the disgrace of this.”
　　It was here that Toranosuke interceded. “Please collect yourself and listen closely to what I have to say,” he told Genba. “You are well aware that Umanokami is the commander of this castle, and that my men and I have been designated by Lord Yoshiaki to act as his reinforcements. You are Umanokami’s deputy, and your position is not the same as ours. Furthermore, many of the women and children in the castle come from illustrious families, and by keeping them from the hands of the enemy and seeing them safely to the Mogami domain, you will be doing Lord Yoshiaki a far greater service than merely allowing yourself to die in battle here. It would be unworthy of you to allow your fear of ridicule to take precedence over true fidelity to your master. Moreover, if the women and children remain at the castle, concern for them will distract us and prevent us from waging the battle that we wish to give. For your lord, for the good of the people, and for the sake of the two of us who remain here, concern yourself not with what the world may say of you, but quickly take these women and children to safety.”
　　Genba could not deny the justice of this argument. “I will do as you bid me,” he said, accepting his commission.
It was thus that Genba departed the castle with the entire body of women and children, but he returned momentarily to speak once more with the two men remaining behind.
　　“I beg of you to defend this castle with all your might,” he said, “and I pray that you will stand firm. Once I have seen those in my charge safely to Yamagata, I will accompany Lord Yoshiaki back here at once to fight by your side.”
　　And so the group set forth, with the women and children in front and Genba and his men following protectively behind them. The party had scaled the heights of Mount Gassan and had just passed the peak of Mount Yudono when they were threatened by a great band of local dwellers, who swarmed up towards them from the valleys below with warlike cries of “Eiya, eiya!”
　　Observing their approach, Genba turned to his men and spoke. “If we attempt to fight off an enemy that attacks us from all sides, our ranks may be penetrated by these assailants, and if any women or children are taken in the confusion, our names will be sullied for all eternity. Let us make haste to that mountain which lies yonder, for it has but a single branchless road. There the enemy will be unable to divide into parties to attack us, and will have no choice but to pursue us in a body. If we allow them to draw near, then suddenly turn back and launch a fierce counterassault upon them, they will be disinclined to trouble us any further.”
　　After Genba’s orders were given, the group paid no heed to the assailing bands which attempted to close in on them from all directions, but instead quickened their pace to the next mountain. Once they had begun their ascent, the path narrowed to the single road they had been expecting, and their attackers were forced to follow them in a single line.
　　“The time is right,” said Genba upon observing this. “Let us turn back and finish them off.” Brandishing a large pole sword, he charged straight at the enemy, while his men, not to be outdone, slashed their way mercilessly through the thronging assailants. Finding themselves attacked from all sides, the enemy was easily forced off the road, and they fell down to the bottom of the ravines, fleeing helter-skelter in all directions. The heads of these lowly attackers were hardly worth taking as trophies, so Genba’s men overtook and slew them, leaving them where they fell, until the scene was littered with corpses too many to count. Flushed with victory, the soldiers were preparing to continue their pursuit when Genba restrained them.
　　“The mountain paths here are precarious,” he said, “and we do not want to embark on a long chase.” With that, he collected his group together, and the party halted for a time to await any further developments. Fortunately, no bands of assailants dared approach them again, so they heaved a deep sigh of relief, allowing themselves some rest, and went on to safely deliver the group of women and children to Yamagata with no further mishap.
　　Meanwhile, back in Shōnai, Honjō Shigenaga of Echigo was advancing on Oura Castle with several thousand mounted soldiers.
　　Inside the fortification, castle commander Tōzenji Umanokami turned to Kusaoka Toranosuke and spoke. “As we discussed earlier, there will be no glory for us if we remain within this castle. I would prefer that we leave the castle forthwith and challenge our enemy on the field, where we may fight and die with honor. I hope that you will follow me.”
　　“It will be my pleasure to do so,” responded Toranosuke.
　　With that, the two men advanced to the battlefield of Jūgorigahara, where they first thought to meet the enemy as two parties. However, back at the castle a traitor within had set fire to the main bailey, and, seeing that there was no longer anything to be gained by dividing their force, the men had no choice but to take on the enemy together. They routed the vanguard of Honjō Shigenaga’s army and were preparing to charge the second company when Toranosuke’s horse was struck by a bullet and reared up uncontrollably. Finding himself forced to do battle on foot, Toranosuke faced the enemy squarely, fighting tenaciously until he had sustained grave wounds over his entire body. Realizing that he would soon be overcome, Toranosuke made his decision. “I have done all I can – I will wait for you to follow me, Lord Umanokami,” he cried, and with that, he cut open his belly as he stood there straight and tall. Planting his sword in the ground, he then fixed a fierce eye on the enemy and died in his upright position. A burial mound was later erected on this site where Toranosuke perished. Given the name the ‘Grassy Mound’, it is said to exist to this day.
　　Now we return to Umanokami, who had slipped in among the enemy soldiers and, with the head of one of his own men in his left hand and his bloodstained sword across his shoulder, forded the Chiyasu River on his horse. Dismounting, he proceeded to Shigenaga’s main encampment on foot and addressed those assembled in a loud voice. “I fought in today’s battle,” he proclaimed, “as a member of the advance guard. I slew castle commander Umanokami in battle by the river, and have come hither with all speed to present his head for your inspection.” All those present praised this meritorious feat, opening up a path for him to pass through. Shigenaga had already seated himself upon his camp stool, and Umanokami advanced forward until he was but a distance of four or five meters from the other man. Then, suddenly flinging the head in his hand at the seated general, he sprung forward and struck Shigenaga in the center of his helmet with his drawn sword. Though Shigenaga was wearing a solid, bullet-tested helmet, Umanokami’s stroke succeeded in shaving off four of the helmet ribs, narrowly missing his left ear. The general’s startled bodyguards quickly surrounded Umanokami and slashed at him with their swords, and with that, his body rent with many wounds, the valiant Umanokami perished.
　　Shigenaga subsequently brought forth the heads of the two enemy generals, along with Umanokami’s sword, to present to Lord Uesugi Kagekatsu at the formal viewing ceremony, and Lord Kagekatsu could not have been more pleased. It was some time later that Lord Kagekatsu had occasion to make a gift of this sword to Lord Ieyasu. The sword was shortened from its original length of 82 cm to approximately 76 cm, and, given the name “Umanokami”, was kept as a prized possession. It is said that it was later given to the keeping of the Kishū Tokugawa clan.
　　Meanwhile, Lord Yoshiaki had advanced as far as the Shōnai border when he received word that Oura Castle had fallen, and that Umanokami and Toranosuke had perished with all of their men, which caused him to become quite frantic with rage.
　　“I could not have imagined a more grievous outcome. We must meet the enemy quickly, and avenge these fallen men in battle,” he said, but Ujiie Owari no Kami and his other retainers restrained him. “We had but little time to prepare for this battle,” they said, “and our contingents from the distant parts of our domain have yet to reach us. We have a smaller army than usual, and from what we have heard, not only is our enemy a large one, but the lower-ranking Shōnai officers have all rallied to their side as well. It would be perilous to embark on a battle that would take us through dangerous terrain, and we urge your lordship to withdraw for now, and to return with a large army at some later date.” Faced with the earnest entreaty of his senior councilors, Lord Yoshiaki heeded their counsel and proceeded to turn back.
　　In the time that followed, the land was unified and became peaceful, and private wars between daimyo were forbidden. For that reason, the region remained in the hands of the Uesugi clan for some time, to Lord Yoshiaki’s great vexation, but when the area again fell into turbulence with the Battle of Sekigahara, Lord Yoshiaki finally succeeded in taking back the three districts of Shōnai and giving vent to the resentment that had troubled him for so long.

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>>CONTENTS

最上義光歴史館：[メモ/歴史館からのお知らせ]

＜Part1-11＞ Saijoki - The Mogami Chronicles -

The Downfall of the Ignoble Lord

　　Following Lord Yoshiaki’s return from the battle of Kaneyama, he summoned Kusakari Bizen no Kami to his sleeping quarters one evening and remained in counsel with him throughout the night.
　　The following spring, Bizen no Kami went forth to a mountain where the slaying of birds or animals was strictly prohibited, and he commenced to hunt deer and birds and commit other lawless acts. Lord Yoshiaki was greatly incensed when news of this reached his ears. “Only a scoundrel of the lowest order would dare to perpetrate such atrocities on this mountain, upon which lies the grave of Lord Yoshimori, and where the taking of any life is expressly forbidden. However, in consideration of his sacrifice of his son Takeda Hyōgo, who fell last year in battle at Kaneyama, I shall spare him the punishment of death.”
　　And so it was that Bizen no Kami was banished from the Mogami domain. Left with no other recourse, he made his way to Shōnai, where he placed himself at the mercy of the Ignoble Lord and was allowed to take up residence.
　　Upon hearing the details of Bizen no Kami’s crime, Mitsuyasu deemed him a man who would never be allowed to return to Yamagata and immediately made him a member of his personal retinue. Being a man of considerable acumen, Bizen no Kami was soon in Mitsuyasu’s good graces, and within the space of three months he found himself the recipient of a most generous fiefdom and a trusted retainer of his new master. Now, amongst the long-serving vassals of the Ignoble Lord there was a man by the name of Nakatsukasa, who was some sixty years of age. Nakatsukasa had a twelve-year-old son who had for some time served at Lord Mitsuyasu’s side, but when the boy one day committed some trifling offense, his unforgiving master pulled him close and slew him with his own sword. The grief of the elderly Nakatsukasa was quite beyond the capacity of words to convey, and in his keen anguish, he began to harbor a deep grudge against Mitsuyasu. “Although he may have been guilty of some small infraction,” Nakatsukasa grieved, “my son was but a lad of twelve, a boy who could still not tell his left from his right. I myself have fought honorably for my lord in many battles, and now that I have reached my sixtieth year, why do I deserve to be treated so heartlessly? How can my lord be so cruel?”
　　Pleading illness, Nakatsukasa retreated to his fiefdom of Takasaka, where he mourned his lost child day and night. The other retainers looked upon him with sympathy. “The bitterness Nakatsukasa feels against our lord is no more than just,” they said. “If even a man such as he, who is conspicuous in his faithful and meritorious service, can be subjected to such cruelty, there is no telling what fate may befall the rest of us.” It was in the midst of this muttering that one of them made the following observation:
　　“Lord Yoshiaki of Yamagata is known to say that a commanding general and his soldiers are like a folding fan. The general is the pivot, the captains the ribs, and the body of soldiers the paper covering, and each of these elements is indispensable to victory in battle. Moreover, Lord Yoshiaki has been heard to say that he feels towards his soldiers as he does towards his own children.”
　　“He speaks truly,” said those who were listening, “and no soldier would begrudge his life to serve a general who feels such as this. In the case of the Ignoble Lord, who loves war and acts without mercy, fear of his lordship’s wrath may bring outward obedience, but there are none who truly feel loyal to him.”
　　Though one and all were in agreement on this, they feared that Lord Mitsuyasu would hear of any visits they paid to Nakatsukasa, and none dared make the attempt.
　　Bizen no Kami, however, had a secret agenda, and in the dead of night, when all were asleep, he would slip out to visit the elderly retainer. He would recount tales that would soothe the other man’s heart, or join him in mourning his son, and it was at these times that Nakatsukasa would unburden himself to his guest. “Not even the colleagues with whom I have shared long friendships will come to see me, for they all fear his lordship, while you – who have but recently joined us here – uncomplainingly make the long nightly journey to visit me and comfort me in my sorrow, and for this I am most deeply grateful.”
　　On one of these nights, with the rain falling outside and a mournful feel in the air, Bizen no Kami arrived with a servant laden with a small cask of sake and other supplies. Nakatsukasa welcomed him warmly, saying, “I had been feeling particularly lonely on this rainy evening – it is good of you to have come,” and the two men spent the night talking of the daimyo and lords of the various provinces.
　　“I know not whether to believe,” said Nakatsukasa, “the reports that Lord Yoshiaki of Yamagata is a man of great compassion who is merciful to all his people. Is this indeed true?”
“In recent years,” replied Bizen no Kami, “Lord Yoshiaki has conquered much of the region with his sword, making some in the neighboring provinces view him as a fierce god of sorts, but at heart he is a man of great mercy. He looks upon all his subjects as his children, and his care even extends to the old and infirm, who are granted stipends and looked after well.”
　　Upon hearing Bizen no Kami’s response, Nakatsukasa moved to his side and spoke in an undertone. “Although it shames me to say so, I find myself unable to forgive my lord for his recent treatment of me. In truth, when the Ignoble Lord was but a boy of twelve, it was I who orchestrated an unprecedented coup in the Murakami domain of Echigo province, along with a series of subsequent military victories, which enabled him to become ruler of Shōnai. Are these not verily the acts of a faithful servant? However, the resentment I feel towards him is not mine alone, for as you yourself have seen and heard, his lordship is mighty only in battle, and has not the slightest whit of compassion for others. Those who are willing to listen to reason and strive for the good of the land find themselves stripped of their positions, while only flatterers and sycophants rise in the ranks, insolent in their snug proximity to his lordship. With these men increasingly given to evil ways, there are none in the land who can breathe easily, and it is for the sake of these people that I have resolved to offer my allegiance to Lord Yoshiaki. I will help to lead the conquest of the Shōnai domain, and if I join the Mogami side, I believe that most of Lord Mitsuyasu’s other retainers will follow me. Your presence here at this particular time is most fortuitous – take yourself quickly to Yamagata and inform Lord Yoshiaki of my proposal, and if he agrees, I will flee to Yamagata without delay. If his lordship is appraised of the situation, he will surely pardon you for any past misdeeds.” It was in this way that Nakatsukasa made his intentions quite clear to his guest.
　　In truth, Bizen no Kami had come forth to Shōnai and spent several years dwelling in the region precisely in order to bring about the downfall of the Ignoble Lord. He had attempted to gauge the interest of a variety of persons, but with so much at stake he was sorely troubled as to his best course of action, which made Nakatsukasa’s proposal a most felicitous turn of events.
　　“What you suggest is entirely justified,” Bizen no Kami told Nakatsukasa, “for what other choice do you have? The gods themselves could hardly fail to recognize the justice of your desire to overthrow a wicked lord and relieve the distress of the multitudes. However, fleeing to the distant region of Yamagata will not be enough to bring you success in this scheme. You should remain here and secretly hold counsel with those who will stand by your side, and if you then make your intentions known to Lord Yoshiaki, he will no doubt advance on Shōnai with his army at the earliest opportunity. Lord Mitsuyasu will likely go with his troops to the Shōnai-Mogami border to meet the enemy army, and if you take that opportunity to set fire to his castle and attack him from behind, Mitsuyasu will find himself set upon from both sides and – fierce general that he may be – will no doubt be overcome quickly.” Bizen no Kami clearly outlined the steps of his strategy, and Nakatsukasa listened attentively.
　　“You speak most wisely,” he said. “I will seek out those who will ally themselves with me.” From that time on, Nakatsukasa organized clandestine meetings with his colleagues, informing them of what he had resolved to do for the sake of the people and encouraging them to join him. Without exception, all those he approached had grown so disgusted with their master that they welcomed his proposal wholeheartedly, enthusiastically falling in with his plans. It was decided that they would draw up a written pledge, and late one night, when all were asleep, they assembled at Nakatsukasa’s residence. Bizen no Kami had prepared the document containing their oath, and to this they affixed their seals. The pledge was entrusted to Bizen no Kami, and a war council was held to seal their compact.
　　When Bizen no Kami sent word of these developments to Yamagata, Lord Yoshiaki was exceedingly pleased. “The problem of the Ignoble Lord is one that has long weighed on my mind, but this success in turning his entire body of retainers to our side is no small testament to the fidelity of Bizen no Kami.” Without delay, Lord Yoshiaki departed Yamagata at the head of his army, and the vanguard had soon passed the high peaks of Mount Gassan, advancing as far as the Kurokawa-Matsune region.
　　News of these movements reached the ears of the Ignoble Lord. “Lord Yoshiaki’s reputation in recent years has him as a fierce god of sorts, which will make him a worthy adversary for one such as myself. Let us take to the field and give him a real fight.” With this, Lord Mitsuyasu set forth from his castle with his army.
　　While he and his men took up their position on the other side of the river that separated them from the Mogami vanguard, Nakatsukasa proceeded to carry out the prearranged plan of entering Lord Mitsuyasu’s castle and setting fire to the main bailey. “What is the meaning of this?” demanded Mitsuyasu and his attendants when they saw the black smoke drifting up to the heavens, and they were plunged into immediate confusion.
　　Lord Mitsuyasu and his hatamoto guard struggled to regroup, but in the next moment they found themselves under attack by the very retainers who had until then formed a defensive barrier around them, but who now rained arrows and musket balls in their direction.
　　Witnessing this scene from their position across the river, the soldiers of the Mogami vanguard, led by Honjō Buzen no Kami, took no heed of the deep river waters as they charged across and set upon the enemy with their swords. The hatamoto guard crumbled under this fierce onslaught, fleeing without a single glance behind, but the Mogami force pursued and slew the fleeing soldiers one by one.
　　Lord Mitsuyasu and his personal guard of twenty-four or five warriors managed to flee a distance of some six hundred meters or so, but Mitsuyasu’s hereditary vassals had without exception turned on their master, and they used their knowledge of the lay of the land to cut off all avenues of escape. Faced with an enemy at every corner, Lord Mitsuyasu abandoned all hope of escape and turned his horse around once more.
　　“This is a bitter end indeed,” he rued. “Lord Yoshiaki’s recent wrath towards Kusakari Bizen, leading to his supposed flight to Shōnai, was but a ruse to achieve this intended outcome. And I allowed myself to be taken in so easily – even placing this deceiver in my own service. All that is left for me to do now is to launch myself with all speed upon Yoshiaki’s hatamoto guard and die honorably in battle.” He made as if to gallop off immediately, but his attendants restrained him.
　　“The position of Yoshiaki’s hatamoto guard is some four kilometers distant,” they said, “and it is doubtful whether you will reach your destination. Rather than allowing yourself to meet your death at the hands of some common soldier along the way, would it not be better to take your own life here and now? We will defend you with our arrows and keep the enemy away.” Barely had they finished speaking, however, when a stray arrow struck Mitsuyasu, plunging deeply into his left side. Realizing that all was lost, Lord Mitsuyasu called out to his men. “Do not let them find me after I am dead!” he said, and, pulling off his armor from his position astride his horse, he slashed open his own belly and fell dead.
　　It cannot be denied that Mitsuyasu had been a powerful leader, but with his propensity for cruelty that had turned even his long-serving retainers against him, he had brought himself to a quick, and miserable, end.
　　Bizen no Kami presently came forth, bearing the head of Lord Mitsuyasu, to the head encampment where Lord Yoshiaki was waiting, and he detailed the outcome of the battle. Lord Yoshiaki was highly pleased, telling Bizen no Kami, “It is thanks to your staunch devotion that we have succeeded in overthrowing Mitsuyasu so quickly,” and later bestowing upon him a generous fiefdom in addition to a formal letter of commendation. Led by Bizen no Kami, Lord Yoshiaki thereupon made his victorious entry into Shōnai. Nakatsukasa and the others who had allied themselves with the Mogami side presented themselves before his lordship to proffer their gratitude, and one and all were given his lordship’s assurance that they would be allowed to retain their fiefs. In addition to his own fiefdom, Nakatsukasa was also granted all the property and possessions that had belonged to the Ignoble Lord, and Lord Yoshiaki told him, “I now consider you one of my own hereditary retainers.”
　　However, Nakatsukasa declined this offer. “I could not be more grateful,” he told Lord Yoshiaki, “but I am past my sixtieth year, with no child to carry on my name, and I have no interest in pursuing prosperity for myself. I joined your lordship’s side in order to ease the suffering of the many, and all I ask in return is that you kindly allow me to take my leave.” With this earnest entreaty, Nakatsukasa left the Shōnai domain forthwith, retiring to the Kinbusen area of Yamato province where he became a Buddhist monk, and subsequently passing away at the age of eighty.
　　Some time afterwards, Lord Yoshiaki issued the following command: “Mitsuyasu was a ruler of note in these lands, and a temple should be constructed for the repose of his soul.” Erected near the port of Kamo, this sanctuary was given the name “Kōan-ji(16) Temple” and endowed with a generous tract of land.

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(16)Kōan is an alternative reading of the characters that comprise the name ‘Mitsuyasu’

>>CONTENTS

最上義光歴史館：[メモ/歴史館からのお知らせ]

山野辺義忠の成長期を探る【5】

最上義光の四男山野辺義忠の成長期を探る

【五　結論】

　山野辺義忠の成長期を探る手立てとして、その起点とする鮎貝、石川氏の「知行状」を中心に、その解明に努めてきた。この二氏の「知行状」の存在から推察すると、これ以外に同じく家臣として召し上げられた者達がいたのではないか。
　慶長五年(1600)十三歳頃までの、義忠を取り巻く環境、即ち政治、経済的な地盤等については、それらを明らかにする程の物は、何も残されてはいない。ただその一片が、「知行状」に形を変え、残されていた。しかし、何かその痕跡が残されてはいないのか、従来の義忠関連の記事などを拾い、これが筆者の独断と偏見の嫌いがあろうかと思われるが、私見として纏めてみよう。

(A)先の二氏の「知行状」から、楯岡地区の内での楯岡満茂と義忠(幼少時の聖丸)の諸領地の形態が、朧気ながら分かってくる。しかし、義忠の領分を示すものは何も無い。

(B)義忠が大石田の深堀地区の郷土の娘を母として生れ、楯岡満茂の庇護を受け育ッたという。これから、深堀を中心とする地域に、義忠の領分らしきものが散在していたかも知れぬ。

(C)文禄四年(1595)、満茂の仙北湯沢に移った後の、楯岡地区近辺の支配権は誰の手に移ったであろうか。その旧領の一部は、義忠の支配圏下に組み入れられたのではないか。そして、慶長五年(1600)の関ヶ原戦後に、山辺地区へと領地替えが行われたのであろう。

(D)『村山市史』などは、『祥雲寺記録』や『最上楯岡元祖記』などの記録から、「慶長五年から元和三年までは、山野辺右衛門義忠が城番となった。……義光は信用のおける四子義忠を要衝楯岡の城番として、領国の守りを固めようとしたのであろうか。元和三年には義忠は山辺城主として楯岡を去って行った」と。
また、一方では「慶長四己亥年、中山玄蕃預リ勤番、長崎城主七千五石也」、また「山野辺右衛門大夫、元和三丁巳山野辺エ所替也、鮭延越前守勤番、一万五千石、新庄真室城也」などと、関ヶ原戦の前後から、楯岡城の勤番制が始まっていたように思われる。そして、義忠が勤番の任を解かれ、山辺城主に戻ったのは元和三年 (1617)というから、義光の実弟の楯岡光直の楯岡入部の時期は、この頃ではなかったろうか。

　本稿は、義忠の生誕の天正十六年(1588)頃からの、その成長期の生き方を探し求めて来たのであるが、その目的を十分に明らかにすることは困難である。
　曰く、「慶長六年、義忠が一万九千三百石という、楯岡領と変わらない禄高で山辺城主となり、大石田、深堀地区の人々を多数引き連れ、山辺村の南部に住まわせ、さらに深堀村に移した」という。
　思うに、この山辺城主への転身が、義光の四男として羽州の地に、晴れて名乗りを挙げたのではなかろうか。よって義忠の生き方からすれば、この時期あたりまでを成長期として見ても良いだろう。しかし、その調べの内容はと見ると、満足なる結果は得ることはできず、単に石川、鮎貝氏に関わる調査のみに重点が置かれてしまったことは、まことに残念である。
　最後に全くの私見ではあるが、楯岡地区の楯岡満茂の勢力圏の内に生れ育ち、関ヶ原戦の長谷堂合戦の頃までの義忠の成長期を、解いていってみたい。

(E)義忠の諸領地が楯岡地区の内にあった。それがどの辺りかは定かではないが、楯岡満茂の庇護を受けながら成長していった。文禄四年(1595)義忠八歳の時、満茂が最上の将として仙北湯沢を攻め、その一帯を確保したとは申せ、経済的な安定を見たとは思われず、恐らく義忠の山辺への転身の頃までは、楯岡地区を中心とする地域は、依然として経済面の供給源として、満茂の支配権は残されていたのではないか。

(F)湯沢一帯が確実に満茂の勢力圏下に入った以後、満茂旧領の楯岡地区には、幾人かの勤番が勤めていたというから、満茂の旧領は最上氏の蔵入地となったのであろう。そして元和に入ると、義光の実弟の楯岡甲斐守光直が楯岡城主として入部、それは元和八年(1622)の山形藩解体までの短い期間ではあったが、楯岡地区の新しい支配者となった。

(G)義忠三歳の時、そして関ヶ原戦の際にも、家康のもとに送られたというが、それを信ずることは難しい。義忠は関ヶ原戦に於ける長谷堂の合戦時には、何処にいたのであろうか。山形城内かそれとも後詰として楯岡に在ったか。今に伝える [長谷堂合戦図屏風]に、山辺右衛門大輔光茂とある馬上姿の武者が、果たして若き義忠の姿であったのか。それとも文亀頃の刑部直広系につながる、山辺右衛門ではなかったのか。合戦図を描いた戸部正直は、『奥羽永慶軍記』の作者でもあり、長谷堂合戦の記述の中にも「山辺右衛門」が登場している。

(H)関ヶ原戦の際に、家康の許に証人(人質)として差し出したなどと、何を根拠にそのような話しが残されたのだろうか。義忠が合戦の場に居合わせていたとしても、若輩の義忠は後方に在って構えていた。しかし合戦図には華々しい義忠の姿がある。

　『山形県史』や『山形市史』に、同じく[石川文書]の内に記載されている、「知行状」の一本を見てみよう。

長谷堂於表ニ、廿九日手柄之働不有是非候、依之五千苅之地、為加増内置者也、
　慶長六年
　　二月廿三日
　　　石川三四郎殿　　光茂

　これは、『山形市史』編集のものであるが、『山形県史』も同じく東大史料編纂所影写本とあるので、同一のものであろう。しかし、その発給年月を県史は慶長八年としているが、これは転写の際の誤記かと考えられよう。とすると、長谷堂合戦に参加し手柄をたてた石川三四郎に対しての、論功行賞であることが判る。この「知行状」から推察すれば、この合戦に義忠の軍勢も参加していたことが判る。しかし、義忠自身も陣頭に立って指揮を採っていたかは、ここで明言することは難しい。しかし、他にこれに似たような史料でも現れれば、はっきりするのではあるが。この石川三四郎と与三右兵衛(与惣兵衛)との関係については、はっきり掴むことはできないが同族であろう。
　参考のために、与三右兵衛一族の略歴を述べてみる。

(イ)隆永与惣兵衛(与三右兵衛)

(ロ)重昌弥一郎(隆永弟)
大崎氏ニ属シ、天正十六年奥州ニテ戦死、

(ハ)重永与八郎(隆永弟)
大崎氏没落後、最上家ニ仕フ、長谷堂戸上山麓ニ於テ戦死ス、

(ニ)重頼　半兵衛(隆永弟)
天正十九年、父ニ従イ羽州楯岡ニ移ル、父没後ハ山辺町ニ住ス、寛永四年、伊達宗泰ニ仕フ、

(ホ)重之仁兵衛(隆永弟)
天正十六生ル、元和九年、鶴岡城主酒井家ニ任フ、

(へ)重成　与兵衛(隆永弟)
元和九年、義兄田左衛門重綱、並二兄仁兵衛重之ト共ニ、酒井家ニ召抱エラル、

(ト)女子(隆永妹)
同属石川田左衛門重綱ノ室、

　ここに、石川隆永の五人の弟と、一人の妹を拾ってみたが、奥州で戦死した一人を除き、五人は共に最上へ移り、一人は長谷堂合戦で戦死したとしている。妹の記述に田左衛門の室とあるが、同じく[石川文書]の中に、義忠の慶長九年発給の田左衛門宛の一,知行状」がある。このように、同族の田左衛門も共に奥州から逃れ来て、義忠に仕えていたことが分かる。
　以上、山野辺義忠の成長期を探ると題し、極めて少ない参考文献を基に纏めあげてみた。本稿はその数少ない資料の内から、豊臣秀吉の奥州仕置の前後に、隣国から逃れ来て、最上の家臣となった石川氏の伝える資料が、調査の本流となってしまったことは、これも致し方の無いことである。それほどに、義忠の成長期を解き明かす程の、真実の姿を描いたものは皆無に近いと云ってもよいだろう。
　義忠の成長期から脱皮して、一人前の武将としてしての出発点と見る長谷堂合戦に、義忠は何らかの形で参加していたのではないか。それは義忠の次への道へと歩を進める、最初の一歩でもあったろう。
　最後に、本稿の全ての内容を肯定する程の自信は無い。しかし従来、語り伝えられてきた諸説に対し、いくらかの波紋を投げ与えられたのではなかろうか。

終り

[主な参考文献]
山形県史・古代中世史料1　　山形市史・史料編1　　北村山郡史　　祥雲寺記録　　楯岡元祖記　　奥羽永慶軍記　　鶏肋編　　本城文書　　山辺町郷土概史　　貞山公治家記　　鮎貝の歴史　　鮎貝累代記　　楯岡笠原文書　　石川文書　　鶴岡石川家系譜　　最上四十八館の研究　　私説やまのべ風土記　　山辺町史資料集　　楯岡笠原文書　　山辺郷2号　　山形県地城史研究10号　　寛政重修諸家譜　　戦国時代人物事典　　角川日本地名辞典　　戦国大名家臣団事典　　楯岡史寸録　　郷土史読本

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