Chikurin-in 竹林院 | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1579/80 |
| Died | June 27, 1649(1649-06-27) (aged 69–70) |
| Other names | Takehime (竹姫) Akihime (安岐姫) Riyohime (利世姫) Keihime (けいひめ) |
| Spouse | Sanada Yukimura |
| Father | Ōtani Yoshitsugu |
| Relatives | Toyotomi Hideyoshi (adopted father) Sanada Masayuki (father-in-law) Sanada Nobuyuki (brother-in-law) Komatsuhime (sister-in-law) |
| Family |  Ōtani clan Toyotomi clan Sanada clan |
Chikurin-in (竹林院) (1579/80 – June 27, 1649) was a Japanese noble lady of the lateAzuchi-Momoyama through earlyEdo period. She wasŌtani Yoshitsugu's daughter, then she was adopted byToyotomi Hideyoshi, before marryingSanada Yukimura (Nobushige). She is described as having been very beautiful. They had two or three sons and four daughters.[1]
Chikurin-in was known in her childhood as Takehime (竹姫). She was also known as Riyohime (利世姫) and Akihime (安岐姫). In 1594, she married Sanada Yukimura, the second son ofSanada Masayuki, daimyō ofUeda.[2] It was a political marriage suggested by Hideyoshi to ensure an alliance between theToyotomi (and the Ōtani) and theSanada.[1]
After Hideyoshi's death (1598), Japan was divided in two. Yukimura, Yoshitsugu and Masayuki (Chikurin-in's father-in-law) joined the western coalition ofIshida Mitsunari, while Yukimura's older brother,Sanada Nobuyuki, joined the eastern coalition ofTokugawa Ieyasu.
After theBattle of Sekigahara, with Ieyasu's victory, Yukimura and Masayuki were exiled toMt. Koya in theKii Peninsula. Chikurin-in followed her husband. In exile, they had two or three sons and some daughters. It is said that life inKudoyama was difficult so, according to the tradition, she is supposed to had devise the Sanadahimo, that applied Tsumugi technology. She has supported the livelihood of her family by selling it.[2]
In 1615, during theOsaka Campaign, Yukimura and his family escaped from the exile to join in theToyotomi's forces. But, in theSummer Siege, Yukimura and his first son, Yukimasa, were killed.[1]
Chikurin-in and her daughter Akuri were captured by Asano Nagaakira's troops and handed over to the Tokugawa, but both were spared and Chikurin-in became a nun. Her name as a nun was Chikurin-inden-baikei-eishun-daishi (竹林院殿梅渓永春大姉).
Chikurin-in went, in the first place, at the service of theAsano clan, in the second place, toKyoto with one of her daughters. She died there the June 27, 1649.