Dota Gozen (土田 御前; d. 26 February 1594), also known asTsuchida Gozen, was a Japanese noblewoman and the mother ofOda Nobunaga, a majordaimyō and politician of theSengoku period regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan.^[1]

Dota Gozen's origins are unknown, including her date and location of birth, her ancestry, and her real name. Gozen is assumed to be the daughter of Dota Masahisa, also known as Tsuchida Masahisa, asamurai possibly descended from theRokkaku clan, but this is unconfirmed. Gozen was married toOda Nobuhide, a deputyshugo (shugodai) andde facto ruler ofOwari Province and the head of the powerfulOda clan. She is the biological mother of four sons, Nobunaga,Nobuyuki,Nobukane, andHidetaka; and two daughters,Oinu, andOichi.

According to rumors^{[citation needed]}, Gozen did not like her eldest son Nobunaga, notorious in Owari for his eccentric and unconventional behavior, and instead preferred his well-mannered younger brother, Nobuyuki. When Nobuhide died in 1551, Gozen lived inSuemori Castle with her second son, Nobuyuki, and supported him in thesuccession crisis that occurred. Although Nobunaga was the legitimate heir as head of the Oda clan, Nobuyuki and other family members plotted against his succession. When Nobuyuki attempted to usurp Nobunaga but failed, Gozen interfered and asked Nobunaga to take mercy on his brother, which he accepted and turned his attention to other rivals. However, Nobuyuki eventually tried to usurp Nobunaga again and, this time, Nobunaga killed him and destroyed Suemori Castle in the process.

Afterward, she lived with Nobunaga and Oichi and looked after their children (Nobutada,Nobukatsu,Nobutaka,Chacha,Hatsu,Gō, etc.) when they were young. Gozen outlived both Nobunaga and her grandsonOda Nobutada after their death in theHonno-ji Incident in 1582.

Gozen spent her later life with Nobukane atTsu Castle until her death on 26 February 1594, and is buried at Shitennō-ji located in modern-dayTsu,Mie Prefecture.

• Father:Dota Masahisa
• Husband:Oda Nobuhide (1510–1551)
• Sons:
  • Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582)
  • Oda Nobuyuki (1536–1557)
  • Oda Nobukane (1548–1614)
  • Oda Hidetaka (died 1555)
• Daughters:
  • Oichi (1547–1583)
  • Oinu (died 1582)

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