5) Honnoji Incident
1582 was the year of the famous Honnoji Incident. At the time Ukon
was on his way to join forces with Akechi Mitsuhide who had set off to
attack China, but he immediately hurried back to Takatsuki. At times
like these, riots often break out and the countryside goes to rack and
ruin since there is nobody left to look after things. When Ukon's army
arrived back in Takatsuki, the streets showed no sign of any disturbance.
The church door which was never closed so that people could come to pray
whenever they wanted, was open as usual and the inside of the church too
had been left untouched. Ukon repented of his lack of faith in God
because he came home in such a hurry - and gave thanks to God for His protection. However,
Ukon could not forgive Mitsuhide for what he had done. To turn against
and even to kill one's master, was against the teachings of Christ. After
the Murashige affair, this was certainly something which Ukon could not
be forgotten. Ukon joined Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the leader of the faction
opposed to Mitsuhide, and fought so bravely that Mitsuhide's army suffered
heavy casualties.
Some time after the thirteen days of Mitsuhide's rule had come to a close, Nobunaga's
funeral was held in Kyoto. As the Buddhist ceremony of the funeral
proceeded, the time came for incense to be burned and the feudal lords
all stood up. Ukon, however, who knew that burning incense meant putting
one's faith in Buddhism, remained seated. In such an age, if he had
been censured for this, he might well have had his lands seized and been
ordered to commit seppuku, but Ukon refused to be a half-hearted Christian.
He stuck to the teaching of Christ.
In the event, Ukon was not reprimanded by Hideyoshi on the contrary, everyone
came to see Just's Christian faith in a new light.
Takatsuki Castle Museum on the site of TakatsukiCastle
(building in the center at the back)
