A-1. Where is the birthplace of Date Masamune?

Date Masamune was born at Yonezawa Castle (Yamagata Prefecture) on August 3, 1567. His father was Terumune, the 16th leader of the Date Family, and his mother was Yoshihime (Hoshuin), the daughter of Mogami Yoshimori, the lord of Yamagata Castle. Masamune was given a childhood name of Bontenmaru.

A-2. Could you tell us about the life of Date Masamune?

Date Masamune was born at Yonezawa Castle (Yamagata Prefecture) in 1567 as the 17th feudal lord of the Date Family. At the age of 24, he defeated Ashina of Aizu (Fukushima Prefecture) and conquered Minamiou (Southern Tohoku), which led him to possess the biggest territory since the beginning of the Date Family and gave him the name of “Dokuganryu (one-eyed dragon)”. He moved to Iwadeyama (Miyagi Prefecture) from his former territory by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and established a castle in Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) with an approval of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the age of 35. As the founder of the Sendai Clan, Masamune put his efforts in building the foundation of the Sendai Clan and its 62 koku of rice until he ended his life at the age of 70 at Edo Sakurada Kamiyashiki Residence in 1636.

A-3.What is the buddhist name of Date Masamune?

Date Masamune’s buddhist name is “Zuiganjiden Teizan Zenri Daikoji”, and his family temple, Zuiganji, is located in Matasushima

A-4. Where did the name “Dokuganryu Masamune” come from?

A-4. Where did the name “Dokuganryu Masamune” come from?