Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Lifetime

Period: 1536 to Sep 18, 1598

Birth of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Mar 17, 1537

Born to be a military leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was raised in the neighborhood of Nakamura in the region of Owari as the son of Yaemon, a foot soldier yet a peasant.

Construction of the Osaka Castle

1586

Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the huge Osaka castle.

Banishment of Christian Missionaries from Japan

1587

Toyotomi Hideyoshi passes his first edict to banish Christian missionaries from Japan.

Unification of Japan

1590

Through military and political means, he finished the task of unifying Japan by 1590, establishing his headquarters in Osaka.

Redefinition of Class System

1591

Hideyoshi redefines the class system of Japan with different levels for a warrior (shi), farmer (no), artisan (ko), and merchant (sho).

Construction of Fushimi Castle

1594

Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the Fushimi Castle outside Heiankyo (Kyoto).

Death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Sep 18, 1598

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the most extraordinary famous samurai in Japan, died in September 1598, when his troops were still in Korea.