Uesugi Kenshin Quotes

Uesugi Kenshin Quotes
Uesugi Kenshin (Birthdate: 18. February 1530 Date of death: 19. April 1578) was a daimyō who was born as Nagao Kagetora, and after the adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was one of the most powerful daimyōs of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade; his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo.Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen, his numerous campaigns to restore order in the Kantō region as the Kanto Kanrei,

His original name was Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎).He changed his name to Uesugi Masatora (上杉政虎) when he inherited the Uesugi clan name in order to accept the official title of Kantō Kanrei (関東管領). Later he changed his name again to Uesugi Terutora (上杉輝虎) to honor the 13th shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru (足利義輝), and finally to Kenshin (上杉謙信) after he vowed to become a Zen-Buddhist; in particular, he would become renowned for being a devotee of Bishamonten.

Kenshin was born in the Tiger year (Chinese zodiac) and always kept the word “tora” (虎, tiger) in his names. He is respected as “The Tiger of Echigo” for his intelligent capabilities and excellent contributions.

Kenshin is also referred to as “The Dragon of Echigo” because of his Kakarimidareryuu (懸かり亂れ龍) ensign displayed on the battlefield.

Uesugi Kenshin Quotes

Those who cling to life die, and those who defy death live.

Wars are to be won with swords and spears, not with rice and salt.

Peace is achieved with rice and salt, not with katanas and arrows

Go to the battlefield firmly confident of victory and you will come home with no wounds whatsoever.

Engage in combat fully determined to die and you will be alive; wish to survive in the battle and you will surely meet death.

Uesugi Kenshin poem

His death poem was:

Even a life-long prosperity is but one cup of sake; A life of forty-nine years is passed in a dream; I know not what life is, nor death. Year in year out-all but a dream. Both Heaven and Hell are left behind; I stand in the moonlit dawn, Free from clouds of attachment

Fate is in heaven, armor is on the chest, accomplishment is in the feet; always fight with your opponent in the palm of your hand, and you won’t get wounded. If you fight willing to die, you’ll survive; if you fight trying to survive, you’ll die. If you think you’ll never go home again, you will; if you hope to make it back, you won’t. While it is not incorrect to consider the world uncertain, as a warrior one should not think of it as uncertain but as totally certain.