Early life (1537–1558)

Very little is known for certain about Toyotomi Hideyoshi before 1570, when he begins to appear in surviving documents and letters. His autobiography starts in 1577, but in it, Hideyoshi spoke very little about his past.

According to tradition, Hideyoshi was born on 17 March 1537 in Nakamura, Owari Province (present-day Nakamura Ward, Nagoya), in the middle of the chaotic Sengoku period under the collapsed Ashikaga Shogunate. Hideyoshi had no traceable samurai lineage, and his father Kinoshita Yaemon was an ashigaru – a peasant employed by the samurai as a foot soldier. Hideyoshi had no surname, and his childhood given name was ("Bounty of the Sun") although variations exist. Yaemon died in 1543 when Hideyoshi was 7-years-old.

Many legends describe Hideyoshi being sent to study at a temple as a young man, but he rejected temple life and went in search of adventure. Under the name , he first joined the Imagawa clan as a servant to a local ruler named . Hideyoshi traveled all the way to the lands of Imagawa Yoshimoto, the daimyo based in Suruga Province, and served there for a time, only to abscond with a sum of money entrusted to him by Matsushita Yukitsuna.

Service under Nobunaga (1558–1582)

In 1558, Hideyoshi became an ashigaru for the powerful Oda clan, the rulers of his home province of Owari, now headed by the ambitious Oda Nobunaga. Hideyoshi soon became one of Nobunaga's sandal-bearers, a position of relatively high status, and was present at the Battle of Okehazama in 1560 when Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto to become one of the most powerful warlords in the Sengoku period. According to his biographers, Hideyoshi supervised the repair of Kiyosu Castle, a claim described as "apocryphal", and managed the kitchen.

In 1561, Hideyoshi married One, the adopted daughter of Asano Nagakatsu. Hideyoshi carried out repairs on Sunomata Castle with his younger half-brother, Hashiba Koichirō, along with Hachisuka Masakatsu, and Maeno Nagayasu. Hideyoshi's efforts were well-received because Sunomata was in enemy territory, and according to legend Hideyoshi constructed a fort in Sunomata overnight and discovered a secret route into Mount Inaba, after which much of the local garrison surrendered.

In 1564, Hideyoshi was very successful as a negotiator. He managed to convince, mostly with liberal bribes, a number of Mino warlords to desert the Saitō clan. Hideyoshi approached many Saitō clan samurai and convinced them to submit to Nobunaga, including the Saitō clan's strategist, Takenaka Shigeharu.

Nobunaga's easy victory at the siege of Inabayama Castle in 1567 was largely due to Hideyoshi's efforts, and despite his peasant origins, in 1568 Hideyoshi became one of Nobunaga's most distinguished generals, eventually taking the name . The new surname included two characters, one each from Oda's right-hand men, , and ,

In 1570, Hideyoshi protected Nobunaga's retreat from Azai-Asakura forces at Kanegasaki. Hideyoshi's rear-guard defense of his lord's escape is one of his fabled accomplishments under Nobunaga.

Later in June 1570, at the Battle of Anegawa, Hideyoshi was assigned to lead Oda troops into open battle for the first time in which Oda Nobunaga allied with Tokugawa Ieyasu to lay siege to two fortresses of the Azai and Asakura clans.

In 1573, after victorious campaigns against the Azai and Asakura, Nobunaga appointed Hideyoshi daimyo of three districts in the northern part of Ōmi Province. Initially, Hideyoshi based at the former Azai headquarters at Odani Castle but moved to Kunitomo and renamed the city "Nagahama" in tribute to Nobunaga. Hideyoshi later moved to the port at Imahama on Lake Biwa, where he began work on Imahama Castle and took control of the nearby Kunitomo firearms factory that had been established some years previously by the Azai and Asakura. Under Hideyoshi's administration, the factory's output of firearms increased dramatically.

Hideyoshi participated in the 1573 siege of Nagashima.

In 1575, Hideyoshi fought in the Battle of Nagashino against Takeda. In 1576, Nobunaga sent Hideyoshi to Himeji Castle to conquer the Chūgoku region from the Mori clan. Hideyoshi then fought in the Battle of Tedorigawa (1577), the siege of Miki (1578), the siege of Itami (1579), the siege of Tottori (1581) and the siege of Takamatsu (1582).

Death of Nobunaga

On June 21, 1582, Oda Nobunaga and his eldest son Nobutada were killed in the Honnō-ji incident by the forces of the traitorous Akechi Mitsuhide. Their assassination in Honnō-ji temple in Kyoto ended Nobunaga's quest to consolidate centralised power in Japan under his authority.

Hideyoshi, seeking vengeance for the death of his lord, made peace with the Mōri clan and thirteen days later met Mitsuhide and defeated him at the Battle of Yamazaki, avenging his lord (Nobunaga) and taking Nobunaga's authority and power for himself.

Rise to Power (1582–1585)

Construction of Osaka Castle

In 1582, Hideyoshi began construction of Osaka Castle. Built on the site of the temple Ishiyama Hongan-ji destroyed by Nobunaga, the castle would become the last stronghold of the Toyotomi clan after Hideyoshi's death.

Conflict with Katsuie

In 1583 Hideyoshi was in a very strong position. He summoned the powerful daimyos to Kiyosu so that they could determine Nobunaga's heir. Oda Nobukatsu and Oda Nobutaka quarreled, causing Hideyoshi to instead choose Nobunaga's grandson Samboshi, whose other name was Hidenobu. Having won the support of the other two Oda elders, Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Tsuneoki, Hideyoshi established Hidenobu's position, as well as his own influence in the Oda clan. He distributed Nobunaga's provinces among the generals and formed a council of four generals to help govern. Tension quickly escalated between Hideyoshi and Katsuie, and at the Battle of Shizugatake in the following year, Hideyoshi destroyed Katsuie's forces. Hideyoshi had thus consolidated his own power, dealt with most of the Oda clan, and controlled 30 provinces. The famous kirishitan daimyo and samurai Dom Justo Takayama fought on his side at this epic battle.

Conflict with Ieyasu

In 1584, Nobunaga's other son, Oda Nobukatsu, remained hostile to Hideyoshi. Nobukatsu allied himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the two sides fought at the inconclusive Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. It ultimately resulted in a stalemate, although Hideyoshi's forces were delivered a heavy blow. Ieyasu and Hideyoshi never actually fought against each other themselves but the former managed to check the advance of the latter's allies. Finally, Hideyoshi made peace with Nobukatsu, ending the pretext for war between the Tokugawa and Hashiba clans. Hideyoshi sent Tokugawa Ieyasu his younger sister Asahi no kata and mother Ōmandokoro as hostages.

Toyotomi clan

Like Nobunaga before him, Hideyoshi never achieved the title of shōgun. Instead, he arranged to have himself adopted by Konoe Sakihisa, one of the noblest men belonging to the Fujiwara clan and secured a succession of high court titles Chancellor (Daijō-daijin), including, in 1585, the prestigious position of Imperial Regent (kampaku). In 1586, Hideyoshi was formally given the new clan name Toyotomi (instead of Fujiwara) by the Imperial court. He built a lavish palace, the Jurakudai, in 1587 and entertained the reigning Emperor, Emperor Go-Yōzei, the following year.

Unification of Japan (1585–1592)

Negoro-ji campaign

Afterwards in 1585, Hideyoshi launched the siege of Negoro-ji and subjugated Kii Province.

The Negoro-gumi, the warrior monks of Negoro-ji, were quite skilled in the use of firearms, and were devout followers of Shingi, a branch of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. They were allied with the Ikkō-ikki, and with Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of Toyotomi's chief rivals. In particular, they attracted Hideyoshi's ire for their support of Tokugawa in the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute the previous year.

After attacking a number of other warrior monk outposts in the area, Hideyoshi's force turned to the monastery of Negoro-ji, attacking it from two sides. By this time, many of the Negoro-gumi had already fled to Ōta Castle. Later, Hideyoshi besieged Ōta Castle, The complex was set aflame, beginning with the residences of the priests, and Hideyoshi's samurai cut down monks as they escaped the blazing buildings.

Shikoku Campaign

In the 1585 invasion of Shikoku, Toyotomi forces seized and conquered Shikoku island, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, from Chōsokabe Motochika.

Toyotomi's forces arrived 113,000 strong under Toyotomi Hidenaga, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Ukita Hideie and the Mōri clan's "Two Rivers", Kobayakawa Takakage and Kikkawa Motoharu. Opposing them were 40,000 men of Chōsokabe's. Despite the overwhelming size of Hideyoshi's army, and the suggestions of his advisors, Motochika chose to fight to defend his territories. The battles culminated in the siege of Ichinomiya Castle, which lasted for 26 days. Chōsokabe made a half-hearted attempt to relieve his castle from the siege, but surrendered in the end. He was allowed to keep Tosa Province, while the rest of Shikoku was divided among Hideyoshi's generals.

Toyama campaign

During the late summer of August 1585, Hideyoshi launched an attack on Etchū Province.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi carried out the siege of Toyama castle. However, the Toyama castle garrison was led by Sassa Narimasa, one of his former allies many years back.

Hideyoshi led his army of around 100,000 soldiers against the 20,000 men of the Sassa Narimasa forces; in the end however, Narimasa's defense was shattered, opening the way to for Toyotomi supremacy over Etchū Province.

Kyushu Campaign

In 1586 Toyotomi Hideyoshi conquered Kyūshū, wresting control from the Shimazu clan.

Toyotomi Hidenaga, half-brother to Hideyoshi, landed to the south of Bungo on Kyūshū's eastern coast. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more westerly route, in Chikuzen Province. Later that year, with a total of 200,000 soldiers against the 30,000 men of the Shimazu forces, the two brothers would meet up in the Shimazu home province of Satsuma. They besieged Kagoshima castle, the Shimazu clan's home. The Shimazu surrendered, leaving Hideyoshi to return his attention to the Hōjō clan of Kantō, the last major clan to oppose him.

In 1587, Hideyoshi banished Christian missionaries from Kyūshū, to exert greater control over the Kirishitan daimyos. However, since he did much trade with Europeans, individual Christians were overlooked unofficially.

In 1588, Hideyoshi forbade ordinary peasants from owning weapons and started a sword hunt to confiscate arms. The swords were melted down to create a statue of the Buddha. This measure effectively stopped peasant revolts, and ensured greater stability at the expense of freedom of the individual daimyos.

Odawara campaign

In 1590, Hideyoshi carried out the siege of Odawara against the Hōjō clan in the Kantō region. With 220,000 men, the massive army of Toyotomi Hideyoshi surrounded Odawara Castle and its 82,000-strong Hōjō garrison, in what has been called "the most unconventional siege lines in samurai history". The samurai were entertained by everything from concubines, prostitutes, and musicians to acrobats, fire-eaters, and jugglers. The defenders slept on the ramparts with their arquebuses and armor; despite their smaller numbers, they discouraged Hideyoshi from attacking. After three months the Hōjō surrendered, losing the will to fight after the sudden appearance of Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle.

This eliminated the last resistance to Hideyoshi's authority. His victory signified the end of the Sengoku period. During the siege, Hideyoshi offered Ieyasu the eight Hōjō-ruled provinces in the Kantō region, in exchange for the submission of Ieyasu's five provinces. Ieyasu accepted this proposal.

Death of Sen no Rikyū

In February 1591, Hideyoshi ordered Sen no Rikyū to commit suicide, likely in one of his angry outbursts. Rikyū had been a trusted retainer and master of the tea ceremony under both Hideyoshi and Nobunaga. Under Hideyoshi's patronage, Rikyū made significant changes to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony that had a lasting influence over many aspects of Japanese culture. Even after Rikyū's death, Hideyoshi is said to have built his many construction projects based upon aesthetics promoted by Rikyū, perhaps suggesting that he regretted his actions.

Following Rikyū's death, Hideyoshi turned his attention from tea ceremony to Noh, which he had been studying since becoming Imperial Regent. During his brief stay in Nagoya Castle in what is today Saga Prefecture, on Kyūshū, Hideyoshi memorised the shite (lead role) parts of ten Noh plays, which he then performed, forcing various daimyos to accompany him onstage as the waki (secondary, accompanying role). He even performed before the emperor.

Kunohe rebellion

The Kunohe rebellion was an insurrection in the Sengoku period of Japan, that occurred in Mutsu Province from 13 March to 4 September 1591.

Kunohe Masazane, a claimant to daimyo of the Nanbu clan, launched a rebellion against his rival Nanbu Nobunao which spread across Mutsu Province. Nobunao was backed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who along with Tokugawa Ieyasu sent a large army into the Tōhoku region in mid-1591 which quickly defeated the rebels. Hideyoshi's army arrived at Kunohe Castle in early September. Masazane was outnumbered and surrendered Kunohe Castle but he and the castle defenders were executed. The Kunohe rebellion was the final battle in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns during the Sengoku period and completed the unification of Japan.

Korean campaign (1592–1598)

Taikō

The future stability of the Toyotomi dynasty after Hideyoshi's eventual death was put in doubt with the death of his son Tsurumatsu in September 1591. The three-year-old was his only child. When his half-brother Hidenaga died shortly after, Hideyoshi named his nephew Hidetsugu his heir, adopting him in January 1592. Hideyoshi resigned as kampaku to take the title of taikō (retired regent). Hidetsugu succeeded him as kampaku.

With Hideyoshi's health beginning to falter, but still yearning for some accomplishment to solidify his legacy, he adopted Oda Nobunaga's dream of a Japanese conquest of China and launched the conquest of the Ming dynasty by way of Korea (at the time known as Koryu or Joseon).

Hideyoshi had been communicating with the Koreans since 1587 requesting unmolested passage into China. As an ally of Ming China, the Joseon government of the time at first refused talks entirely, and in April and July 1591 also refused demands that Japanese troops be allowed to march through Korea. The government of Joseon was concerned that allowing Japanese troops to march through Korea (Joseon) would mean that masses of Ming Chinese troops would battle Hideyoshi's troops on Korean soil before they could reach China, putting Korean security at risk. In August 1591, Hideyoshi ordered preparations for an invasion of Korea to begin.

First campaign against Korea

In the first campaign, Hideyoshi appointed Ukita Hideie as field marshal, and had him go to the Korean peninsula in April 1592. Konishi Yukinaga occupied Seoul, which was the capital of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, on June 19. After Seoul fell easily, Japanese commanders held a war council in June in Seoul and determined targets of subjugation called Hachidokuniwari (literally, dividing the country into eight routes). Each targeted province was attacked by one of the army's eight divisions:

• Pyeongan by the First Division led by Konishi Yukinaga.

• Hamgyong by the Second Division led by Katō Kiyomasa.

• Hwanghae by the Third Division led by Kuroda Nagamasa.

• Gangwon by the Fourth Division led by Mōri Katsunaga.

• Chungcheong by the Fifth Division led by Fukushima Masanori.

• Jeolla by the Sixth Division led by Kobayakawa Takakage.

• Gyeongsang by the Seventh Division led by Mōri Terumoto.

• Gyeonggi by the Eighth Division led by Ukita Hideie.

In only four months, Hideyoshi's forces had a route into Manchuria and occupied much of Korea. The Korean king Seonjo of Joseon escaped to Uiju and requested military intervention from China. In 1593, the Wanli Emperor of Ming China sent an army under general Li Rusong to block the planned Japanese invasion of China and recapture the Korean peninsula. The Ming army of 43,000 soldiers headed by Li Ru-song proceeded to attack Pyongyang. On January 7, 1593, the Ming relief forces under Li recaptured Pyongyang and surrounded Seoul, but Kobayakawa Takakage, Ukita Hideie, Tachibana Muneshige and Kikkawa Hiroie won the Battle of Byeokjegwan in the suburbs of Seoul. At the end of the first campaign, Japan's entire navy was destroyed by Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Korea whose base was located in a part of Korea the Japanese could not control. This, in effect, put an end to Japan's dream of conquering China as the Koreans simply destroyed Japan's ability to re-supply their troops who were bogged down in Seoul.

Succession dispute

The birth of Hideyoshi's second son in 1593, Hideyori, created a potential succession problem. To avoid it, Hideyoshi exiled his nephew and heir Hidetsugu to Mount Kōya and then ordered him to commit suicide in August 1595. Hidetsugu's family members who did not follow his example were then murdered in Kyoto, including 31 women and several children.

Twenty-six martyrs of Japan

In January 1597, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had twenty-six Christians arrested as an example to Japanese who wanted to convert to Christianity. They are known as the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan. They included five European Franciscan missionaries, one Mexican Franciscan missionary, three Japanese Jesuits and seventeen Japanese laymen including three young boys. They were tortured, mutilated, and paraded through towns across Japan. On February 5, they were executed in Nagasaki by public crucifixion.

Second campaign against Korea

After several years of negotiations (broken off because envoys of both sides falsely reported to their masters that the opposition had surrendered), Hideyoshi appointed Kobayakawa Hideaki to lead a renewed invasion of Korea, but their efforts on the peninsula met with less success than the first invasion. Japanese troops remained pinned down in Gyeongsang Province. In June 1598, the Japanese forces turned back several Chinese offensives in Suncheon and Sacheon, but they were unable to make further progress as the Ming army prepared for a final assault. While Hideyoshi's battle at Sacheon was a major Japanese victory, all three parties to the war were exhausted. He told his commander in Korea, "Don't let my soldiers become spirits in a foreign land."

Death

Toyotomi Hideyoshi died on September 18, 1598. He was delirious, with Sansom asserting that he was babbling of the distribution of fiefs. His last words, delivered to his closest daimyos and generals, were "I depend upon you for everything. I have no other thoughts to leave behind. It is sad to part from you." His death was kept secret by the Council of Five Elders to preserve morale, and they ordered the Japanese forces in Korea to withdraw back to Japan. Because of his failure to capture Korea, Hideyoshi's forces were unable to invade China. Rather than strengthen his position, the military expeditions left his clan's coffers and fighting strength depleted, his vassals at odds over responsibility for the failure, and the clans that were loyal to the Toyotomi name weakened. The Tokugawa government later not only prohibited any further military expeditions to the Asian mainland but closed Japan to nearly all foreigners during the years of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was not until the late 19th century that Japan again fought a war against China through Korea, using much the same route that Hideyoshi's invasion force had used.

After his death, the other members of the Council of Five Regents were unable to keep the ambitions of Tokugawa Ieyasu in check. Two of Hideyoshi's top generals, Katō Kiyomasa and Fukushima Masanori, had fought bravely during the war but returned to find the Toyotomi clan castellan Ishida Mitsunari in power. He held the generals in contempt, and they sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hideyoshi's underage son and designated successor Hideyori lost the power his father once held, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was declared shōgun following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.

Family

• Father: Kinoshita Yaemon (d. 1543)

• Mother: Ōmandokoro (1513–1592)

• Adopted father: Konoe Sakihisa

• Siblings:

　• Toyotomi Hidenaga

　• Tomo, married Soeda Jinbae

　• Asahi no kata

Wives and concubines

• Wife Nene, or One, later Kōdai-in.

• Minami-dono, daughter of Yamana Toyokuni

• Yodo-dono, or Chacha, later Daikōin, daughter of Azai Nagamasa

• Minami no Tsubone, daughter of Yamana Toyokuni

• Matsu no Maru-dono or Kyōgoku Tatsuko, daughter of Kyōgoku Takayoshi

• Kaga-dono or Maahime, daughter of Maeda Toshiie

• Kaihime, daughter of Narita Ujinaga

• Sonnomaru-dono, adopted daughter of Gamō Ujisato, daughter of Oda Nobunaga

• Kusu no Tsubone, later Hokoin, daughter of Azai Nagamasa

• Sanjo-dono or Tora, daughter of Gamō Katahide

• Himeji-dono, daughter of Oda Nobukane

• Hirozawa no Tsubone, daughter of Kunimitsu Kyosho

• Ōshima or Shimako, later Gekkein, daughter of Ashikaga Yorizumi

• Anrunkin or Otane no Kata

• Ofuku, later Enyu-in, daughter of Miura Noto no Kami and mother of Ukita Hideie

Children

• Hashiba Hidekatsu (Ishimatsumaru) (1570–1576) by Minami-dono

• Daughter (name unknown)

• Toyotomi Tsurumatsu (1589–1591) by Yodo-dono

• Toyotomi Hideyori by Yodo-dono

Adopted sons

• Hashiba Hidekatsu (Tsugaru), fourth son of Oda Nobunaga

• Oda Nobutaka, later Toyotomi Takahiro (1576–1602), seventh son of Oda Nobunaga

• Oda Nobuyoshi, later Toyotomi Musashi (1573–1615), eighth son of Oda Nobunaga

• Oda Nobuyoshi (d. 1609), tenth son of Oda Nobunaga

• Ukita Hideie, son of Ukita Naoie

• Toyotomi Hidetsugu, first son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi

• Toyotomi Hidekatsu (1569–1592), second son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi

• Toyotomi Hideyasu (1579–1595), Third son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi

• Yūki Hideyasu, Tokugawa Ieyasu's second son

• Ikeda Nagayoshi, third son of Ikeda Nobuteru

• Kobayakawa Hideaki, Hideyoshi's nephew from his wife Nenes family.

• Prince Hachijō Toshihito, sixth son of Prince Masahito

Adopted daughters

• Gohime (1574–1634), daughter of Maeda Toshiie and married Ukita Hideie

• O-hime (1585–1591), daughter of Oda Nobukatsu and married Tokugawa Hidetada

• Oeyo, daughter of Azai Nagamasa and married Saji Kazunari, Toyotomi Hidekatsu, Tokugawa Hidetada

• Konoe Sakiko, daughter of Konoe Sakihisa and married Emperor Go-Yōzei

• Chikurin-in, daughter of Ōtani Yoshitsugu and married to Sanada Yukimura. They had two sons, Sanada Daisuke and Sanada Daihachi, and some daughters. Known as Akihime and Riyohime

• Toyotomi Sadako (1592–1658), daughter of Toyotomi Hidekatsu with Oeyo, later became the adopted daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada and married Kujō Yukiie

• Daizen-in, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga and married Mōri Hidemoto

• Kikuhime, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga and married Toyotomi Hideyasu

• Maeda Kikuhime (1578–1584), daughter of Maeda Toshiie

Grandchildren

• Toyotomi Kunimatsu

• (1609–1645)

Cultural legacy

Toyotomi Hideyoshi changed Japanese society in many ways. These include the imposition of a rigid class structure, restrictions on travel, and surveys of land and production.

Class reforms affected commoners and warriors. During the Sengoku period, it had become common for peasants to become warriors, or for samurai to farm due to the constant uncertainty caused by the lack of centralised government and always tentative peace. Upon taking control, Hideyoshi decreed that all peasants be disarmed completely. Conversely, he required samurai to leave the land and take up residence in the castle towns. This solidified the social class system for the next 300 years.

Furthermore, he ordered comprehensive surveys and a complete census of Japan. Once this was done and all citizens were registered, he required all Japanese to stay in their respective han (fiefs) unless they obtained official permission to go elsewhere. This ensured order in a period when bandits still roamed the countryside and peace was still new. The land surveys formed the basis for systematic taxation.

In 1590, Hideyoshi completed construction of the Osaka Castle, the largest and most formidable in all Japan, to guard the western approaches to Kyoto. In that same year, Hideyoshi banned "unfree labour" or slavery in Japan, but forms of contract and indentured labour persisted alongside the period penal codes' forced labour.

Hideyoshi also influenced the material culture of Japan. He lavished time and money on the Japanese tea ceremony, collecting implements, sponsoring lavish social events, and patronizing acclaimed masters. As interest in the tea ceremony rose among the ruling class, so too did the demand for fine ceramic implements, and during the course of the Korean campaigns, not only were large quantities of prized ceramic ware confiscated, many Korean artisans were forcibly relocated to Japan.

Inspired by the dazzling Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, he had the Golden Tea Room constructed, which was covered with gold leaf and lined inside with red gossamer. Using this mobile innovation, he was able to practice the tea ceremony wherever he went, powerfully projecting his unrivalled power and status upon his arrival.

Politically, he set up a governmental system that balanced out the most powerful Japanese warlords (or daimyos). A council was created to include the most influential lords. At the same time, a regent was designated to be in command.

Just before his death, Hideyoshi hoped to set up a system stable enough to survive until his son grew old enough to become the next leader. A was formed, consisting of the five most powerful daimyos. Following the death of Maeda Toshiie, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to secure alliances, including political marriages (which had been forbidden by Hideyoshi). Eventually, the pro-Toyotomi forces fought against the Tokugawa in the Battle of Sekigahara. Ieyasu won and received the title of Seii-Tai Shōgun two years later.

Hideyoshi is commemorated at several Toyokuni Shrines scattered over Japan.

Ieyasu left in place the majority of Hideyoshi's decrees and built his shogunate upon them. This ensured that Hideyoshi's cultural legacy remained. In a letter to his wife, Hideyoshi wrote:

Names

Because of his low birth with no family name, to the eventual achievement of Imperial Regent, the highest title of Imperial nobility, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had quite a few names throughout his life. At birth, he was given the name . At genpuku, he took the name . Later, he was given the surname Hashiba and the honorary court office Chikuzen no Kami; as a result, he was styled . His surname remained Hashiba even as he was granted the new Uji or sei ( or , clan name) Toyotomi by the Emperor.

The Toyotomi Uji was simultaneously granted to a number of Hideyoshi's chosen allies, who adopted the new Uji "" (Toyotomi no ason, courtier of Toyotomi).

His full name was in formal documents.

The Catholic sources of the time referred to him as (from and the honorific -dono) and "emperor " (from taikō, a retired kampaku (see Sesshō and Kampaku), and the honorific -sama).

Toyotomi Hideyoshi had been given the nickname Kozaru, meaning "little monkey", from his lord Oda Nobunaga because his facial features and skinny form resembled that of a monkey.

In popular culture

Literature

Hideyoshi is depicted by Eiji Yoshikawa in the novel series Taiko Ki.

In The 39 Clues series, Hideyoshi is a member of the Tomas branch of the Cahill family, the son of Thomas Cahill.

Movies

Hideyoshi appears in the film Taikoki (1922).

Hideyoshi appeared in Castle of Owls (1963) with Ryutaro Otomo as an Iga ninja hired to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi appeared in the famous Shinobi No-Mono series (1962-1967) with Raizo Ichikawa.

Hideyoshi also appeared in the movie Sanada Yukimura no Bōryaku (1979). His role is played by Ichiro Ogura.

Hideyoshi is played by Asao Koike in Shogun's Ninja (1980). Hideyoshi sends Shiranui Shōgen to an Iga ninja clan in search of the Momochi clan's hidden gold.

In the fantasy film Goemon (2009), Hideyoshi (played by Eiji Okuda) is depicted as an evil warlord.

The television movie Taikoki (1987) is a biography of Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi appears in the television movie Oda Nobunaga (1992).

In the 1949 Mexican hagiographic film Philip of Jesus, Luis Aceves Castañeda plays a character corresponding to Hideyoshi but named "Emperor Iroyoshi Taikosama".

TV series

Toyotomi Hideyoshi tenka wo toru! (1995- ).

In Dokugan-ryu Masamune (1987- ), Hideyoshi is portrayed by Shintaro Katsu.

In the KBS1 television series Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin (2004–2005), Hideyoshi is portrayed by Lee Hyo-jung.

Video games

In Onimusha, an action horror video game series by Capcom, Hideoyoshi is one of the main antagonists. Similar to his real life counterpart, he makes small appearances during the first three games as a servant of Oda Nobunaga before becoming the main antagonist and ruler of Japan in the fourth game.

In the video game Nioh, Toyotomi Hideyoshi does not appear, but is mentioned by other characters and portrayed as a tyrant who committed a number of atrocities during his rule. Nioh 2 later reveals that Toyotomi Hideyoshi is an identity shared by two individuals, the player character Hide and an ambitious merchant-warrior Kinoshita Tōkichirō, and that Tōkichirō's crimes when he usurped the identity of Hideyoshi for himself was in fact committed by the antagonist Kashin Koji possessing his body.

Manga

Hyouge Mono (, lit. "Jocular Fellow") is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Yamada. It was adapted into an anime series in 2011, and includes a fictional depiction of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's life.

In the Sengoku Basara game series and anime, he is described as a brutally strong man who killed his own wife to harden his heart, then raised an army to conquer Japan with conscripts and forced draftees. He is armed only with gauntlets, is large in physique, and is so strong that he can deflect a hail of arrows with a wave of his hand and drain a part of the Seto Inland Sea to defeat Chosokabe Motochika. Many of his subordinates and allies, such as Takenaka Hanbei and Ishida Mitsunari, are also major characters in the series.

Anime

In the Netflix anime series Great Pretender (2020), Hideyoshi is referenced many times by Laurent Thierry, one of the central protagonists of the series.

Documentary

In the Netflix documentary series Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021), Hideyoshi is portrayed by Masami Kosaka. The show depicts his life and rise to power.

Honours

• Senior First Rank (August 18, 1915; posthumous)

經歷

青年時期

天文六年二月初六日（1537年3月17日） 豐臣秀吉出生於尾張國愛知郡中村（今愛知縣名古屋市中村區），父為貧困農戶木下彌右衛門，母親是仲（)。幼年時期取名為日吉丸（），仕於織田信長成為武士之後改名木下藤吉郎（)。

由於秀吉的出身並非顯貴，有關於他早期的文獻記載十分有限，僅大概知道他少年時曾在尾張、三河、駿河等地方活動，父親曾在尾張地方國人眾蜂須賀氏（蜂須賀正利）麾下當雇傭性質的雜兵，修理、鍛造兵器。秀吉七歲父親死亡，八歲母親改嫁，只好出家，入光明寺當小沙彌，曾經在遠江國引馬城支城頭陀寺城成為松下之綱的部下，《太閤記》記載秀吉元服時由松下之綱為烏帽子親並命名中村（的）秀吉，但離開原因不明。後從遠房姨媽伊都父親清兵衛的鍛冶屋拿針販賣。

信長家臣時期

1554年（天文二十三年）以小者的身分成為了織田信長的家僕，，被信長喚為猿或禿鼠（），地位在足輕與「中間」之下，作為小者中的「草履取」的等級，若隨信長上陣，「中間」可以持脅差或木刀，小者只能幫主公提武具或充當「人夫」。後來因幫信長拿草鞋時將草鞋放進懷裡暖鞋獲得信長的歡心。1555年（弘治元年）陪同信長側室生駒吉乃回娘家小折城的生駒屋敷，經吉乃介紹認識生駒氏親戚蜂須賀正勝與川並衆。1561年（永祿四年）與淺野長勝的養女（淺野長政的義妹）寧寧結婚，更名為木下秀吉。1570年信長準備進攻朝倉義景的中途，在金崎遭到盟友淺井長政攻擊從後包抄，此戰秀吉為殿後軍一員，保護信長安全撤離（金崎之戰）。

元龜元年（1570年）在姉川之戰後，秀吉擔任此役奪取的近江國橫山城城代，並以此領地可動員的兵力一千人及在地情報，陸續在箕浦之戰、橫山城之戰跟虎御前山之戰中擊敗淺井軍，天正元年（1573年）在小谷城之戰從防禦土壘最矮（約一米五）的中段京極丸，切斷淺井父子倆的防守區域，因此信長擊敗了淺井長政，長政自盡，淺井的舊屬歸織田家所有，以此功秀吉支配（領有一小部分600貫約2400石~3000石）北近江三郡十二萬石成為城主，將根據地移至近江國今濱城，利用小谷城的土石建材增建今濱城後易名為長濱城。後賜苗字「羽柴」（）成為羽柴秀吉。他同時也招募家臣，在封為城主前他底下的家臣就是蜂須賀正勝（與力）、竹中重治、前野長康（小六若黨），尚未元服的福島正則、加藤清正，一門眾的淺野長政、羽柴秀長。而大谷吉繼、石田三成等家臣，皆是出身於近江地侍小姓，增田長盛則出身尾張國中島郡増田村，原為信長家臣後改寄騎羽柴秀吉。

1576年（天正四年）支援北陸柴田勝家對抗上杉軍，但秀吉因為和勝家戰略上意見不一而擅自撤離，致使勝家在手取川之戰中大敗，使勝家和信長有所不滿。在織田信忠的指揮下，秀吉與佐久間信盛、明智光秀、丹羽長秀共同參與攻擊松永久秀的戰鬥。

1577年（天正五年）赤松則房、別所長治、小寺政職臣從信長之下，秀吉受命攻略中國地方，任播磨國國主，並從播磨國進攻但馬國，在岩洲城攻略時，成功降伏於竹田城籠城據守的太田垣輝延，此時根據地為小寺孝高（黑田孝高）讓出的姬路城（中國征伐），受命後不久別所長治及荒木村重背叛織田信長，秀吉前往討伐，致使中國征伐暫時停頓。1579年使備前國及美作國的大名宇喜多直家完全臣服於織田氏，同年迎立信長的四男於次丸（羽柴秀勝）為養子。1580年別所長治和荒木村重戰敗，別所長治切腹自盡（三木合戰）；荒木逃離，全家被信長誅殺，但這期間，包括竹中重治及古田重則等家臣陣亡。

秀吉開始與毛利氏及山名氏交戰，攻陷山名祐豐籠城據守的有子山城，嫡男山名氏政於落城前歸降羽柴家，秀吉自自專致於播磨的經營，任命弟弟羽柴秀長擔任有子山城主，負責統治但馬國。此外，收購鳥取周邊的兵糧，用斷糧戰術攻下了鳥取城（鳥取城之戰），毛利一族的吉川經家戰敗自殺，隨後進軍備中國，用水攻戰術逼迫高松城開城（備中高松城之戰），城主清水宗治自殺。

本能寺之變

1582年明智光秀於支援秀吉出兵毛利氏途中，發動背叛兵變，攻佔京都並夜襲投宿在本能寺的織田信長，是為本能寺之變，信長於本能寺焚死，屍骨無獲，其長子織田信忠於二條御所戰敗後切腹自盡。當時羽柴秀吉正親自率兵包圍備中國的高松城。由於黑田官兵衛用計水攻高松城，而使光秀向毛利氏報信的信使隔天在被水包圍的城下被羽柴軍所抓，所以秀吉在事變隔天便得知消息。秀吉向毛利氏隱瞞信長身亡的消息，透過毛利家外交僧安國寺惠瓊與城主清水宗治斡旋。之後，在毛利氏大老小早川隆景主導下，他迅速與毛利氏議和，並率兵在五日內「強行軍」約200公里返京，並隨即與明智軍展開決戰，這次行軍史稱「中國大撤退（）」，行動之迅速大大震撼了京都的明智軍。回師之時，秀吉以「為信長公報仇」之名為號召，成功收攏各地的信長舊屬，包括光秀的寄騎中川清秀及高山右近，於山崎之戰擊敗準備不及、兵力處於劣勢的明智光秀，最終明智光秀逃走時被獵殺落難武士的村民殺死，秀吉乘機控制京都一帶，不過無法阻止織田氏內部出現派系分裂。主要分裂為柴田勝家、織田信雄、織田信孝以及羽柴秀吉等派系。

信長後繼者

6月27日，織田舊臣在清洲城召開會議，討論信長的後繼者及遺領分配的會議（清洲會議）。織田家重臣柴田勝家擁戴信長的三男織田信孝（神戶信孝，庶子），然而秀吉推舉織田信忠僅三歲的嫡長子三法師（即織田秀信）。勝家雖然表示反對，但池田恆興及丹羽長秀都支持秀吉，最後雙方以信孝擔任年幼的三法師的後見人等折衷方案，才獲得勝家的首肯，但也因此得罪了柴田勝家，導致其擁立信長三子織田信孝對抗秀吉。

領地分配方面，織田信雄獲得尾張國、織田信孝獲得美濃國、織田信包獲得北伊勢及伊賀國、光秀的寄騎細川藤孝獲得丹後國、筒井順慶獲得大和國、高山右近及中川清秀的本領獲得安堵、丹羽長秀獲得近江國滋賀郡、高島郡15萬石、池田恆興獲得攝津國尼崎及大阪15萬石、堀秀政獲得近江國佐和山。勝家獲得原為秀吉領地的長濱12萬石。秀吉自身則獲得明智光秀的舊領丹波國及山城國、河內國28萬石。

秀吉於山崎建築寶寺城，並在山崎及丹波國實施檢地，私底下也與織田家的諸大名締結聯誼、盟友，引起柴田勝家的不滿，致使雙方愈顯對立。

天正10年（1582年）10月，勝家與瀧川一益、織田信孝共同向諸大名發出彈劾秀吉的書狀，指責秀吉違反清洲會議並私自建築寶寺城。秀吉則在10月15日以養子羽柴秀勝（信長的四男）為喪主，在京都舉辦大規模的信長葬儀，由於未通知勝家，更引起勝家不滿。柴田勝家派出的佐佐成政壓制越中，上杉家魚津城守將只好與成政議和，退出魚津城和小出城後，經海路退回越後，此外，勝家也與中國的毛利輝元聯絡，打算夾擊秀吉；秀吉眼見與柴田勝家一戰勢所難免，於是聯絡越後的上杉景勝與美濃的稻葉一鐵，並在中國地區的山陰配置宮部繼潤、山陽配置蜂須賀正勝，以防範毛利氏攻擊。

12月，秀吉趁越前國勝家受阻於風雪無法動兵，以信孝挾持三法師不讓其返回安土為藉口，舉兵進攻信孝。12月9日，秀吉向池田恆興等諸大名發出動員令，自己也集結5萬大軍自寶寺城出陣，12月11日抵達堀秀政的佐和山城，進而包圍柴田勝家養子柴田勝豐的長濱城，後來秀吉透過調略使其降伏，因而獲得長濱城。12月16日進攻美濃國，降服稻葉一鐵，並與織田信雄軍合流，乘勢進攻信孝的家老防守的加治木城並順利攻陷。於岐阜城孤立的信孝，不得已將三法師交給秀吉，並由生母阪氏及女兒擔任人質，雙方議和。

天正11年（1583年）1月，反秀吉派的瀧川一益，擊敗秀吉方伊勢國的、關城及的關盛信。秀吉於是在2月10日進攻北伊勢，2月12日攻擊瀧川的居城桑名城，但由於桑名城十分堅固且瀧川英勇抵抗，秀吉軍撤退三里駐紮。之後，秀吉組織別働隊進攻長島城及中井城，但仍由於瀧川的抵抗而敗退。但伊勢龜山城在蒲生氏鄉、細川忠興及山內一豐的攻擊下，於3月3日降伏，此後，伊勢戰線秀吉方居於優勢。

2月28日，勝家待融雪後，派前田利長擔任先鋒出陣，自己於3月9日率3萬大軍。秀吉則將北伊勢交給蒲生氏鄉後返回近江國，3月11日與柴田勢對峙。但對峙期間，4月13日秀吉成功策反柴田勝豐的家臣山路正國，掌握了柴田軍的布陣情形。織田信孝眼見機不可失，再度於岐阜舉兵進攻稻葉一鐵，此時勝家方取得優勢。秀吉再度轉向進攻信孝。

4月20日早上，勝家的重臣佐久間盛政趁著秀吉進攻織田信孝（美濃國）時發動奇襲，進攻大岩山砦的中川清秀，中川清秀敗死，岩崎山砦的高山重友則大敗而走。但之後盛政違抗勝家不得久留的命令，持續在城砦與秀吉軍對峙，秀吉於4月21日回軍進攻柴田方，柴田軍由於前田利家的背叛而大敗，柴田勝家撤回越前。

賤岳之戰最終由秀吉取得勝利，勝家與妻子阿市於4月24日自殺，秀吉順勢平定加賀國、能登國，瀧川一益也降伏而蟄居，織田信孝不久被迫自殺，留下詛咒秀吉之辭世句。自此秀吉徹底掌握舊主信長的江山。

天下人之路、讓出家督

天正十一年，秀吉在石山本願寺的舊址上建大阪城，當時到訪的大友宗麟將它稱為「戰國無雙的城」，但城堡在防禦上亦有缺點，在大阪冬之陣中，真田信繁進行了修築加強防禦。

1584年，原先與秀吉合作的信長次男織田信雄聯合信長的盟友德川家康反對秀吉，羽柴軍便與兩人展開史稱小牧·長久手之戰的戰事。此戰之初擁有兵力優勢的羽柴軍直撲德川領地，但途中卻遭到德川軍伏擊，有「鬼武藏」之稱的大將森長可與池田恆興二人，被德川四天王的井伊直政所率領的重裝精銳赤備騎馬隊所討殺，秀吉其後撤兵，改為攻擊美濃的織田信雄，信雄投降，迫使雙方談和，德川軍與羽柴軍達成和戰協議。

1585年，秀吉派遣其弟秀長、與毛利元就三男小早川隆景等將領攻打剛統一四國的長宗我部氏，落後的四國與羽柴軍實力差距過大慘敗歸降並減封至只剩土佐一國。此外秀吉派遣藤堂高虎為首的部隊，平定了雜賀眾，首領鈴木重意被斬首處死。此外，秀吉派重兵攻打越中國佐佐成政，大軍包圍下，成政不戰而降。秀吉原本覬覦征夷大將軍一職，不過流浪的幕府第十五代將軍足利義昭拒絕收養秀吉為猶子，不入源氏籍，便無法成為將軍。於是秀吉轉目標為關白（需入攝家），時任的關白二條昭實也拒絕了秀吉要求。1585年秀吉找上公家的前關白近衛前久幫忙，讓近衛前久認自己為猶子（以本家藤原氏為姓），迫二條昭實讓出關白之位。1586年，為了攏絡德川家康使其成為自己的助力，秀吉將其妹旭姬（四十二歲）嫁與德川家康（四十三歲），並為家康正室，甚至將自己的母親大政所送至家康身邊成為人質，德川家康此後臣服秀吉。同年，受天皇賜姓豐臣並就任關白（平民出身者第一人），確立了天下人的地位。

1586年，九州大名大友宗麟向秀吉請求支援，1587年派遣秀長率領大軍攻擊島津氏的支城，使義久投降，戰後島津氏被分配到薩摩、大隅、日向三國。平定九州後遷入聚樂第，同年十月於北野天滿宮舉辦北野大茶會，邀請農民與公卿貴族，據說兒時玩伴石川五右衛門也有參加。1588年秀吉開始實行刀狩令，加強了兵農分離的政策。

1587年，禁止基督教。1589年北條氏的家臣豬俁邦憲奪取了真田昌幸管轄下名胡桃城，導致秀吉下令全日本大名討伐北條氏，不服從者將會受到沒收領地的處分。次年3月1日秀吉率大軍向北條氏攻擊，攻陷北條各個支城下逐漸向小田原城包圍，7月後北條氏第四代家督北條氏政、第五代家督氏直父子開城投降。氏政、氏照兩兄弟切腹自盡，氏直被流放到高野山，至此由初代家督北條早雲所建立起來的百年榮華北條家宣布滅亡，戰後秀吉為各大名分封新的領土。1591年奧州大名「獨眼龍」伊達政宗自動來請降，日本三島（本州、四國、九州）短暫統一。

1592年，將關白及豐臣家家督之位讓給外甥豐臣秀次，以太閤自居。1592年秀吉進行他人生中最後一場日本國內戰爭，派遣了蒲生氏鄉、淺野長政及石田三成聯同東北地方大名平定九戶政實之亂。同年，秀吉命令茶人千利休切腹自盡，詳細原因不明。一說是利休於寺廟擺設自己的雕像激怒到秀吉；另有一說是由於利休過於向秀吉進諫（例如反對秀吉意欲向明朝出兵）以致，但是迫名聲很高的千利休自盡，讓秀吉威望大為下降。

侵略朝鮮及晚年

豐臣秀吉有稱霸亞洲的野心。早在九州之役結束以後，他便定下入侵大明國的計劃：先派兵佔領朝鮮；自己渡海去明國，居留寧波市；隨後佔領天竺；再派豐臣秀次佔領大明的首都北京，並奉正親町天皇遷都北京。

在統一日本之後，豐臣秀吉開始著手實現稱霸亞洲的事業。他先後派遣使者前往朝鮮王朝、琉球、呂宋（今菲律賓，時為西班牙-葡萄牙聯邦殖民地）、高山國（台灣大肚王國）、暹羅阿瑜陀耶王朝、瀾滄王國、大越、廣南、占城、莫臥兒帝國、葡屬印度（時為西班牙-葡萄牙聯邦殖民地，今印度果阿）及葡屬澳門(時為西班牙-葡萄牙聯邦殖民地)等國家和地區，要求他們向日本稱臣並協助日本攻打大明。不過，沒有一個國家理會他。琉球王尚寧派人向大明報告了此事，建議明國提前防備。暹羅王納黎萱則計劃派兵幫助大明，不過最終沒有實行。

1592年（文祿元年），豐臣秀吉決定實施其稱霸亞洲計劃的第一步，派兵20萬侵略朝鮮，史稱文祿之役（朝鮮方面稱為壬辰倭亂，明國方面稱為萬曆朝鮮之役）。兵員以西日本諸大名為主。戰爭初期，久經沙場的日軍攻勢猛烈、勢如破竹，以極快的速度先後攻佔朝鮮王京漢城與陪都平壤，並迅速攻佔朝鮮境內大量主要城市，直驅明國邊境。朝鮮宣祖向明國求救。豐臣秀吉於5月攻佔漢城後便研議要遷都北京，將北京周圍10「國」之地獻為御用，賜公卿以俸祿，賜其部下以10倍於原有的領地，甚至命豐臣秀次為大唐（中國）關白，日本關白由羽柴秀秋或宇喜多秀家擔任，朝鮮則交給羽柴秀勝或宇喜多秀家統治。明神宗派遣遼東總兵李如松率兵入援朝鮮。在明軍（約5萬）和朝鮮三道水師提督李舜臣等的反擊下，日軍攻勢遇阻。終於在1593年(文祿二年)日軍因遭逢損失，豐臣秀吉遂被迫與明國和談。

其實日方代表小西行長出身商人家庭，精於商業開發，偽造秀吉降表與明國議和，而明方使者沈惟敬本是市井無賴，就稱秀吉的目的是要求恢復雙邊貿易。雙方於是締結和約，日軍就此暫退釜山。

1595年（文祿四年），秀吉打算以年幼的親子豐臣秀賴作為家中的繼承人，只是養子的豐臣秀次馬上被疏遠並流放到高野山，迫令剃髮出家，不到七日，又將秀次賜死，其過程嚴酷出乎人們意料，秀次一家連同婢女和孩子39人都被砍頭，曝屍幾小時之後，尸首被丟到一個洞裡，掩埋後用秀次的頭在上面做成首塚。此外下令支持秀次者切腹，包括木村重茲、前野長康等人，而平安無事的最上義光、伊達政宗等人，平時與秀次交好，如今秀次被殺而憤恨豐臣政權。

文祿五年（1596年）九月，秀吉歡喜地迎接明國使者，明議和使來日，秀吉宴饗之。然宣讀國書，始知議和實為冊封，大明欲封秀吉為日本國王。秀吉方覺受騙，大怒，道：「吾掌握日本，欲王則王，何待髯虜之封！且吾而為王。如天朝何。」並欲殺明國使節，為旁人勸止，於是下令驅逐明國使節。慶長二年（1597年）正月，秀吉再次派兵入侵朝鮮，史稱「慶長之役」（朝鮮稱為「丁酉再亂」）。日軍盤據釜山，再進逼漢陽。然而明國援軍（約8萬）加入戰鬥行列後，日軍攻勢再度受阻，被迫死守於海岸各倭城。

慶長三年八月十八日（1598年9月18日），豐臣秀吉病逝於京都伏見城內，享壽六十一歲。隔年，慶長四年（1599年），遵照遺囑將靈柩安葬於京都方廣寺阿彌陀峰山頂上，並在山上建造神社（今豐國神社）供奉豐臣秀吉的牌位。追贈正一位，並由後陽成天皇賜予神號豐國大明神（後來遭到禠奪）。死前他亦已託付前田利家監視德川家康及輔佐豐臣秀賴。而入侵朝鮮半島的豐臣軍在接獲德川家康為首的五大老命令及以石田三成為首的五奉行安排下，向明國隱瞞了秀吉的死訊，隨後逐漸從朝鮮撤軍。可是這場戰役豐臣氏為首的軍隊損失巨大，大名元氣大傷；秀吉生前做出許多傷天害理的政治手段也大失人心（處死茶人千利休及養子秀次無辜的家眷等），成為德川家康有機會問鼎稱霸天下的重要伏因。而日本與朝鮮的關係，到1607年才恢復正常。

豐臣秀吉法名為國泰祐松院殿靈山俊龍大居士，自他死後至今日本各地仍存在不同的豐國神社，包括在滋賀縣長濱市、大阪府大阪市、愛知縣名古屋市等，豐臣秀吉的男性子孫，在德川家康於1614年發動大阪冬之陣與1615年發動大阪夏之陣，以求斬草除根徹底將豐臣秀賴逼迫切腹自盡，並將豐臣國松斬首。

政績

他的經貿政策多承傳自織田信長，發展南蠻貿易，以樂市和朱印船貿易等振興商業；並利用控制都市及鑄造貨幣等辦法規範經濟；以太閤檢地、刀狩、人掃令（身份統制令）等政策來確立稅制，徹底地兵農分離，為江戶時代的幕藩體制打下了穩定的基礎。

人物特色及軼事

• 相傳豐臣秀吉曾被人稱作「猿面冠者」，也就是形容他像穿載衣冠的猿猴。傳教士弗洛伊斯記載秀吉「身材矮小，容貌醜陋，右手有六隻手指」。朝鮮通信使黃允吉形容秀吉「容貌矮陋，面色皺黑，如猱玃狀；深目星眸，閃閃射人」。秀吉也承認自己「相貌醜陋、五體貧弱」。

• 在前田利家及弗洛伊斯的記載相關書籍，秀吉的右手有六隻手指，拇指有多一隻手指，但後來秀吉不欲醜聞發生，故意隱藏六隻手指的事情。

• 根據傳教士佛洛伊斯於1593年的報告書中介紹秀吉的夜生活如下：「太閤（秀吉）極為好色而不知廉恥，經常沉迷於動物性的肉慾中，在他的宮廷內，擁有二百名以上的女人。這不幸的暴君年齡已經超過六十歲（外表看起來比實際年齡還老），但是他還派人出外搜尋美女，不管是商人或是工人的女兒，也不管是未婚或是寡婦，只要是容貌美麗，都被他召進城內。而且他都只留一二天，就讓那些婦女回家，只有讓他滿意的，才長久留在城內。」

• 秀吉的死因至今仍是個謎，官方對其死因保密。此外亦有不同說法，比如腦梅毒、痢病（赤痢、疫痢之類）、尿毒症、腳氣等。秀吉在晚年因為衰老，曾出現無意識的狀況。此外，也有秀吉被明朝使者沈惟敬謀害的傳聞，不過現已被駁斥。

• 晚年不復年輕時的出色判斷力，也是豐臣氏沒落的原因，將知名茶人千利休及養子家督豐臣秀次一族賜死，以及發動侵略朝鮮半島的文祿·慶長之役是他最大的爭議。有人認為他晚年做出許多荒謬暴戾的事情，且西方人也有此評價，許多來日基督教傳教士們在記載中不斷讚揚家督秀次而貶低太閤秀吉，在這些外國人眼中太閤秀吉是一個只顧滿足個人私慾的貪暴之君。

• 有不少日本學者認為秀吉本人無法生育，乃因秀吉個性好色是出了名的，自年輕到老寵幸過的女子非常多，但是全都沒有生育，而且豐臣家滅亡後秀吉的妻妾們改嫁他人後還紛紛懷孕生子，因此秀賴跟3歲早夭的鶴松是茶茶外遇偷生的說法不絕於耳。

墳墓、靈廟、神社

死後葬在京都東山區阿彌陀峰山山頂（現在的豐國廟），被賜予神號豐國大明神後，修建豐國神社予以祭祀。豐臣家滅亡後，德川家康剝奪了大明神封號，但是並沒有拆毀神社。在秀吉正室高台院的懇求下，外苑部分被拆毀，然而保留內苑和本殿。部分建築物被片桐且元等人移往寶嚴寺和都久夫須麻神社。德川第三代將軍德川家光的時候沒收了神社，神社本殿完全被毀壞，豐國神社成了荒地。明治時，在德川家康的日光東照宮相殿祭祀秀吉，豐國神社被重新建造。祭祀秀吉的神社除京都豐國神社以外還有大阪豐國神社、長濱豐國神社、名古屋豐國神社等。大阪和長濱是秀吉的領地，名古屋是秀吉的故鄉。

• 戒名：國泰裕松院殿靈山俊龍大居士

辭世之句

系譜

實線：親子關係；點線：婚姻關係。

;父母

• 父親：木下彌右衛門

• 母親：大政所

;妻妾

• 正室：高台院（有一段期間稱北政所，本名則有彌寧（）、寧寧（）、彌（）、寧、寧子等寫法）

• 側室：南殿

• 側室：淀殿（茶茶，淺井長政長女）

• 側室：德子（川副正俊女）

• 側室：南之局（山名豐國女）

• 側室：松之丸殿（龍子，京極高吉女）

• 側室：加賀殿（摩阿，前田利家三女）

• 側室：甲斐姬（成田氏長女）

• 側室：三之丸殿（織田信長女）

• 側室：三條殿（虎，蒲生賢秀女）

• 側室：姬路殿（織田信包女）

• 側室：廣澤局（名護屋經勝女）

• 側室：月桂院（嶋子，足利賴純女）

• 側室：安樂院（阿種之方，香之前，地侍女）

;兄弟姊妹

• 姐：瑞龍院（三好吉房室）

• 妹：旭姬

• 弟：豐臣秀長

• 義弟：淺野長政

;兒子

• 長子：羽柴秀勝（石松丸）（母為側室南殿，早夭）

• 次子：豐臣鶴松（母為澱殿，早夭）

• 三子：豐臣秀賴（母為澱殿）

;養子

• 羽柴秀勝（織田信長四子）

• 豐臣秀次（秀吉之姊瑞龍院與三好吉房之長子）

• 豐臣秀勝（秀吉之姊瑞龍院與三好吉房之子，豐臣秀次之親弟；女兒豐臣完子的第九世孫女九條節子是昭和天皇—裕仁的生母）

• 結城秀康（德川家康次子）

• 小早川秀秋（秀吉正室高台院之甥）

;養女

• 豪姫（前田利家女，宇喜多秀家正室）

• 加賀殿（前田利家三女，豐臣秀吉側室）

• 菊姫（前田利家庶女，早逝）

• 小姫（織田信雄女，徳川秀忠正室，早逝）

• 大善院（豐臣秀長女，毛利秀元室）

• 澱殿（淺井長政長女，豐臣秀吉側室）

• 常高院（淺井長政次女，京極高次正室）

• 督姬（於江與，淺井長政三女，徳川秀忠正室）

• 宇喜多直家女（吉川廣家正室）

• 蜂須賀正勝女（黑田長政正室）

;猶子

• 池田長吉（池田恆興第三子）

• 宇喜多秀家（宇喜多直家嫡子）

• 智仁親王（誠仁親王第六皇子）

• 伊達秀宗（伊達政宗庶長子）

• 近衛前子（近衛前久女，後陽成天皇女御）

;甥侄

• 甥：豐臣秀次

• 甥：豐臣秀勝

;兒孫

• 嫡孫：豐臣國松

• 孫：奈阿姬

家臣

早期家臣

黑田孝高（官兵衛、如水）、蜂須賀正勝（小六）、竹中重治（半兵衛）、山內一豐、福島正則、加藤清正、堀尾吉晴、增田長盛、大谷吉繼、小西行長、中村一氏、前野長康

秀吉四天王

宮田光次、神子田正治、戶田勝隆、尾藤知宣

賤岳七本槍

福島正則、加藤清正、加藤嘉明、脇阪安治、平野長泰、糟屋武則、片桐且元

五奉行

石田三成、淺野長政、前田玄以、長束正家、增田長盛

三中老

中村一氏、生駒親正、堀尾吉晴

五大老

前田利家(後其子前田利長接任)、德川家康、小早川隆景（死後由上杉景勝接替）、毛利輝元、宇喜多秀家。

十人衆

富田一白、寺西正勝、毛利吉成、堀田一繼、佐佐行政、石田正澄、片桐貞隆、石川光元、山中長俊、木下延重

信長舊臣

前田利家、堀秀政、丹羽長秀、蜂須賀正勝、森長可、細川藤孝、細川忠興、蜂屋賴隆、京極高次、長谷川秀一、長谷川與次、日根野弘就、日根野盛就、長谷川宗仁、矢部家定、建部壽德、稻葉一鐵、市橋長利、伊東長久、九鬼嘉隆、古田重然、堀內氏善、丸毛兼利、毛利秀賴、豬子一時、蒲生氏鄉

黃母衣眾

青木一重、伊木遠雄、石尾治一、伊東長実、井上道勝、井上賴次、小野木公鄉、郡宗保、津田信任、友松盛保、中島氏種、中西守之、長原雲沢軒、野野村雅春、戶田勝隆、蜂須賀家政、服部一忠、速水守久、神子田正治、箕浦元正、三好房一、毛利吉成、森可政、一柳直末、分部光嘉

七手組

速水守久、青木一重、伊東長実、堀田盛重（盛高）、中島氏種、真野助宗、野野村雅春、真野頼包（助宗死後）、郡宗保

與力眾

宮部繼潤、一柳直末、田中吉政、木村定重、小出吉政、龜井茲矩、谷衛友、寺澤廣高、新莊直賴、齋村政廣、別所重宗

接受秀吉偏諱的人物

在古代日本，主君往往將自己名字中的一字授予家臣或從屬的大名，以示恩惠。這個字被稱為偏諱。豐臣秀吉也不例外。

• 「秀」字

　• 宇喜多秀家

　• 織田秀信

　• 織田秀雄

　• 蒲生秀行

　• 小早川秀秋

　• 小早川秀包

　• 伊達秀宗

　• 德川秀忠

　• 羽柴秀勝

　• 堀秀治

　• 毛利秀元

　• 毛利秀就

　• 結城秀康

• 「吉」字

　• 大谷吉繼

　• 大友吉統

登場作品

;史料

• 太閤記（著）

;小說

• 新史太閤記（新潮社、司馬遼太郎著）

• 豐臣一族（中央公論新社、司馬遼太郎著）

• 新太閤記（角川書店、海音寺潮五郎著）

• 新書太閤記（新潮社、吉川英治著）

• 秀吉：超越夢想的男人（文藝春秋、堺屋太一著）

• 異本太閤記（講談社、山岡莊八著）

• 妖說太閤記（講談社、山田風太郎著）

• 夢中夢（文藝春秋、著）

• 秀吉與利休（新潮社、野上彌生子著）

• 秀吉之枷（文藝春秋、著）

;影視劇

• 出世太閤記（1938年、日活、演：）

• （1953年、大映、演：）

• 太閤記（1957年、NTV、演：大川太郎）

• 太閤記（1958年、松竹、演：）

• （1959年、大映、演：月田昌也）

• （1959年、東映、演：）

• （1959年、MBS、演：東宮秀樹）

• 獨眼龍政宗（1959年、東映、演：）

• （1960年、松竹、演：河津清三郎）

• （1961年、東映、演：）

• （1962年、ABC、演：藤間勘二郎）

• 忍者（1962年、大映、演：）

• 梟之城（1963年、東映、演：）

• （1964年、東寶、演：）

• 德川家康（1964年、NET、演：）

• （1965年、NHK大河劇、演：緒形拳）

• （1965年、東映、演：山本圭）

• 功名十字路（1966年、NET、演：）

• 戰國太平記 真田幸村（1966年、TBS、演：）

• （1969年、ABC、演：）

• （1969年、ABC、演：三國連太郎）

• 天與地（1969年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1970年、NTV、演：）

• （1970年、KTV、演：）

• （1971年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1971年、KTV、演：）

• （1973年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• 出雲的阿國（1973年、NET、演：）

• （1973年、NET、演：）

• 阿吟樣（1978年、東寶、演：三船敏郎）

• （1978年、NHK大河劇、演：緒形拳）

• （1980年、東映、演：）

• 女太閤記（1981年、NHK大河劇、演：西田敏行）

• （1981年、TBS、演：）

• （1983年、YTV、演：三國連太郎）

• 德川家康（1983年、NHK大河劇、演：武田鐵矢）

• （1985年、NHK、演：長門裕之）

• （1987年、TBS、演：）

• 獨眼龍政宗（1987年、NHK大河劇、演：勝新太郎）

• 阿市御寮人（1989年、NTV、演：布施明）

• 春日局（1989年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1989年、TBS、演：）

• （1989年、東寶、演：）

• （1989年、松竹、演：山崎努）

• （1990年、MBS、演：江守徹）

• （1991年、TBS、演：柳澤慎吾）

• （1992年、松竹、演：）

• 信長KING OF ZIPANGU（1992年、NHK大河劇、演：仲村亨）

• 德川家康 戰國最後的勝利者（1992年、ANB、演：風間杜夫）

• （1993年、TVA、演：）

• （1993年、TBS、演：柳葉敏郎）

• 獨眼龍的野望 伊達政宗（1993年、ANB、演：津川雅彥）

• 琉球之風（1993年、NHK大河劇、演：仲村亨）

• （1994年、TX、演：）

• 愛與野望的獨眼龍 伊達政宗（1995年、TBS、演：）

• （1995年、TX、演：中村勘九郎）

• 影武者織田信長（1996年、ANB、演：片岡鶴太郎）

• 秀吉（1996年、NHK大河劇、演：竹中直人）

• （1998年、TX、演：）

• （1999年、KTV、演：）

• （1999年、NHK、演：）

• 梟之城（1999年、東寶、演：岩松信）

• 利家與松（2002年、NHK大河劇、演：香川照之）

• （2003年、CX、演：草彅剛）

• （2004年、NHK、演：片岡鶴太郎）

• （2005年、TX、演：岡田義德）

• 戰國自衛隊1549（2005年、東寶、演：）

• （2006年、EX、演：）

• 功名十字路（2006年、NHK大河劇、演：柄本明）

• （2006年、EX、演：中村梅雀）

• 茶茶 天涯的貴妃（2007年、東映、演：渡部篤郎）

• （2007年、CX、演：柳葉敏郎）

• （2007年、EX、演：竹中直人）

• 大盜石川五右衛門（2009年、松竹、演：）

• （2009年、東映、演：）

• 寧寧：女太閤記（2009年、TX、演：）

• 天地人（2009年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （2011年、TX、演：西田敏行）

• 江~公主們的戰國~（2011年、NHK大河劇、演：岸谷五朗）

• （2012年、東寶、演：市村正親）

• 信長的主廚（2013年、EX、演：）

• 女信長（2013年、CX、演：伊勢谷友介）

• （2013年、EX、演：）

• （2013年、東寶、演：大泉洋）

• （2013年、東映、演：大森南朋）

• 軍師官兵衛 （2014年、NHK大河劇、演：竹中直人）

• 信長協奏曲（2014年、CX、演：山田孝之）

• （2016年、TX、演：）

• 真田丸（2016年、NHK大河劇、演：小日向文世）

• 石川五右衛門（2016年、TX、演：）

• 本能寺酒店（2017年、東寶、演：）

• （2017年、東寶、演：瀧藤賢一）

• 處世質實剛健（2017年、Mable、演：）

• 電影刀劍亂舞（2019年、東寶、演：）

• MAGI ～天正遣歐少年使節～（2019年、Prime Video、演：緒形直人）

• 麒麟來了（2020年、NHK大河劇、演：佐佐木藏之介）

• （2021年、CX、演：中尾明慶）

;廣告

• 豐田汽車ReBORN系列廣告（演：北野武）

;遊戲

• 太閤立志傳系列（光榮）

• 信長之野望系列（光榮）

• 戰國無雙系列*無雙大蛇系列（光榮、配音：石川英郎）

• 戰國BASARA系列（Capcom、配音：置鯰龍太郎）

• 鬼武者系列（Capcom）

• 戰國蘭斯

• 世紀帝國2

• 美男戰國：穿越時空之戀（配音：鳥海浩輔）

• 仁王（光榮）

• 神魔之塔

• 閃電十一人GO

• 戰刻夜想曲

;模型玩具

• 真空路守 NO.8 秀吉張斬

• Doyusha童友社1/3名刀二刀豐臣秀吉

• Doyusha童友社 1/360 和歌山城

• Doyusha童友社 samurai armet 豐臣秀吉

• bb戰士 NO.354 SD戰國傳 武神降臨篇 豐臣秀吉頑駄無