Welcome to Assassin's Creed Wiki! Log in and join the community.

Hattori Hanzō: Difference between revisions

From the Assassin's Creed Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>MightyCaptainDrake
No edit summary
imported>Gener4l Cl4ank4
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
{{Quote|Those who cling to life, die; those who defy death, live.|Hattori Hanzō.|Assassin's Creed: Memories|Cards (Memories)}}
{{Quote|Those who cling to life, die; those who defy death, live.|Hattori Hanzō.|Assassin's Creed: Memories|Cards (Memories)}}
{{Character Infobox
{{Character Infobox
|name=Hattori Hanzō
|name = Hattori Hanzō
|native=
|native =
|image=HanzoShadows.png
|image = ACM Hattori Hanzo render.png
|birth=1542<ref name="ACM Cards">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Cards (Memories)|Cards]]: Hattori Hanzo</ref><br>{{Wiki|Mikawa Province}}, [[Japan]]
|birth = 1542<ref name="ACM Cards">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Cards (Memories)|Cards]]: Hattori Hanzo</ref><br>{{Wiki|Mikawa Province}}, [[Japan]]
|death=1596<ref name="ACM Cards"/> (aged c. 54)<br>[[Tokyo|Edo]], Japan
|death = 1596<ref name="ACM Cards"/> (aged c. 54)<br>[[Tokyo|Edo]], Japan
|species=[[Human]]
|species = [[Human]]
|database=
|database =
|affiliates={{Wiki|Tokugawa clan}}<br>[[Assassins]]
|affiliates = {{Wiki|Tokugawa clan}}<br>[[Assassins]]
*[[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Brotherhood]]
*[[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Brotherhood]]
**Kakushiba ''ikki''
}}
}}
'''Hattori Hanzō''' (服部 半蔵, 1542 – 1596) was a vassal for [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], the last of feudal [[Japan]]'s {{Wiki|ja:三英傑|three great unifiers}} (三英傑). A famous [[samurai]] and [[ninja]], Hanzō was also a member of the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Brotherhood]] of [[Assassins]].
'''Hattori Hanzō''' (服部 半蔵, 1542 – 1596) was a vassal for [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], the last of feudal [[Japan]]'s {{Wiki|ja:三英傑|three great unifiers}} (三英傑). A famous [[samurai]] and [[ninja]], Hanzō was also a member of the Kakushiba ''ikki'', a sub-group of the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Brotherhood]] of [[Assassins]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Hattori Hanzō was a vassal of the ''[[daimyō]]'' Tokugawa Ieyasu, and a ninja trained in [[Iga]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – Shinobi Warfare</ref><ref>''[[Echoes of History]] – Shadows'' – Episode 6: The Tensho Iga War</ref> Aside from the ninja arts, Hanzō was also trained as a samurai, and his skill with the [[yari]] was legendary.<ref name="ACM Cards"/> In 1565, he had a son, [[Hattori Masanari]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Cards (Memories)|Cards]]: Hattori Masanari</ref> When the Assassins caught wind of the [[Templars]]' expansion into Japan, they sought to recruit new allies. The Brotherhood inducted ninja like Hanzō, from whom they in turn learned new skills and techniques.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – History of the Assassins in Japan</ref>
Hattori Hanzō was a vassal of the ''[[daimyō]]'' Tokugawa Ieyasu, and a ninja trained in [[Iga]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – Shinobi Warfare</ref><ref>''[[Echoes of History]] – Shadows'' – Episode 6: The Tensho Iga War</ref> Aside from the ninja arts, Hanzō was also trained as a samurai, and his skill with the [[yari]] was legendary.<ref name="ACM Cards"/> In 1565, he had a son, [[Hattori Masanari]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Cards (Memories)|Cards]]: Hattori Masanari</ref>
 
When the Assassins caught wind of the [[Templars]]' expansion into Japan, they sought to recruit new allies. The Brotherhood inducted ninja like Hanzō, from whom they in turn learned new skills and techniques.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – History of the Assassins in Japan</ref>


===Fight for the Sword===
===Fight for the Sword===
The Assassins eventually formed an alliance with Ieyasu, and together they formed a plan to retrieve the [[Sword of Eden]] and aid Ieyasu in conquering the land.<ref name="ACM Cards"/> Hanzō worked closely with [[Chaya Shirōjirō Kiyonobu]], who often acted as a contact on Ieyasu's behalf.<ref name="Mori Motonari">''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Mōri Motonari (memory)|Mōri Motonari]]</ref>
The Assassins eventually formed an alliance with Ieyasu, and together they formed a plan to retrieve the [[Sword of Eden]] and aid Ieyasu in conquering the land.<ref name="ACM Cards"/> Hanzō worked closely with [[Chaya Shirōjirō Kiyonobu]], who often acted as a contact on Ieyasu's behalf.<ref name="Mori Motonari">''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Mōri Motonari (memory)|Mōri Motonari]]</ref>


In 1571, on Ieyasu's orders, Hanzō [[Assassination|assassinated]] the ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Mōri Motonari]], a strong opponent of Ieyasu's ally [[Oda Nobunaga]], in order to allow Nobunaga to conquer the Mōri clan's lands.<ref name="Mori Motonari"/> Two years later, after the Tokugawa and Oda forces fought the Takeda clan at the {{Wiki|Battle of Mikatagahara}}, Hanzō and Ieyasu's vassal [[Honda Tadakatsu]] entered [[Takeda Shingen]]'s camp.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Cards (Memories)|Cards]]: Mochizuki Chiyome</ref> Shingen was killed during the ordeal, and Hanzō retrieved the Sword of Eden from him.<ref name="ACM Cards"/>
In 1571, on Ieyasu's orders, Hanzō [[Assassination|assassinated]] the ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Mōri Motonari]], a strong opponent of Ieyasu's ally [[Oda Nobunaga]], in order to allow Nobunaga to conquer the Mōri clan's lands.<ref name="Mori Motonari"/> Two years later, after the Tokugawa and Oda forces fought the Takeda clan at the {{Wiki|Battle of Mikatagahara}}, Hanzō and Ieyasu's vassal [[Honda Tadakatsu]] entered [[Takeda Shingen]]'s camp.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Cards (Memories)|Cards]]: Mochizuki Chiyome</ref> Shingen was killed during the ordeal, and Hanzō retrieved the Sword of Eden from him.<ref name="ACM Cards"/>


Five years later, on 19 April 1578,<ref>{{WP|Uesugi Kenshin}}</ref> Hanzō assassinated another rival ''daimyō'', the Templar [[Uesugi Kenshin]].<ref name="ACM Cards"/> In June 1582, word reached the Tokugawa that [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] planned to [[Honnō-ji incident|betray]] his lord Nobunaga, who possessed the Sword of Eden. Hanzō stayed with Ieyasu to ensure his lord's safety, and tasked another Assassin, the monk [[Yamauchi Taka]], to travel to {{Wiki|Honnō-ji}} and retrieve the Sword from Nobunaga. Taka killed Nobunaga during Mitsuhide's attack and brought the Sword to the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassin]] [[Liu Yan (Chinese Brotherhood)|Liu Yan]], who took it with her to [[China]].<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Oda Nobunaga (memory)|Oda Nobunaga]]</ref>
Five years later, on 19 April 1578,<ref>{{WP|Uesugi Kenshin}}</ref> Hanzō assassinated another rival ''daimyō'', the Templar [[Uesugi Kenshin]].<ref name="ACM Cards"/> In June 1582, word reached the Tokugawa that [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] planned to [[Honnō-ji incident|betray]] his lord Nobunaga, who possessed the Sword of Eden. Hanzō stayed with Ieyasu to ensure his lord's safety, and tasked another Assassin, the monk [[Yamauchi Taka]], to travel to {{Wiki|Honnō-ji}} and retrieve the Sword from Nobunaga. Taka killed Nobunaga during Mitsuhide's attack and brought the Sword to the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassin]] [[Liu Yan (Chinese Brotherhood)|Liu Yan]], who took it with her to [[China]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Oda Nobunaga (memory)|Oda Nobunaga]]</ref>


===Later life===
===Later life===
{{Quote|I bemoan the fact that our relation has come to an end, just when it was becoming profitable for me. Enjoy what little remains of your life, ninja.|Kiyonobu to Hanzō, 1590s.|Assassin's Creed: Memories|Mochizuki Chiyome (memory)}}
{{Quote|I bemoan the fact that our relation has come to an end, just when it was becoming profitable for me. Enjoy what little remains of your life, ninja.|Kiyonobu to Hanzō, 1590s.|Assassin's Creed: Memories|Mochizuki Chiyome (memory)}}
After Nobunaga's death, his vassal [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] became his master's successor. Hideyoshi later defeated Ieyasu, who then pledged loyalty to the Toyotomi. Kiyonobu tried to secretly set up a trade route to bring supplies to Ieyasu, a task which Hanzō aided by eliminating one of the patrolling Toyotomi ''[[wikt:かしら|kashira]]''.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Ashigaru Kashira]]</ref>
After Nobunaga's death, his vassal [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] became his master's successor. Hideyoshi later defeated Ieyasu, who then pledged loyalty to the Toyotomi. Kiyonobu tried to secretly set up a trade route to bring supplies to Ieyasu, a task which Hanzō aided by eliminating one of the patrolling Toyotomi ''[[wikt:かしら|kashira]]''.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Ashigaru Kashira]]</ref>


In the 1590s, Hanzō was tasked with assassinating the [[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Templar]] [[Mochizuki Chiyome]], a female ninja who had formerly worked for Shingen. Based on intel retrieved from Kiyonobu, Hanzō tracked her down to her residence in Shinano, where he assassinated her.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Mochizuki Chiyome (memory)|Mochizuki Chiyome]]</ref>
In the 1590s, Hanzō was tasked with assassinating the [[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Templar]] [[Mochizuki Chiyome]], a female ninja who had formerly worked for Shingen. Based on intel retrieved from Kiyonobu, Hanzō tracked her down to her residence in Shinano, where he assassinated her.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Mochizuki Chiyome (memory)|Mochizuki Chiyome]]</ref>


He was ultimately killed in a fire<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Memories'' – [[Last Days of the Taikō]]</ref> by his rival [[Fūma Kotarō]] in 1596<ref name="ACM Cards"/> in the Tokugawa capital of [[Tokyo|Edo]].<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Hattori Hanzō}}</ref>
He was ultimately killed in a fire<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Memories]]'' – [[Last Days of the Taikō]]</ref> by his rival [[Fūma Kotarō]] in 1596<ref name="ACM Cards"/> in the Tokugawa capital of [[Tokyo|Edo]].<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Hattori Hanzō}}</ref>


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
Line 44: Line 47:
ACM-Hattori Hanzo.png|Hanzō in his ninja attire
ACM-Hattori Hanzo.png|Hanzō in his ninja attire
ACM Hattori Hanzo 2.png|Hanzō without his hood
ACM Hattori Hanzo 2.png|Hanzō without his hood
ACM Hanzo Hattori 3.jpg|Portrait of Hanzo
ACM Hanzo Hattori 3.jpg|Portrait of Hanzō
ACM Hattori Hanzo 4.png|Hanzō using a spear
ACM Hattori Hanzo 4.png|Hanzō using a spear
ACMemories icon 1.png|Hanzō close-up
ACMemories icon 1.png|Hanzō close-up
HanzoShadows.png|Hanzō as he appears in ''Assassin's Creed: Shadows''
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 71: Line 75:
[[Category:Samurai]]
[[Category:Samurai]]
[[Category:Ninja]]
[[Category:Ninja]]
[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Japanese Assassins]]
[[Category:Japanese Assassins]]
[[Category:Master Assassins]]
[[Category:Master Assassins]]
[[Category:Animus hosts]]
[[Category:Animus hosts]]

Revision as of 13:01, 22 March 2025

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.

This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Shadows. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all.

This template should be removed from the article 20 June 2025.

"Those who cling to life, die; those who defy death, live."
―Hattori Hanzō.[src]-[m]

Hattori Hanzō (服部 半蔵, 1542 – 1596) was a vassal for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the last of feudal Japan's three great unifiers (三英傑). A famous samurai and ninja, Hanzō was also a member of the Kakushiba ikki, a sub-group of the Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins.

Biography

Early life

Hattori Hanzō was a vassal of the daimyō Tokugawa Ieyasu, and a ninja trained in Iga.[2][3] Aside from the ninja arts, Hanzō was also trained as a samurai, and his skill with the yari was legendary.[1] In 1565, he had a son, Hattori Masanari.[4]

When the Assassins caught wind of the Templars' expansion into Japan, they sought to recruit new allies. The Brotherhood inducted ninja like Hanzō, from whom they in turn learned new skills and techniques.[5]

Fight for the Sword

The Assassins eventually formed an alliance with Ieyasu, and together they formed a plan to retrieve the Sword of Eden and aid Ieyasu in conquering the land.[1] Hanzō worked closely with Chaya Shirōjirō Kiyonobu, who often acted as a contact on Ieyasu's behalf.[6]

In 1571, on Ieyasu's orders, Hanzō assassinated the daimyō Mōri Motonari, a strong opponent of Ieyasu's ally Oda Nobunaga, in order to allow Nobunaga to conquer the Mōri clan's lands.[6] Two years later, after the Tokugawa and Oda forces fought the Takeda clan at the Battle of Mikatagahara, Hanzō and Ieyasu's vassal Honda Tadakatsu entered Takeda Shingen's camp.[7] Shingen was killed during the ordeal, and Hanzō retrieved the Sword of Eden from him.[1]

Five years later, on 19 April 1578,[8] Hanzō assassinated another rival daimyō, the Templar Uesugi Kenshin.[1] In June 1582, word reached the Tokugawa that Akechi Mitsuhide planned to betray his lord Nobunaga, who possessed the Sword of Eden. Hanzō stayed with Ieyasu to ensure his lord's safety, and tasked another Assassin, the monk Yamauchi Taka, to travel to Honnō-ji and retrieve the Sword from Nobunaga. Taka killed Nobunaga during Mitsuhide's attack and brought the Sword to the Chinese Assassin Liu Yan, who took it with her to China.[9]

Later life

"I bemoan the fact that our relation has come to an end, just when it was becoming profitable for me. Enjoy what little remains of your life, ninja."
―Kiyonobu to Hanzō, 1590s.[src]-[m]

After Nobunaga's death, his vassal Toyotomi Hideyoshi became his master's successor. Hideyoshi later defeated Ieyasu, who then pledged loyalty to the Toyotomi. Kiyonobu tried to secretly set up a trade route to bring supplies to Ieyasu, a task which Hanzō aided by eliminating one of the patrolling Toyotomi kashira.[10]

In the 1590s, Hanzō was tasked with assassinating the Japanese Templar Mochizuki Chiyome, a female ninja who had formerly worked for Shingen. Based on intel retrieved from Kiyonobu, Hanzō tracked her down to her residence in Shinano, where he assassinated her.[11]

He was ultimately killed in a fire[12] by his rival Fūma Kotarō in 1596[1] in the Tokugawa capital of Edo.[13]

Behind the scenes

Hanzō, 半蔵, is a Japanese name combining the characters 半 (han, meaning "half, middle, odd number, part-, semi-") with 蔵 (zou, meaning "own, possess, storehouse"). Hattori, 服部, is a common Japanese surname meaning "clothing guild".

Although the cards in Assassin's Creed: Memories say Hanzō died in 1596, historically, he succumbed to an unspecified illness on 2 January 1597. The discrepancy may arise from the fact that the 22-volume Kansei Chōshū Shokafu (寛政重修諸家譜), a genealogical record of important samurai commissioned by the Tokugawa clan in 1812, records his death date as 4 November 1596, which differs from what is written on his gravestone at the Buddhist temple Sainen-ji and accepted by the Hattori clan, as the contemporary lunar calendar used then notes his death was on the 14th day of the 11th month of the Keichō era, or, 2 January 1597 CE using the Gregorian calendar.[13]

Gallery

Appearances

References

es:Hattori Hanzō fr:Hattori Hanzō it:Hattori Hanzō pt-br:Hattori Hanzo ru:Хаттори Хандзо zh:服部半藏