|
Hirate Masahide (平手政秀; 1492-February 25, 1553) is a retainer of Oda clan.
As the Oda Nobuhide's chief diplomat who was also skilled in various arts like sado and waka, Hirahide was responsible Oda clan's relationship with Ashikaga shogunate and deputies of emperor. On 1533, a well known regent Yamashina Kototsugu who made a visit to Owari Province offered a praise for Hirahide's knowledges. On 1543, Hirahide made a visit to Kyoto to offer the gold needed to repair the emperor's residence in the place of Nobuhide.
After Oda Nobunaga was born, Hirahide became the tutor and second highest ranking karo of the clan. On 1547, Hirahide served beside Nobunaga for the first real, yet test battle for Nobunaga. He almost single handedly secured a marriage between Nobunaga and a daughter of Saito Dosan of Mino Province, No Hime(濃姫) on 1548 which developed into a truce between two warring clans. This move let Oda clan concentrate its resource against Imagawa clan.
Deeply troubled by Nobunaga's often quirky behavior, Hirahide tried to unite the clan under Nobunaga who he believed as the eldest son had the right to take over the clan. However, facing Nobuhide's death and increasingly divided clan, Hirahide took his own life on 1553.
The reason for a suicide is widely known as the last act to have Nobunaga act as the respectful head of clan but there are several conflicting stories. Some believe that he felt responsible for Nobunaga's behavior and took responsibility with his own life, others believe that Nobunaga had wanted the horse of Hirahide's eldest son but Hirahide turned it down and this led to a cooling of two men's relationship. Nobunaga still behaved oddly but built a Buddhist temple, Seishuji(政秀寺) dedicated to Hirahide.
| 
