Yagyū Shume

Yagyū Shume was a Korean-born retainer who served the Yagyū clan. Few records discuss his activity as a samurai. However, he is known as a central figure of the feud of Yagyū clan between Yagyū domain line from Yagyū Munenori and Owari domain line from Yagyū Toshitoshi.

Life The Gyokuei Shui (玉栄拾遺), written by Hagiwara Nobuyuki, a retainer of Yagyū domain, in 1753 mentions that "According to tradition, Shume was the blood of Joseon".

Furthermore, a Korean retainer of Yagyū, speculated to be Shune, was mentioned in Mimibukuro(耳嚢), an essay and kaidan written by Negishi Jin'e in the late 18th century. According to this source, Takuan Sōhō visited the mansion of Yagyū Munenori, and he found that a Ge (Japanese version of Gatha) hung at the guardhouse. "Fishes and dragons live in blue sea; Mountains and woods are houses of animals; However even in those 66 provinces of Japan; There is no place I settle down." Takuan says that "This is interesting poem, though the last verse was defective". A gatekeeper replies: "There is no defect. It's my poem". This man was actually Korean who fled from Joseon. Munenori heard about him from Takuan, and soon employed him as samurai of 200 koku

Shume died in 1651. He was buried in cemetery of Yagyū clan in Hōtokuji Temple.