Home › Japan › Samurai & Warlord Names › Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin's Real Name: Nagao Kagetora
history
Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) 本名: Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎)
Answer: Uesugi Kenshin was born Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎). He became Uesugi Masatora in 1561, then Terutora, and took the Buddhist name Kenshin (謙信) around 1570.
Kenshin was born in 1530 in Echigo Province (now Niigata), son of Nagao Tamekage. His childhood name is recorded as 虎千代 (Torachiyo), and as an adult he was 長尾景虎 (Nagao Kagetora).
In 1561 he was adopted by Uesugi Norimasa, the Kantō deputy, and took the name 上杉政虎 (Uesugi Masatora). The same year he received a character from shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru and became 輝虎 (Terutora). Around 1570 he took the Buddhist name 謙信 (Kenshin). He was a devotee of Bishamonten, the war god, and used the character 毘 on his banner.
He died in 1578. He is often called the "Dragon of Echigo."
FAQ
What was Uesugi Kenshin's original name? Nagao Kagetora (長尾景虎).
How many names did Uesugi Kenshin have? At least five: Torachiyo, Kagetora, Masatora, Terutora and Kenshin.