Hosokawa Gracia (細川ガラシャ) was the daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀) and was married to Hosokawa Tadaoki (細川忠興) as part of Oda Nobunaga (織田信長) ’s political manoeuvres. Renowned for her beauty, Gracia is said to have once remarked to her husband, ‘How fitting a serpent is, for a demon’s wife’.
But why did she compare her own beauty to such a creature? Behind this statement lay Tadaoki’s obsessive, almost unnatural love for his wife—and the tragic fate that awaited Gracia.
A politically arranged marriage, yet a harmonious life together
Tama (玉), later known as Gracia, the daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide, was famed for her exceptional beauty. She was married to Hosokawa Tadaoki under the command of Oda Nobunaga. At the time of their marriage, both were just sixteen years old.
As their families had already been closely acquainted, Tama and Tadaoki enjoyed a particularly good relationship. The year after their wedding, they welcomed their first daughter, followed by their eldest son, Tadataka, and second son, Okihisa. Tadaoki, in particular, is said to have been deeply devoted to his beautiful wife.
The incident at Honno-ji changed everything
The couple’s happiness was abruptly shattered by the Honno-ji Incident (本能寺の変), when Tama’s father, Akechi Mitsuhide, betrayed and attacked Oda Nobunaga. Seeking support, Mitsuhide appealed to the Hosokawa family, whom his daughter had married into. However, both Tadaoki and his father, Fujitaka (藤孝), refused to aid him. Mitsuhide was killed in battle, and the Akechi clan was driven to mass suicide.
Tama, having lost her entire family, should have been executed as well. However, Tadaoki, unable to bring himself to harm his beloved wife, followed his father’s advice and had her placed under house arrest instead. This period of confinement lasted for two years, during which time Tama, under the guidance of her attendants, deepened her faith in Christianity.
Beheading anyone who so much as glanced at his wife – Tadaoki’s obsessive love
After being released from confinement and returning to the Hosokawa residence, Tama remained under the constant surveillance of her jealous husband, Tadaoki. She was forbidden from leaving the estate, and it is said that the numerous ladies-in-waiting assigned to her were not for her comfort, but rather to monitor her every move.
Tadaoki detested the thought of any man even laying eyes on his wife. One day, a craftsman accidentally slipped from the roof and fell into the garden, inadvertently catching a glimpse of Tama’s face. Enraged, Tadaoki had the man beheaded on the spot.
He then placed the severed head beside Tama as she ate. However, she remained composed, continuing her meal without so much as a change in expression.
Witnessing this, Tadaoki sneered, “You are like a serpent of a woman.” To which Tama calmly replied, ‘How fitting a serpent is, for a demon’s wife’ Through the trials and suffering they endured, the once-young and affectionate couple had transformed into a pair as fearsome as a demon and a serpent.
A serpent no more – the light of christianity
Tama not only lost her family in the Honno-ji Incident, but also endured further misfortunes—her eldest son was disowned by Tadaoki, her second son perished in battle, and her third son, who inherited the family name, was plagued by frail health. With so much tragedy, it would have been no surprise if her spirit had broken entirely. Perhaps she likened herself to a serpent as a way to endure her suffering.
Her salvation came in the form of Christianity, despite the religion being banned at the time. Through the help of her attendants, Tama was secretly baptised and received the Christian name Gracia. Naturally, Tadaoki was furious. Yet after years of being controlled by her husband, perhaps embracing Christianity allowed Tama to finally take charge of her own life.
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/culture-rock/86871/
