Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Taikō (1592–1598)

The future stability of the Toyotomi dynasty after Hideyoshi's eventual death was put in doubt with the death of his only son, three-year-old Tsurumatsu, in September 1591. When his half-brother Hidenaga died of illness shortly after, Hideyoshi named his nephew Hidetsugu his heir, adopting him in January 1592. Hideyoshi resigned as kampaku to take the title of taikō (retired regent), and Hidetsugu succeeded him as kampaku.

Hideyoshi adopted Oda Nobunaga 's dream of a Japanese conquest of China, and launched the conquest of the Ming dynasty by way of Korea (at the time known as Koryu or Joseon).

He had been communicating with Korea since 1587 requesting unmolested passage into China. However, the Joseon government of the time was an ally of Ming China and at first refused talks entirely. In April and July 1591 they also refused demands that Japanese troops be allowed to march through Korea. The government was concerned that allowing Japanese troops to march through Korea would mean battles between Ming Chinese troops and Hideyoshi's troops on Korean soil, putting their national security at risk. In response, Hideyoshi ordered preparations for an invasion of Korea to begin in August 1591.
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