Shōgi and Leadership: Hosokawa Tadaoki’s View on Command

In the seventh episode of our series, we examine a reflection by Hosokawa Tadaoki, a feudal lord of the late 16th century, who used the game of shōgi to teach his son the essential principles of leadership. Through a simple yet powerful metaphor, Tadaoki offers a timeless lesson on the value of every member of an organization, from general to foot soldier.

Leadership is revealed by how one treats the least among his retainers

Hosokawa Tadaoki, son of the former Muromachi shogunate official Hosokawa Yūsai, served under Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu after the fall of the shogunate, eventually founding the Hosokawa clan of Higo. In a memorable lesson to his son, he once said:

“Your subordinates are like the pieces in a game of shōgi. Generals who distinguish themselves in battle are like rooks and bishops. Those who sustain the domain's governance are gold and silver generals. And those who run the day-to-day operations are lances and knights.

No matter how brilliant the king is, he cannot win a war without his rooks and bishops. But even those strong pieces are useless without the support of golds and silvers. And if the lances and knights are missing, the whole machine stops moving.”

He used this vivid metaphor to illustrate the responsibilities of a ruler. Then, with emphasis, he concluded:

“But the most important thing is this: never underestimate the pawns. A king who neglects the pawns is destined to fail.”

The Higo Hosokawa lineage that Tadaoki founded still survives to this day. Many other Sengoku lords’ families, perhaps, faded into history because they forgot the value of their pawns.

In the world of shōgi, it is the humble pawn that holds the greatest potential. Only it can transform into something greater when it reaches the far edge of the board. Tadaoki’s words remind us that true leadership isn’t just about commanding from above, but about nurturing and respecting those who walk the hardest roads.