Minamoto no Yoshitsune : Legendary Japan Hero

Minamoto No Yoshitsune

The Legendary and Mystery Laid Behind him

Minamoto No Yoshitsune, a legendary general of Minamoto clan led Minamoto clan between Heian and Kamakura period. He life at kuruma temple and was called by Ushiwakamaru at his childhood life. He had many important people by his side, so he was able to defeat all of enemy. Fujiwara No Hidehira is ones of people siding with him. He also participates on few of battle; because of his brilliant strategy, Minamoto No Yoshitsune became a great general ever in Japan history. In the history Yoshitsune’s name always shown at important event at Kamakura period like Kamakura shogunate.

Minamoto No Yoshitsune named Ushiwakamaru was born on 1159 just after Heiji Rebellion (Heike to Genji war) killing his father and his two older brothers. Yoshitsune whose clan defeated by Heike became Heike political prisoner. Little Yoshitsune was put under care of Heike clans and has been taken to Kurama Temple.

At Kurama Temple, his life nestled on Hiei Mountains far away from any of city. Born and life under hard circumstance makes little Yoshitsune to grow up to be a generous and a positive man. Therefore Yoshitsune’s has given name Shanao by Kurama people because of his heart shine as bright as the sun. Yoshitsune also blessed with a clever brain helping him to solve any problems.

In Kurama period, Yoshitsune was banished from any of wars knowledge and battle training from Heike clan. He just only permitted to learn Buddhism, meditation and reading sutra (Buddhists texts). Nevertheless, he learns his samurai’s skill from a Karasu Tengu (Japan folktales character) in some of free time. The legend of Karasu Tengu itself still abstracts. Some people consider that it was some kind of myth but the others consider that it was a heaven orders. Learning to use Katana makes him skilled in battle that useful in upcoming battle with Heike clan. Furthermore he also learns some of war’s tactic from old china books written by a China’s generals, Sun Tzu. From this book He adopted Sun Tzu “Furinkazan” tactics. Furinkazan means as fast as a lightning (fu), as silent as Forest (rin), as fear as fire (ka) and as strong as Mountain (zan). Not only skilled in battle, but also he was skilled in strategy making.

One day, Yoshitsune met a big monk called Oniwaka meant demon child. He has height more than 2 meters and weight more than 100 kilograms. Consequently he was called Oniwaka. A poor Oniwaka was unable to makes any friends at Kurama. Oniwaka crying was heard by Yoshitsune and makes him sympathy. At the other days, Yoshitsune still heard Oniwaka Crying, so he went to his room and bringing him some Onigiri (rice ball). Oniwaka’s Cries stopped and he smiled as wide as his mouth could. On the next day Oniwaka went to his temple at Izu.

Some years later, Yoshitsune heard that Oniwaka was expelled from Izu Temple. So Yoshitsune came to confirm it. Nevertheless he met Oniwaka at the road with Naginata (a kind of spear) challenging anyone having Katana. Oniwaka nearly collected 999 Katanas. Nevertheless Yoshitsune stopped him to obtain 1000th Katana. After meets Yoshitsune, Oniwaka made a promise to become Yoshitsune’s loyal and greatest servant and introduced his name as Saito Musashibo Benkei, or known as Benkei.

After Yoshitsune reached age 20, He decided to leave Kurama Temple. He traveled to Mutsu Province at Northern Fujiwara to obtain protection from Fujiwara No. Hidehira protecting Yoshitsune is a leader of Hiraizumi, a big city in Mutsu Province. Under protection of Hidehira, Yoshitsune lived undisturbed for a time. The generous of Yoshitsune makes Hidehira happy. One of Yoshitsune contribution was on the Kiyohira’s Rebellion; Yoshitsune helping Hidehira makes a strategy to defeat the rebel army. For many years he protected young Yoshitsune, Hidehira also made his son promise to continue protection for Yoshitsune.

On 1181, Yoshitsune heard Yoritomo raising an army at the request of Prince Mochihito to fight against the Taira clan usurped the power of emperor. Yoritomo was known as Yoshitsune’s older brother and the head of Minamoto clan. Yoshitsune shortly joined his brother along with Minamoto No Noriyori, his brothers from different mother. Noriyori

The battle of Yoritomo against Taira clan was called by Genpei War. The Genpei war is a top of the Yoshitsune legends. It’s divided into some important battle. There are battle of Awazu, battle of Ichi-no-Tani, battle of Yashima and battle of Dan-no-ura.

Battle of Awazu held in Omi Province at 1184, Yoshitsune face a confrontation from his rival cousin Minamoto No Yoshinaka. Yoshinaka is a Genji’s betrayal. After Yoshitsune attacked Kyoto and kidnapping Emperor, Yoshitsune flee to his companions. At the pursuit Yoshinaka was lost from a Yoshitsune Thousands of army. Yoshinaka was killed at this battle. And his companions, Kanehira, the first rank general of Taira clan committed suicide after heard Yoshinaka murdered.

In the next month, Yoshitsune face a challenge to break up Taira fortress. This battle was called battle of Ichi-no-Tani (crossbow siege). Looking from its name, it is actually use some kind of siege launching a fire arrow. Ichi-no-Tani is one of the famous battles in Genpei war because in this battle, both side fought with their best warrior. At Minamoto side, there is some name like Benkei and some famous samurai fought along Yoshitsune. This battle stopped after Taira no Tadanori was killed and many of Taira warrior fled to their ships setting out of battle field.

At March 22, 1185 the naval battle of Yashima begins. At this battle a Yoshitsune brilliant strategy was taking pace. After setting out from Kyoto with a small force, he pursued Kiyomori and re-supplied by an ally. Yoshitsune fooled Taira clan to believe a large amount of army approaching their base. They abandoned their base and fled with an emperor. In this battle the most famous archery feats in Japan history appear. Nasu No Yoichi was successfully killing a Taira General at top of his ship with an arrow while he rides a horse.

And finally, final battle of Heike and Taira clan against Genji clan supported by Minamoto clan face an ending. This battle called Dan-no-Ura was a major and biggest battle of Genpei war on April 25, 1185. After fled from the previous battle, Taira’s emperor, Kiyomori face their end on naval war. Their army outnumbered with minamoto army makes Taira no Kiyomori feel unease. After struggling from a long battle, Kiyomori realized that he didn’t match with Minamoto power. Kiyomori decide to seppuku (commit ritualistic suicide) better than loose from Minamoto clan.

After this war, Minamoto hatred was ended by a glorious victory. The era of Taira clan ended, the new governmental power called Kamakura Shogunate was established by Minamoto clan led by shogun, Minamoto No Yoritomo. Kamakura shogunate was raised to be large military power and its power surpassed the power of emperor itself. Kamakura shogunate military system was used in Japan’s Governmental system until Meiji Restoration over 650 years ahead.

In the others side, Yoshitsune joined Emperor-Go-Shirakawa. Yoritomo considered Yoshitsune betraying him. This term lead to a war between that two brothers, Yoshitsune versus Yoritomo. And this war faced the end at the battle of Mutsu Province held on 1189.

The battle of Mutsu province became an ending of Yoshitsune legend. He finally died because of seppuku (commit ritualistic suicide) on his own in the castle of Koromogawa no Tate. This battle became a great legend of loyal servant, Musashibo Benkei. He fought on the main gate bridge to protect Yoshitsune. It makes the enemy soldiers afraid to across the bridge. Nevertheless, one man didn’t match with several platoons of soldier. Finally he died with the arrow shower attack. Benkei covered with wound died at standing position. This is known as the “Standing Death of Benkei (Benkei no Tachi Ojo)”. Yoshitsune do seppuku after heard the death of Benkei, his first rank soldier and servant.

Nowadays the legend of Yoshitsune is storied generation to generation to remember the generous, greatest persons ever in Japan. Nevertheless, it is still a mystery that Yoshitsune was ever taught by a Karasu Tengu or the great samurai. Until now some people still do some ritual to respect Yoshitsune on the Kamakura Festival usually held on April, once every years.

Source was taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org
Sawada, Hirofumi. Shanao Yoshitsune. Japan : m & c.2000