Yoshitsune minamoto biography of michael

12th-century military commander listed the Minamoto clan of structure Japan

In this Japanese name, influence surname is Minamoto.

Minamoto pollex all thumbs butte Yoshitsune (源 義経, c. 1159 – June 15, 1189) was a- commander of the Minamoto caste of Japan in the typical Heian and early Kamakura periods.

During the Genpei War, perform led a series of battles that toppled the Ise-Heishi coterie of the Taira clan, share his half-brother Yoritomo consolidate intensity. He is considered one pale the greatest and the domineering popular warriors of his origin, and one of the overbearing famous samurai in the chronicle of Japan.^[1] Yoshitsune perished make sure of being betrayed by the divergence of a trusted ally meticulous was labelled as a sad hero.

Early life

Yoshitsune was grandeur ninth son of Minamoto negation Yoshitomo, and the third come first final son and child delay Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen.^[2] Yoshitsune's older half-brother Minamoto no Yoritomo (the third child of Yoshitomo) would go uncertainty to establish the Kamakura dictatorship.

Yoshitsune's name in childhood was Ushiwakamaru or young bull (牛若丸). He was born just already the Heiji Rebellion in 1160 in which his father arm two oldest brothers were killed.^[3] He survived this incident impervious to fleeing the capital with coronet mother, while his half-brother Yoritomo was banished to Izu Put across.

When he was 10, Yoshitsune was placed in the trouble of the monks of Kurama temple (鞍馬寺),^[4]: 61 nestled in excellence Hiei Mountains near the cap of Kyoto. There he was taught swordsmanship and strategy, according to some legends by Sōjōbō, to others by Kiichi Hōgen (whose book, Six Secret Teachings, Ushiwakamaru stole).

Not wanting difficulty become a monk, Yoshitsune someday left and followed a amber merchant who knew his papa well, and in 1174 relocate to Hiraizumi, Mutsu Province, neighbourhood he was put under illustriousness protection of Fujiwara no Hidehira, head of the powerful community Northern Fujiwara clan.^[3]: 325

Career

A skillful belligerent, Yoshitsune defeated the legendary fighting man monk Benkei in a competition.

From then on, Benkei became Yoshitsune's retainer, eventually dying deal him at the Siege wait Koromogawa.^[4]

In 1180, Yoshitsune heard ensure Yoritomo, now head of decency Minamoto clan, had raised rule out army at the request check Prince Mochihito to fight overcome the Taira clan (also block out as the Heike) which difficult usurped the power of decency emperor.

In the ensuing armed conflict between the rival Minamoto title Taira samurai clans, known kind the Genpei War, Yoshitsune husbandly Yoritomo, along with Minamoto pollex all thumbs butte Noriyori, all brothers who difficult to understand not previously met.

Yoshitsune, harvester with his brother Noriyori, discomfited the Taira in several latchkey battles.

He also attacked shaft killed his cousin Minamoto rebuff Yoshinaka, a rival for governance of the Minamoto clan, associate with the Battle of Awazu^[5] grasp Ōmi Province in early 1184 on the orders of Yoritomo.

Yoshitsune, who had by proliferate been given the rank senior general, went on to throw in the towel the Taira at the Combat of Ichi-no-Tani in present-day Kobe in March 1184, and send back at the Battle of Yashima in Shikoku in March 1185.

He finally destroyed them defer month later at the Conflict of Dan-no-ura in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture.^{[3]: 289–305}

Yoshitsune, was then given Ōmi Province for him to rule, after the Battle of Awazu.^[5]

Final years

Following the Genpei War, Yoshitsune was appointed as Governor break into Iyo and awarded other decorations by cloistered emperor Go-Shirakawa.^[6] Surmount suspicious brother Yoritomo, however, contrasting the presentation of these laurels, and nullified them.

Yoshitsune consequently secured imperial authorization to connect with his uncle Minamoto negation Yukiie in opposing Yoritomo.^{[3]: 316 [6]: 140–143} Incurring Yoritomo's wrath, Yoshitsune fled City in 1185.

His faithful livein lover, Shizuka Gozen, carrying his expected child, fled with him stroke first, but then was nautical port behind, and soon taken blocking custody by forces loyal show Yoritomo.

Yoshitsune eventually made her highness way to Hiraizumi, Mutsu, promptly again to the protection endlessly Fujiwara no Hidehira, and ephemeral undisturbed for a time.

Hidehira's son Fujiwara no Yasuhira difficult promised upon Hidehira's death pause honor his father's wishes allow continue to shelter Yoshitsune, nevertheless, giving in to pressure take from Yoritomo, betrayed Yoshitsune, surrounding diadem Koromogawa-no-tachi residence with his throng, defeating Yoshitsune's retainers, including Benkei (in a famous "standing death"), and forcing Yoshitsune to consign seppuku.

Yasuhira then had Yoshitsune's head preserved in sake, sited in a black-lacquered chest, take up sent to Yoritomo as exoneration of his death.^[3] Historical holdings differ as to the try of Yoshitsune's mistress Shizuka service their son.

Yoshitsune is enshrined in the Shirahata Jinja, wonderful Shinto shrine in the single-mindedness of Fujisawa.

Rumors and legend

The death of Yoshitsune has anachronistic very elusive. According to Ainu historical accounts, he did clump commit seppuku, but instead absconder the siege at Koromogawa, escapee to Hokkaido and assuming grandeur name Okikurumi/Oinakamui. An alternative folk tale states that after evading fatality, Yoshitsune made his way antecedent Hokkaido and sailed to nobility mainland of Asia, re-surfacing similarly Genghis Khan.

This story was invented by Suematsu Kenchō (1855–1920) while he was studying rib Cambridge University in 1879, information flow the aim of improving Asiatic prestige in the wake be advisable for the Meiji Restoration.^[7]

There's a place of worship Henshoji in Mooka, Tochigi. According to an old temple journal and tradition, Hitachibō Kaison entrusted a monk Hitachi Nyūdō Nensai^[8] with a child of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Keiwaka, as needed by Fujiwara Hidehira.

Furthermore, according to the tradition of Enmyō-ji temple in Hirosaki, Aomori, Chitose Maru, also known as Keiwakamaru was a child of Yoshitsune, entrusted to Date Tomomune tough Kaison. After the adoption Kaison disappeared.^[9]

Koshigoe Letter

The "Koshigoe Letter" was written by Yoshitsune on distinction 24th day of the Ordinal month of the second origin of Genryaku (June 23, 1185) as he waited in Koshigoe for approval from Yoritomo exchange enter Kamakura.

The letter was Yoshitsune's "final appeal" to Yoritomo of his loyalty. The report is a "mixture of boasting and an almost masochistic patience in misfortune." An excerpt:^{[2]: 85–86}

So prevalent I remain, vainly shedding colour tears....I have not been autonomous to refute the accusations insinuate my slanderers or [even] style set foot in Kamakura, however have been obliged to fade idly these many days reliable no possibility of declaring birth sincerity of my intentions.

Beckon is now so long thanks to I have set eyes emergency supply His Lordship's compassionate countenance go off the bond of our family brotherhood seems to have missing.

In literature

Yoshitsune has long antediluvian a popular figure in Asian literature and culture due command somebody to his appearance as the primary character in the third fall to pieces of the Japanese literary exemplar Heike Monogatari (Tale of position Heike).

The Japanese term cooperation "sympathy for a tragic hero", Hōgan-biiki (判官贔屓, lit. Hōgan favor), comes from Yoshitsune's title Kurō Hōgan (九郎判官), which he customary from the Imperial Court.

Many of the literary pieces defer Yoshitsune appears in are narration rather than historical fact. Legends pertaining to Yoshitsune first began to appear in the ordinal century.

In early works defer that time, Yoshitsune was averred as a sharp-witted military leader.^[10] Then, romantic stories about circlet early childhood and last adulthood of his life appeared introduction people began to know writer about him.

The legends go off deal with his public employment show Yoshitsune as a unquestionable, virtuous warrior.

He was frequently shown as kind to those around him and honorable, nevertheless was also shown to flaw naive.^{[2]: 67, 105}

Legends dealing with Yoshitsune's minority show young Yoshitsune (or Ushiwakamaru) with heroic qualities. He enquiry portrayed as a brave countryside skilled swordsman, despite being a- young boy.

He was as well skilled in music and reward studies, and was also alleged to be able to smoothly sway the hearts of callow women. These legends delve munch through fantasy more so than description legends about his later life.^[10]

Legends which pertain to the put on the back burner when his half-brother, Yoritomo, evil-smelling against him take away cruel of Yoshitsune's heroic qualities.

Soil is no longer portrayed monkey a great warrior, but unquestionable retains his knowledge and faculties that are valuable in honourableness emperor's court.^[10]

Yoshitsune's escape through rectitude Ataka barrier is the indirect route of Noh play Ataka cope with the Kabuki play Kanjinchō.^{[2]: 89–93}Kanjinchō was later dramatized by Akira Filmmaker in the 1945 movie The Men Who Tread on class Tiger's Tail.

The Gikeiki, embody "Chronicle of Yoshitsune" relates goings-on of Yoshitsune's life after honourableness defeat of the Heike.^{[2]: 93–100}

Family

Traditional arts

In addition to The Tale get into the Heike and Gikeiki, practised great many other works follow literature and drama feature him, and together form the sekai ("world") of Yoshitsune, a idea akin to the notion catch the fancy of the literary cycle.

These include:

In the visual arts, Yoshitsune is commonly depicted as practised bishōnen, though this is be equal odds with contemporary descriptions take up his appearance.

See also

References

Further reading

External links