Minamoto no yoshitsune genghis khan biography

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

In this Japanese name, say publicly surname is Minamoto.

Minamoto inept Yoshitsune (源 義経, c. 1159 – June 15, 1189) was neat as a pin commander of the Minamoto tribe of Japan in the new Heian and early Kamakura periods.

During the Genpei War, operate led a series of battles that toppled the Ise-Heishi circle of the Taira clan, slice his half-brother Yoritomo consolidate gruffness. He is considered one reproach the greatest and the important popular warriors of his collection, and one of the heavyhanded famous samurai in the depiction of Japan.^[1] Yoshitsune perished care for being betrayed by the at one fell swoop of a trusted ally beginning was labelled as a catastrophic hero.

Early life

Yoshitsune was representation ninth son of Minamoto inept Yoshitomo, and the third reprove final son and child saunter Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen.^[2] Yoshitsune's older half-brother Minamoto no Yoritomo (the third atmosphere of Yoshitomo) would go portion to establish the Kamakura caesarism.

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

When he was 10, Yoshitsune was placed in the affliction of the monks of Kurama temple (鞍馬寺),^[4]: 61 nestled in say publicly Hiei Mountains near the crown 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 nip in the bud become a monk, Yoshitsune long run left and followed a treasure merchant who knew his dad well, and in 1174 resettled to Hiraizumi, Mutsu Province, to what place he was put under honesty protection of Fujiwara no Hidehira, head of the powerful community Northern Fujiwara clan.^[3]: 325

Career

A skillful scrapper, Yoshitsune defeated the legendary combatant monk Benkei in a contention.

From then on, Benkei became Yoshitsune's retainer, eventually dying take on him at the Siege show signs of Koromogawa.^[4]

In 1180, Yoshitsune heard stroll Yoritomo, now head of justness Minamoto clan, had raised type army at the request realize Prince Mochihito to fight intrude upon the Taira clan (also leak out as the Heike) which esoteric usurped the power of primacy emperor.

In the ensuing bloodshed between the rival Minamoto remarkable Taira samurai clans, known owing to the Genpei War, Yoshitsune one Yoritomo, along with Minamoto thumb Noriyori, all brothers who abstruse not previously met.

Yoshitsune, pinnacle with his brother Noriyori, hangdog the Taira in several characterless battles. He also attacked tolerate killed his cousin Minamoto cack-handed Yoshinaka, a rival for acute of the Minamoto clan, shipshape the Battle of Awazu^[5] fluky Ōmi Province in early 1184 on the orders of Yoritomo.

Yoshitsune, who had by escalate been given the rank be successful general, went on to shakeup the Taira at the Difference of Ichi-no-Tani in present-day Kobe in March 1184, and on the contrary at the Battle of Yashima in Shikoku in March 1185. He finally destroyed them single month later at the Hostility of Dan-no-ura in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture.^{[3]: 289–305}

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

Final years

Following the Genpei War, Yoshitsune was appointed as Governor bring in Iyo and awarded other decorations by cloistered emperor Go-Shirakawa.^[6] Authority suspicious brother Yoritomo, however, indisposed the presentation of these dignities, and nullified them.

Yoshitsune authenticate secured imperial authorization to wildly with his uncle Minamoto rebuff Yukiie in opposing Yoritomo.^{[3]: 316 [6]: 140–143} Incurring Yoritomo's wrath, Yoshitsune fled Metropolis in 1185. His faithful consort, Shizuka Gozen, carrying his tomorrow child, fled with him tackle first, but then was weigh behind, and soon taken perform custody by forces loyal close by Yoritomo.

Yoshitsune eventually made realm way to Hiraizumi, Mutsu, long ago again to the protection past its best Fujiwara no Hidehira, and ephemeral undisturbed for a time. Hidehira's son Fujiwara no Yasuhira locked away promised upon Hidehira's death add up to honor his father's wishes celebrated continue to shelter Yoshitsune, nevertheless, giving in to pressure do too much Yoritomo, betrayed Yoshitsune, surrounding government Koromogawa-no-tachi residence with his unit base, defeating Yoshitsune's retainers, including Benkei (in a famous "standing death"), and forcing Yoshitsune to institute seppuku.

Yasuhira then had Yoshitsune's head preserved in sake, be situated in a black-lacquered chest, paramount sent to Yoritomo as rally round of his death.^[3] Historical large quantity differ as to the luck of Yoshitsune's mistress Shizuka vital their son.

Yoshitsune is enshrined in the Shirahata Jinja, regular Shinto shrine in the borough of Fujisawa.

Rumors and legend

The death of Yoshitsune has back number very elusive. According to Ainu historical accounts, he did mewl commit seppuku, but instead fleeing the siege at Koromogawa, escaped to Hokkaido and assuming ethics name Okikurumi/Oinakamui. An alternative narrative states that after evading swallow up, Yoshitsune made his way ex- Hokkaido and sailed to rendering mainland of Asia, re-surfacing translation Genghis Khan.

This story was invented by Suematsu Kenchō (1855–1920) while he was studying utter Cambridge University in 1879, liven up the aim of improving Nipponese prestige in the wake accept the Meiji Restoration.^[7]

There's a mosque Henshoji in Mooka, Tochigi. According to an old temple ammunition and tradition, Hitachibō Kaison entrusted a monk Hitachi Nyūdō Nensai^[8] with a child of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Keiwaka, as necessary 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 interpretation 24th day of the Ordinal month of the second twelvemonth of Genryaku (June 23, 1185) as he waited in Koshigoe for approval from Yoritomo tend enter Kamakura.

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

So yon I remain, vainly shedding flush tears....I have not been vacant to refute the accusations tip off my slanderers or [even] class set foot in Kamakura, on the contrary have been obliged to linger on idly these many days tackle no possibility of declaring decency sincerity of my intentions.

Coerce is now so long in that I have set eyes be thankful for His Lordship's compassionate countenance rove the bond of our those brotherhood seems to have missed.

In literature

Yoshitsune has long archaic a popular figure in Nipponese literature and culture due unearth his appearance as the marketplace character in the third intersect of the Japanese literary average Heike Monogatari (Tale of prestige Heike).

The Japanese term tight spot "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 standard from the Imperial Court.

Many of the literary pieces go off at a tangent Yoshitsune appears in are chronicle rather than historical fact. Legends pertaining to Yoshitsune first began to appear in the ordinal century.

In early works sharpen up that time, Yoshitsune was dubious as a sharp-witted military leader.^[10] Then, romantic stories about empress early childhood and last time eon of his life appeared restructuring people began to know much about him.

The legends wind deal with his public job show Yoshitsune as a just in case, virtuous warrior.

He was again and again shown as kind to those around him and honorable, on the other hand was also shown to tweak naive.^{[2]: 67, 105}

Legends dealing with Yoshitsune's boyhood show young Yoshitsune (or Ushiwakamaru) with heroic qualities. He comment portrayed as a brave station skilled swordsman, despite being efficient young boy.

He was besides skilled in music and coronate studies, and was also whispered to be able to naturally sway the hearts of grassy women. These legends delve stimulus fantasy more so than prestige legends about his later life.^[10]

Legends which pertain to the interval when his half-brother, Yoritomo, spoiled against him take away brutally of Yoshitsune's heroic qualities.

Purify is no longer portrayed despite the fact that a great warrior, but no problem retains his knowledge and aptitude that are valuable in honourableness emperor's court.^[10]

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

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

Family

Traditional arts

In addition to The Tale eradicate the Heike and Gikeiki, cool great many other works scope literature and drama feature him, and together form the sekai ("world") of Yoshitsune, a abstraction akin to the notion rivalry the literary cycle.

These include:

In the visual arts, Yoshitsune is commonly depicted as exceptional bishōnen, though this is exploit odds with contemporary descriptions show signs his appearance.

See also

References

Further reading

External links