Japan History: Kusunoki Masashige
[:it]Kusunoki Masashige, (1294 – 4 Luglio 1336) nacque a Minato-gawa, provincia di Settsu, e fu un samurai del XIV secolo che combatté per l’imperatore Go-Daigo nella guerra di Genkō.
photo credit: ninja.fandom.com
Gran parte della sua prima educazione avvenne nel tempio di Kanshin-ji a Kawachinagano, nel sud di Osaka, dove più tardi avrebbe organizzato notevoli restauri.
La leggenda narra che l’imperatore Go-Daigo fece un sogno in cui si stava rifugiando sotto un albero di canfora ( il “kusunoki ). Questo sogno lo portò al cognome del guerriero che lo avrebbe sostenuto. Infatti, nel 1331 Kusunoki si unì all’imperatore Go-Daigo in una rivolta per strappare il potere del governo dallo shogunato, la dittatura militare che aveva dominato il Giappone dal 1192. Sebbene le truppe shogunate numericamente più forti catturarono l’imperatore, Kusunoki fuggì continuando ad usare tattiche di guerriglia.
La cattura di Kusunoki vicino a Nara nel 1332 si rivelò una grave minaccia per il governo. Lo shogun concentrò quindi tutte le sue forze contro Kusunoki. In una delle battaglie più famose della storia giapponese, Kusunoki difese con successo la fortezza di Chihaya contro le forze shogunali superiori.
photo credit: davtov2000.blogspot.com
Dal 1333 al 1335
Nel 1333, Go-Daigo ricompensò Masashige con il governatorato della provincia di Settsu e della provincia di Kawachi e la promozione al quinto grado. Successivamente, ricevette la nomina nel Records Office and Settlement Board. Tuttavia, uno dei generali lealisti, Ashikaga Takauji, tradì Go-Daigo e guidò un esercito contro Kusunoki. Takauji si impossessò di Kyoto, ma solo temporaneamente prima che Nitta Yoshisada e Masashige costrinsero Takauji a fuggire. Nel 1336 Takauji era di nuovo una minaccia per Kyoto.
Durante il breve periodo successivo del dominio imperiale, Kusunoki fu governatore delle province giapponesi centrali di Settsu. Il vero potere nelle campagne, tuttavia, continuò a essere detenuto dai grandi signori ereditari, Ashikaga Takauji e Nitta Yoshisada. Questi ultimi si sfidarono apertamente per ottenere la lealtà dei capi minori feudali.
Kusunoki suggerì all’Imperatore di rifugiarsi sul sacro Monte Hiei e permettere a Takauji di prendere Kyoto. Questo per permettergli di scendere dalla montagna e, con l’aiuto dei monaci del Monte Hiei, intrappolare Takauji.
Go-Daigo non era disposto a lasciare la capitale e insistette sul fatto che Kusunoki incontrasse le forze di Takauji sul campo. Kusunoki, in quello che sarebbe poi stato visto come l’ultimo atto di lealtà dei samurai, accettò obbedientemente. La battaglia, che ebbe luogo a Minatogawa, nell’odierna Chūō-ku, Kobe, fu un disastro tattico. Ci sono due resoconti della proposta fatta da Kusunoki Masashige all’imperatore Go-Daigo, il Taiheiki e il Baisho Ron, entrabe ingorati. Uno era che si sarebbero raggruppati e avrebbero attaccato da due parti, l’altro era che riportare il generale Takauji dalla loro parte.
L’esercito di Kusunoki era solo 50 dei 700 cavalieri. Secondo la leggenda, le ultime parole di suo fratello Masasue furono Shichisei Hōkoku! (“Vorrei avere sette vite da dare al mio imperatore!”). Ovviamente Kusunoki Masashige fu d’accordo.
Alla sua morte, la sua testa fu inviata a Kanshin-ji e sepolta in una tomba nota come Kubi-zuka.
Il castello di Eboshigata e il castello di Ishibotoke furono entrambi costruiti lungo il percorso del Koya Kaido, una famosa via di pellegrinaggio che si estende tra Kyoto e Koyasan. Progettati non solo per proteggere la pista dai banditi, questi erano anche un’importante fonte di reddito visto che i viaggiatori erano obbligati a pagare un pedaggio.
Dal 1335 alla restaurazione Meiji
Nel 1335 Go-Daigo si schierò con Nitta Yoshisada contro Ashikaga Takauji. Come capo delle forze imperiali, Kusunoki sconfisse le truppe di Takauji nel gennaio 1336 e lo costrinse a fuggire dalla capitale. Pochi mesi dopo, tuttavia, Takauji tornò alla testa di un grande esercito. Kusunoki suggerì di ritirarsi temporaneamente in modo da poter combattere le forze di Takauji in un punto in cui il terreno era più favorevole. L’imperatore insistette sul fatto che Kusunoki incontrasse le forze nemiche prima di occupare la capitale. Nella battaglia finale sul fiume Minato, vicino al moderno Kōbe, Kusunoki combatté coraggiosamente per molte ore. Le sue truppe furono infine sopraffatte e si suicidò piuttosto che affrontare la cattura.
Suo figlio, Kusunoki Masatsura, servì il successore dell’imperatore, il dodicenne Go-Murakami, in una relazione di reciproca fiducia che rispecchiava la figura di suo padre Kusunoki e manteneva viva la fiamma della resistenza lealista.
Dopo il restauro imperiale del 1868, uno splendido santuario fu eretto sul luogo della morte di Kusunoki. La sua lealtà verso l’imperatore ed il suo essere uno dei più grandi strateghi militari della storia giapponese, lo hanno reso una figura leggendaria. Ha anche ricevuto la più alta decorazione dal governo giapponese Meiji nel 1880
photo credit: wikipedia.org
Leggenda
Dopo l’introduzione del Neoconfucianesimo come filosofia statale da parte dello shogunato Tokugawa, Kusunoki Masashige fu dichiarato con l’imperatore Go-Daigo precursore degli assolutisti sinocentrici. Durante il periodo Edo, studiosi e samurai che furono influenzati dalle teorie neoconfuciane crearono la leggenda di Kusunoki. Lo consacrarono eroe patriottico, col nome di Nankō o Dai-Nankō, incarnazione di lealtà, coraggio e devozione all’Imperatore. Kusunoki divenne in seguito una sorta di santo patrono dei kamikaze della Seconda Guerra Mondiale. I suoi eredi spirituali erano quelli che sacrificavano la propria vita per l’imperatore.[:en]Kusunoki Masashige, (1294 – 4 July 1336) was born in Minato-gawa, province of Settsu, and was a 14th century samurai who fought for the Emperor Go-Daigo in the Genkō war.
photo credit: ninja.fandom.com
Much of his early education took place in the Kanshin-ji temple in Kawachinagano, in the south of Osaka, where he later organized major restoration work.
Legend has it that the emperor Go-Daigo had a dream in which he was taking refuge under a camphor tree (the “kusunoki”). This dream brought him to the surname of the warrior who would support him. Indeed, in 1331 Kusunoki joined the emperor Go-Daigo in a revolt to wrest government power from the shogunate, the military dictatorship that had dominated Japan since 1192. Although numerically stronger shogunate troops captured the emperor, Kusunoki fled continuing to use guerrilla tactics.
The capture of Kusunoki near Nara in 1332 proved to be a serious threat to the government. The shogun then concentrated all his forces against Kusunoki. In one of the most famous battles in Japanese history, Kusunoki successfully defended the fortress of Chihaya against the upper shogunal forces.
photo credit: davtov2000.blogspot.com
From 1333 to 1335
In 1333, Go-Daigo rewarded Masashige with the governorate of the province of Settsu and the province of Kawachi and promoted him to the fifth degree. Subsequently, he received the appointment on the Records Office and Settlement Board. However, one of the loyalist generals, Ashikaga Takauji, betrayed Go-Daigo and led an army against Kusunoki. Takauji took possession of Kyoto, but only temporarily before Nitta Yoshisada and Masashige forced Takauji to flee. In 1336 Takauji was again a threat to Kyoto.
During the short period following the imperial rule, Kusunoki was governor of the central Japanese provinces of Settsu. The real power in the countryside, however, continued to be held by the great hereditary lords, Ashikaga Takauji and Nitta Yoshisada. The latter openly challenged themselves to obtain the loyalty of minor feudal leaders.
Kusunoki suggested to the Emperor to take refuge on the sacred Mount Hiei and allow Takauji to take Kyoto. This is to allow him to descend from the mountain and, with the help of the monks of Mount Hiei, trap Takauji.
Go-Daigo was not willing to leave the capital and insisted that Kusunoki meet Takauji’s forces on the field. Kusunoki, in what would later be seen as the last act of samurai loyalty, accepted obediently. The battle, which took place in Minatogawa, in present-day Chūō-ku, Kobe, was a tactical disaster. There are two reports of the proposal made by Kusunoki Masashige to the emperor Go-Daigo, the Taiheiki and the Baisho Ron, entbe ingorati. One was that they would group together and attack from two sides, the other was that they would take General Takauji back on their side.
Kusunoki’s army was only 50 of the 700 knights. According to legend, the last words of his brother Masasue were Shichisei Hōkoku! (“I wish I had seven lives to give to my emperor!”) Obviously Kusunoki Masashige agreed.
At his death, his head was sent to Kanshin-ji and buried in a tomb known as Kubi-zuka.
Eboshigata Castle and Ishibotoke Castle were both built along the route of the Koya Kaido, a famous pilgrimage route that stretches between Kyoto and Koyasan. Designed not only to protect the path from bandits, these were also an important source of income as travelers were forced to pay a toll.
From 1335 to the Meiji restoration
In 1335 Go-Daigo sided with Nitta Yoshisada against Ashikaga Takauji. As head of the imperial forces, Kusunoki defeated Takauji’s troops in January 1336 and forced him to flee the capital. A few months later, however, Takauji returned to the head of a large army. Kusunoki suggested temporarily withdrawing so he could fight Takauji’s forces at a point where the terrain was more favorable. The emperor insisted that Kusunoki meet enemy forces before occupying the capital. In the final battle on the Minato River, near the modern Kobe, Kusunoki fought bravely for many hours. His troops were finally overwhelmed and committed suicide rather than face capture.
His son, Kusunoki Masatsura, served as the emperor’s successor, 12-year-old Go-Murakami, in a relationship of mutual trust that reflected the figure of his father Kusunoki and kept the flame of loyal resistance alive.
After the imperial restoration in 1868, a splendid sanctuary was erected on the site of Kusunoki’s death. His loyalty to the emperor and his being one of the greatest military strategists in Japanese history, made him a legendary figure. He also received the highest decoration from the Japanese Meiji government in 1880.
photo credit: wikipedia.org
Legend
After the introduction of Neoconfucianism as a state philosophy by the Tokugawa shogunate, Kusunoki Masashige was declared with the emperor Go-Daigo forerunner of the synocentric absolutists. During the Edo period, scholars and samurai who were influenced by neoconfucian theories created the legend of Kusunoki. They consecrated him patriotic hero, with the name of Nankō or Dai-Nankō, incarnation of loyalty, courage and devotion to the Emperor. Kusunoki later became a sort of patron saint of the WWII suicide bombers. His spiritual heirs were those who sacrificed their lives for the emperor.[:ja]Kusunoki Masashige, (1294 – 4 July 1336) was born in Minato-gawa, province of Settsu, and was a 14th century samurai who fought for the Emperor Go-Daigo in the Genkō war.
photo credit: ninja.fandom.com
Much of his early education took place in the Kanshin-ji temple in Kawachinagano, in the south of Osaka, where he later organized major restoration work.
Legend has it that the emperor Go-Daigo had a dream in which he was taking refuge under a camphor tree (the “kusunoki”). This dream brought him to the surname of the warrior who would support him. Indeed, in 1331 Kusunoki joined the emperor Go-Daigo in a revolt to wrest government power from the shogunate, the military dictatorship that had dominated Japan since 1192. Although numerically stronger shogunate troops captured the emperor, Kusunoki fled continuing to use guerrilla tactics.
The capture of Kusunoki near Nara in 1332 proved to be a serious threat to the government. The shogun then concentrated all his forces against Kusunoki. In one of the most famous battles in Japanese history, Kusunoki successfully defended the fortress of Chihaya against the upper shogunal forces.
photo credit: davtov2000.blogspot.com
From 1333 to 1335
In 1333, Go-Daigo rewarded Masashige with the governorate of the province of Settsu and the province of Kawachi and promoted him to the fifth degree. Subsequently, he received the appointment on the Records Office and Settlement Board. However, one of the loyalist generals, Ashikaga Takauji, betrayed Go-Daigo and led an army against Kusunoki. Takauji took possession of Kyoto, but only temporarily before Nitta Yoshisada and Masashige forced Takauji to flee. In 1336 Takauji was again a threat to Kyoto.
During the short period following the imperial rule, Kusunoki was governor of the central Japanese provinces of Settsu. The real power in the countryside, however, continued to be held by the great hereditary lords, Ashikaga Takauji and Nitta Yoshisada. The latter openly challenged themselves to obtain the loyalty of minor feudal leaders.
Kusunoki suggested to the Emperor to take refuge on the sacred Mount Hiei and allow Takauji to take Kyoto. This is to allow him to descend from the mountain and, with the help of the monks of Mount Hiei, trap Takauji.
Go-Daigo was not willing to leave the capital and insisted that Kusunoki meet Takauji’s forces on the field. Kusunoki, in what would later be seen as the last act of samurai loyalty, accepted obediently. The battle, which took place in Minatogawa, in present-day Chūō-ku, Kobe, was a tactical disaster. There are two reports of the proposal made by Kusunoki Masashige to the emperor Go-Daigo, the Taiheiki and the Baisho Ron, entbe ingorati. One was that they would group together and attack from two sides, the other was that they would take General Takauji back on their side.
Kusunoki’s army was only 50 of the 700 knights. According to legend, the last words of his brother Masasue were Shichisei Hōkoku! (“I wish I had seven lives to give to my emperor!”) Obviously Kusunoki Masashige agreed.
At his death, his head was sent to Kanshin-ji and buried in a tomb known as Kubi-zuka.
Eboshigata Castle and Ishibotoke Castle were both built along the route of the Koya Kaido, a famous pilgrimage route that stretches between Kyoto and Koyasan. Designed not only to protect the path from bandits, these were also an important source of income as travelers were forced to pay a toll.
From 1335 to the Meiji restoration
In 1335 Go-Daigo sided with Nitta Yoshisada against Ashikaga Takauji. As head of the imperial forces, Kusunoki defeated Takauji’s troops in January 1336 and forced him to flee the capital. A few months later, however, Takauji returned to the head of a large army. Kusunoki suggested temporarily withdrawing so he could fight Takauji’s forces at a point where the terrain was more favorable. The emperor insisted that Kusunoki meet enemy forces before occupying the capital. In the final battle on the Minato River, near the modern Kobe, Kusunoki fought bravely for many hours. His troops were finally overwhelmed and committed suicide rather than face capture.
His son, Kusunoki Masatsura, served as the emperor’s successor, 12-year-old Go-Murakami, in a relationship of mutual trust that reflected the figure of his father Kusunoki and kept the flame of loyal resistance alive.
After the imperial restoration in 1868, a splendid sanctuary was erected on the site of Kusunoki’s death. His loyalty to the emperor and his being one of the greatest military strategists in Japanese history, made him a legendary figure. He also received the highest decoration from the Japanese Meiji government in 1880.
photo credit: wikipedia.org
Legend
After the introduction of Neoconfucianism as a state philosophy by the Tokugawa shogunate, Kusunoki Masashige was declared with the emperor Go-Daigo forerunner of the synocentric absolutists. During the Edo period, scholars and samurai who were influenced by neoconfucian theories created the legend of Kusunoki. They consecrated him patriotic hero, with the name of Nankō or Dai-Nankō, incarnation of loyalty, courage and devotion to the Emperor. Kusunoki later became a sort of patron saint of the WWII suicide bombers. His spiritual heirs were those who sacrificed their lives for the emperor.[:]