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Minamoto No Yoshiie, lo spirito del Samurai

scritto da: SaiKaiAngel

Minamoto No Yoshiie (1039 – 4 agosto 1106), incarna lo spirito del samurai. Fu il primo figlio di Minamoto Yoriyoshi, un famoso comandante.

photo credit: alchetron.com

Nel 1051 Minamoto No Yoshiie fu incaricato di sconfiggere il clan Abe nella guerra Zenkunen (guerra dei primi nove anni) e il clan Kiyohara nella guerra di Gosannen (guerra dei tre anni successivi). Abe aveva ricoperto per anni importanti incarichi in questa regione lontana e proibitiva ed era giunto ad assumere una certa autonomia. Come Taira Masakado, Abe aveva avuto il compito di sottomettere i barbari settentrionali e, dal punto di vista della Corte, diventare essi stessi barbari. Sono stati infatti descritti come ebisu, un termine generico che è stato applicato anche ad Ainu.
Dopo la sua morte, Yoshiie fu elevato allo status di Kami: ribattezzato “Hachimantaro” che significa “figlio di Hachiman”, il dio della guerra shintoista.

photo credit: wikipedia.org

La guerra Zenkunen

Nel 1050 il potere di Abe no Yoritoki, era diffuso nell’intera regione, e questo gli ha dato il permesso di riscuotere tributi e confiscare terre. ll governatore ufficiale, privato di ogni regione, chiese aiuto al governo imperiale. Minamoto no Yoriyoshi fu nominato allora nuovo governatore e inviato con il figlio contro il clan Abe.

La lotta durò dal 1051 al 1063, dodici anni di cui nove di guerra e tre di tregua. Yoshiie combatté al fianco del padre in tutti gli scontri, inclusa la battaglia di Kawasaki e l’assedio di Kuriyagawa.

Nel 1057 il figlio di Abe no Yoritoki, Abe no Sadato proseguì la guerra dopo la morte di suo padre.

Nel Mutzu Waki, omaggio alla reputazione del guerriero di Yoshiie, c’è il racconto di uno scambio avvenuto tra Yoshiie e Sadato durante la fuga di questo dalla fortezza sul fiume Kurika, durante le aggressioni dell’esercito dei Minamoto.

Hachimantarō, durante un inseguimento lungo il fiume Koromo gridò: “Signore, state state mostrando le spalle al nemico! Non vi vergognate? Giratevi un momento, ho qualcosa da dirvi.” Quando Sadato si voltò, Yoshiie disse: “Il castello di Koromo è stato distrutto”. Sadato, voltandosi, disse: “Nel corso degli anni i fili si sono aggrovigliati, e ciò mi addolora”. A quel punto, Yoshiie ripose la freccia che aveva caricato, e tornò al suo campo. Nel mezzo di una battaglia così selvaggia, quello fu un atto da gentiluomo.
Yoshiie tornò a Kyoto nei primi mesi del 1063 con la Testa di Abe no Sadato e l’anno seguente prese come servitori parecchi seguaci degli Abe che aveva fatto prigionieri.

photo credit: wikipedia.org

Guerra Gosannen

Yoshiie fu comandante durante un altro importante conflitto del periodo Heian. Agli inizi del 1083, nominato governatore della provincia di Mutsu, si intromise per calmare gli animi all’interno del clan Kiyohara, in precedenza alleato dei Minamoto nella guerra contro gli Abe.

Nonostante questo, la lotta tra Kiyohara no Masahira, Narihira e Iehira sulla leadership del clan non si fermarono, e così Yoshiie si impegnò a riportare la pace nella regione. Lo scontro finale si svolse nel 1087 sulle palizzate di Kanazawa. Yoshiie, aiutato dal fratello minore Minamoto no Yoshimitsu e da Fujiwara Kiyohira, assaltò la posizione tenuta da Kiyohara no Iehira e da suo zio Kiyohara no Takahira. Il conflitto divenne noto come la successiva guerra dei tre anni e culminò a Numu (1086) quando Takahira e Iehira furono uccisi. Nel Kokon Chomonjū si narra che durante l’assedio di Kanezawa, Yoshiie abbia evitato un’imboscata notando uno stormo di uccelli prendere il volo da una foresta. Pur subendo grandi perdite nei suoi ranghi, si dice che Yoshiie sia stato un leader particolarmente efficace, riuscendo a tenere il morale alto e preservando la disciplina tra i guerrieri.

Minamoto No Yoshiie fu definito “Il Samurai dal più grande coraggio sotto al cielo”. Mel 1098 fu concesso a Yoshiie di visitare la Corte imperiale, un raro onore che per sua stessa rarità indica il divario crescente tra la Corte e le case provinciali. Questa alienazione alla fine avrebbe contribuito all’eclissi dell’autorità imperiale da parte dei samurai alla fine del XII secolo.

Tuttavia, è difficile collocare Minamoto Yoshiie in un contesto storico. Il suo più grande contributo politico fu probabilmente il rafforzare la famiglia Minamoto, in particolare quei rami che risiedono nel Kanto. L’altro suo contributo è stato meno tangibile. La leggenda di Minamoto No Yoshiie, che emerse dalle sue guerre settentrionali e dalle cronache come un uomo di guerra colto, stabilì un modello per il futuro samurai che avrebbe influenzato le successive generazioni di guerrieri.[:en]

Minamoto No Yoshiie, the spirit of the Samurai

written by: SaiKaiAngel | translation: Erika

Minamoto No Yoshiie (1039 – 4 August 1106), embodies the spirit of the samurai. He was the first son of Minamoto Yoriyoshi, a famous commander.

photo credit: alchetron.com

In 1051 Minamoto No Yoshiie was charged with defeating the Abe clan in the Zenkunen war (war of the first nine years) and the Kiyohara clan in the Gosannen war (war of the next three years). Abe had held important positions for years in this distant and prohibitive region and had come to assume a certain autonomy. Like Taira Masakado, Abe had had the task of subduing the northern barbarians and, from the court’s point of view, becoming barbarians themselves. They have indeed been described as ebisu, a generic term that has also been applied to Ainu.
After his death, Yoshiie was elevated to Kami status: renamed “Hachimantaro” which means “son of Hachiman”, the god of Shinto war.

photo credit: wikipedia.org

The Zenkunen war

By 1050 the power of Abe no Yoritoki was widespread throughout the region, and this gave him permission to collect taxes and confiscate lands. The official governor, private from each region, asked the imperial government for help. Minamoto no Yoriyoshi was then appointed new governor and together with his son he was sent against the Abe clan.

The struggle lasted from 1051 to 1063, twelve years including nine of war and three of truce. Yoshiie fought alongside his father in all the fighting, including the battle of Kawasaki and the siege of Kuriyagawa.

In 1057 Abe no Yoritoki’s son Abe no Sadato continued the war after his father’s death.

In Mutzu Waki, a tribute to the reputation of Yoshiie’s warrior, there is the story of an exchange that took place between Yoshiie and Sadato during his escape from the fortress on the Kurika River, during the attacks by the Minamoto army.

Hachimantarō, during a chase along the Koromo River shouted: “Sir, you are showing your back to the enemy! Aren’t you ashamed? Turn around for a moment, I have something to tell you.” When Sadato turned around, Yoshiie said, “Koromo castle has been destroyed.” Sadato, turning around, said: “Over the years the threads have become tangled, and this pains me.” At that point, Yoshiie put down the arrow he had loaded and returned to his field. In the midst of such a savage battle, that was a gentlemanly act.
Yoshiie returned to Kyoto in early 1063 with the Head of Abe no Sadato and the following year he took several followers of the Abe clan whom he had taken prisoners as servants.

photo credit: wikipedia.org

Gosannen war

Yoshiie was commander during another major Heian period conflict. In early 1083, appointed governor of the province of Mutsu, he intervened to calm the hearts within the Kiyohara clan, previously a Minamoto ally in the war against the Abe.

Despite this, the clash leadership struggle between Kiyohara no Masahira, Narihira and Iehira did not stop, and so Yoshiie pledged to restore peace to the region. The final clash took place in 1087 on the palisades of Kanazawa. Yoshiie, aided by his younger brother Minamoto no Yoshimitsu and Fujiwara Kiyohira, attacked the position held by Kiyohara no Iehira and his uncle Kiyohara no Takahira. The conflict became known as the subsequent three-year war and culminated in Numu (1086) when Takahira and Iehira were killed. In the Kokon Chomonjū it is said that during the siege of Kanezawa, Yoshiie avoided an ambush by noticing a flock of birds taking flight from a forest. Despite suffering large losses in his ranks, Yoshiie is said to have been a particularly effective leader, managing to keep morale high and maintaining discipline among the warriors.

Minamoto No Yoshiie was called “The Samurai with the greatest courage under heaven”. Mel 1098 was granted to Yoshiie to visit the Imperial Court, a rare honor which by its very rarity indicates the growing gap between the Court and the provincial houses. This alienation would eventually contribute to the samurai eclipse of imperial authority in the late 12th century.

However, it is difficult to place Minamoto Yoshiie in a historical context. His greatest political contribution was probably to strengthen the Minamoto family, especially those branches that reside in Kanto. His other contribution was less tangible. The legend of Minamoto No Yoshiie, who emerged from his northern wars and reports as a cultured war man, established a model for the future samurai that would influence subsequent generations of warriors.[:ja]

Minamoto No Yoshiie, the spirit of the Samurai

written by: SaiKaiAngel | translation: Erika

Minamoto No Yoshiie (1039 – 4 August 1106), embodies the spirit of the samurai. He was the first son of Minamoto Yoriyoshi, a famous commander.

photo credit: alchetron.com

In 1051 Minamoto No Yoshiie was charged with defeating the Abe clan in the Zenkunen war (war of the first nine years) and the Kiyohara clan in the Gosannen war (war of the next three years). Abe had held important positions for years in this distant and prohibitive region and had come to assume a certain autonomy. Like Taira Masakado, Abe had had the task of subduing the northern barbarians and, from the court’s point of view, becoming barbarians themselves. They have indeed been described as ebisu, a generic term that has also been applied to Ainu.
After his death, Yoshiie was elevated to Kami status: renamed “Hachimantaro” which means “son of Hachiman”, the god of Shinto war.

photo credit: wikipedia.org

The Zenkunen war

By 1050 the power of Abe no Yoritoki was widespread throughout the region, and this gave him permission to collect taxes and confiscate lands. The official governor, private from each region, asked the imperial government for help. Minamoto no Yoriyoshi was then appointed new governor and together with his son he was sent against the Abe clan.

The struggle lasted from 1051 to 1063, twelve years including nine of war and three of truce. Yoshiie fought alongside his father in all the fighting, including the battle of Kawasaki and the siege of Kuriyagawa.

In 1057 Abe no Yoritoki’s son Abe no Sadato continued the war after his father’s death.

In Mutzu Waki, a tribute to the reputation of Yoshiie’s warrior, there is the story of an exchange that took place between Yoshiie and Sadato during his escape from the fortress on the Kurika River, during the attacks by the Minamoto army.

Hachimantarō, during a chase along the Koromo River shouted: “Sir, you are showing your back to the enemy! Aren’t you ashamed? Turn around for a moment, I have something to tell you.” When Sadato turned around, Yoshiie said, “Koromo castle has been destroyed.” Sadato, turning around, said: “Over the years the threads have become tangled, and this pains me.” At that point, Yoshiie put down the arrow he had loaded and returned to his field. In the midst of such a savage battle, that was a gentlemanly act.
Yoshiie returned to Kyoto in early 1063 with the Head of Abe no Sadato and the following year he took several followers of the Abe clan whom he had taken prisoners as servants.

photo credit: wikipedia.org

Gosannen war

Yoshiie was commander during another major Heian period conflict. In early 1083, appointed governor of the province of Mutsu, he intervened to calm the hearts within the Kiyohara clan, previously a Minamoto ally in the war against the Abe.

Despite this, the clash leadership struggle between Kiyohara no Masahira, Narihira and Iehira did not stop, and so Yoshiie pledged to restore peace to the region. The final clash took place in 1087 on the palisades of Kanazawa. Yoshiie, aided by his younger brother Minamoto no Yoshimitsu and Fujiwara Kiyohira, attacked the position held by Kiyohara no Iehira and his uncle Kiyohara no Takahira. The conflict became known as the subsequent three-year war and culminated in Numu (1086) when Takahira and Iehira were killed. In the Kokon Chomonjū it is said that during the siege of Kanezawa, Yoshiie avoided an ambush by noticing a flock of birds taking flight from a forest. Despite suffering large losses in his ranks, Yoshiie is said to have been a particularly effective leader, managing to keep morale high and maintaining discipline among the warriors.

Minamoto No Yoshiie was called “The Samurai with the greatest courage under heaven”. Mel 1098 was granted to Yoshiie to visit the Imperial Court, a rare honor which by its very rarity indicates the growing gap between the Court and the provincial houses. This alienation would eventually contribute to the samurai eclipse of imperial authority in the late 12th century.

However, it is difficult to place Minamoto Yoshiie in a historical context. His greatest political contribution was probably to strengthen the Minamoto family, especially those branches that reside in Kanto. His other contribution was less tangible. The legend of Minamoto No Yoshiie, who emerged from his northern wars and reports as a cultured war man, established a model for the future samurai that would influence subsequent generations of warriors.[:]