Ok, it's the end. By the time you read this, it's probably 3rd May. Or hopefully a day or two after. It's been a very long time since I blogged about history. I still remember leaving the Zhang Liang series half-done, so perhaps I'll redo what I left hanging dry.
In this 最終回, I'm going to deal with one of, if not the most sensitive aspects of the Yamato-Ainu relationship. It's a very tricky terrain to navigate, so let's hope I don't blow things up. In the worst-case scenario, the likes of William the Pastor and Pastor Lee are going to grill me next Sunday.
Tragic parallels between two geniuses
When it comes to comparisons between geniuses, there is more than one thing in common between Yoshitsune and Han Xin. Not only were they proven geniuses, but the manner of their demise was also eerily similar, if not identical.
For Han Xin, his problem was a low EQ. While it's true many highly intelligent people do have higher EQ, we need to accept the fact that... well, it's not 100% applicable. How do you know it's not? Just look at how Han Xin dealt with his boss Liu Bang. If there's one thing you shouldn't do, it'd be telling him how capable you are compared to him. In fact, Han Xin actually boasted he could command a far larger army than his boss. If that's not low EQ, I don't know what else is. Does that mean Han Xin was an idiot? We all know he's a genius. Of course, the counter-argument would be that he didn't have the relevant background. It's like comparing a genius without a degree with a PhD student. Which one do you think would have a higher EQ? Regardless of intelligence, surely it's the PhD student. If the said genius was a victim of the educational system instead of being the beneficiary due to bullying and teachers not doing anything resulting in parents not knowing anything, I don't think one can fault him/her for having a low EQ. There's a difference between one g-word and the other G-word. No genius can ever be called God and only God can control circumstances beyond anyone's control.
As for Yoshitsune, his background didn't fare much better. Unlike his half-brother Yoritomo, he was raised in a religious institute instead of a political clan like the Hojo (i.e. that's actually how Yoritomo got married). The monks at Kurama Temple back then were probably far more isolated than actual evangelicals of today. As for Sōjōbō, he probably didn't fare any better if he was a human being. As a tengu? Well, we all can guess the average tengu's EQ level.
Why did I mention two geniuses cursed with a low EQ? The reason was that a low EQ happened to be the cause of their own downfall. One challenge for people with low EQ would be dealing with inter-human relationships. For Yoshitsune and his Han dynasty counterpart, trouble ensued in the form of dealing with their superiors. Liu Bang for Han Xin's case and Yoritomo for Yoshitsune's case.
Let's talk about Han Xin first to get a better idea afterwards. After Liu Bang unified a chaotic China by defeating Xiang Yu at Gaixia and forcing him to suicide at the bank of Wu River, he proceeded to weaken Han Xin's military authority. At the first glance, that's because the boss had a problem with his subordinate. In reality, it's likelier due to paranoia and it showed via Liu Bang's treatment of Xiao He despite having NO reason to suspect his loyalty. Xiao He didn't die but he was jailed due to Liu Bang's paranoia. There's a very good Chinese saying, "Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger". Every member of the famed Three Heroes of Early Han had to deal with this. Xiao He was wrongfully jailed like Parti Liyani. Thankfully, Liu Bang released him soon after because he was smart enough to know this was a dumb thing to do. Zhang Liang being the person who understood Liu Bang best decided to say "I quit" like a French. Because of Liu Bang's respect and deference to him, Zhang Liang managed to escape from the political intrigue of the royal court like Fan Li minus a beautiful Xi Shi twelve years younger. As for Han Xin, he retaliated. That's the cause of his own downfall and eventual death along with the likes of Ying Bu and Peng Yue.
Han Xin's response was identical to Yoshitsune's reaction when Yoritomo decided to strip his half-brother of the honours and titles bestowed upon him by Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Just a bit of introduction of the Emperor here to give you an idea of the situation: Unlike the current Emperor Naruhito and his father Emperor Emeritus Akihito, Emperor Go-Shirakawa was a politically shrewd person known for playing a game of politics with his vassals. Simply put, he's a very political Emperor. The rise of the Taira clan before the Kamakura shogunate was already a threat to the Emperor. At the same time, Yoritomo was also very suspicious of Go-Shirakawa. This was proven by his famously damning verdict of Go-Shirakawa's character: The biggest goblin of Japan. In short, Yoshitsune was likely a mere political pawn in the hands of Go-Shirakawa. In a certain sense, Yoritomo might have been had by this Imperial goblin. What if Go-Shirakawa's intent was to sow division among the brothers? If Tokugawa Ieyasu was a tanuki-oyaji, Go-Shirakawa would have qualified as a kitsune-oyaji. Go-Shirakawa wasn't senile, he knew Yoritomo was a political animal while Yoshitsune was a military beast. If brother and brother joined hands like Sun Ce and Sun Quan after their father Sun Jian died a horrible death, would he be the next Taira no Munemori? Regicide wouldn't be an option, but exile was 100% plausible. Better to deal with Yoritomo than to deal with Yoritomo and Yoshitsune (although that's probably because there's no chance in Inzanami's home Go-Shirakawa could deal with Yoshitsune instead). By exploiting Yoritomo's animosity towards him, Go-Shirakawa would have succeeded in sowing discord. As for Yoshitsune, he retaliated. Why? There were two possibilities:
1. This was an act of intentional rebellion. Hence, justifying Yoritomo declaring his half-brother an enemy of the state.
2. Yoshitsune was only trying to make his half-brother give back what was rightfully his.
Before we make a conclusion, let me point out an important factor of no return. Namely, Yoshitsune's decision was legitimised by imperial decree. If this was Go-Shirakawa's plan, he clearly executed it flawlessly. Subjectively, it's only natural for us to assume the latter. Objectively, we realised we can't make the correct call. That's how cunning Go-Shirakawa was if he's really hell-bent on playing his game. Ever tried wondering how a dead person could trick future generations of the living to this very day? Interestingly, actual events might have been darker than we'd like to believe.
Let's fast forward this to Yoshitsune running away. He's now a fugitive on the run together with his retainers and family. Now let me point out two prominent names: Sato Gozen who was his wife and Shizuka Gozen who was the woman Yoshitsune loved most. This will be important later on.
He soon made his way to the Ōshū region which was the modern-day Tōhoku region. This was also the focus of Koizumi "more maverick than his grandfather" Junichiro's activism and the reason why the MFA will be very busy next year. The previous patriarch of the Northern Fujiwara clan (i.e. the clan ruling over the entire Tōhoku region) Fujiwara no Hidehira was an appreciator of Yoshitsune's capability. It was Hidehira who housed Yoshitsune before Imperial Prince Mochihito issued a call to arms to the remnants of the Minamoto clan. And it was Hidehira who sheltered Yoshitsune when he became a wanted man. All that changed when Hidehira passed away in 1187 AD. To put things in perspective, the Battle of Dan-no-ura was fought and concluded in 1184 AD with Yoshitsune's death in 1189 AD. That's how fast things unravelled.
When Fujiwara no Yasuhira assumed the clan leadership, he was initially determined to honour the wish of his deceased father till the very bitter end (i.e. the promise to protect Yoshitsune no matter the cost). But there's a problem: Yoritomo was clearly a master of politics. By applying pressure on Yasuhira, it'd imply he already secured the loyalty of the Imperial court. This effectively meant Go-Shirakawa's political scheme went up in smoke and fire. Incidentally, Yoritomo and Go-Shirakawa managed to mend the fences after Yoshitsune's death. This paved the way for the first shogunate in the history of Japan: Kamakura. Also known as part of the Koizumi family's home prefecture.
Back to Yoshitsune. Now not everyone in the Northern Fujiwara family agreed with Yasuhira when he said, "We got no choice". Yasuhira had a younger brother Tadahira. He was the only one disagreeing with the betrayal. In case you assume Tadahira was being emotional, allow me to point out one danger behind Yasuhira's stance: Will Yoritomo turn against the Northern Fujiwara clan afterwards?
There's no way to assume one thing or the other. If the Northern Fujiwara chose not to obey Yoritomo, they'd be in danger of annihilation. If they chose to, what's there to guarantee the safety of the clan? As it turned out, democracy won and Tadahira was clearly left seething at the winning majority.
In 1189 AD, Yoshitsune was prepared to die. The final battle of his life was nigh: The Battle of Koromogawa. One by one, his retainers fell. His most famous follower Benkei died. When they first met, it was on a bridge. Benkei was on a revenge quest against the samurai whom he saw as arrogant as a tengu. By defeating them and taking their swords, Benkei desired to prove one thing: They're just nobodies. His goal was 1000 victories resulting in 1000 swords. At his 999th, he saw Yoshitsune bearing a gilded blade. Instead of duelling at a shrine, they fought on a bridge. Benkei lost but he wasn't about to concede. The second time they fought, Yoshitsune won again. Something might have been said, for hereafter Benkei loyally followed Yoshitsune. From Ichi-no-tani to Koromogawa, from victory to defeat, and from life to death. It was ironic to see where he died for Yoshitsune was where he fought Yoshitsune. On a bridge, Oniwaka fought Ushiwaka. On a bridge, Oniwaka fought for Ushiwaka.
Death or cheated death?
Meanwhile, Yoshitsune was prepared to die. Entering the Jibutsu-do hall, he slew his wife and daughter. Sato Gozen who faithfully followed him and the child she bore with him. The woman he loved was abandoned to the mercy of his foes, Shizuka Gozen with their unborn child. Then the Hero of the Genpei War ended his own life. With that, his head was taken and sent to Yoritomo encased in a lacquered box filled with sake. Alas, Yoritomo wasn't satisfied. The next day, he declared the Northern Fujiwara as rebels who daringly sheltered a traitor despite treason. Gathering his forces, he destroyed the Northern Fujiwara clan. Yoritomo secured his grip on power. With no one to challenge him, not even the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa, the Kamakura shogunate was formed. As history would tell us, power soon changed hands from the Minamoto to the Hojo. The latter thrived but the former was destroyed without descendants.
Yet it wasn't the Hojo who made sure of that. The Minamoto clan had a history of turning against each other. During the Hogen Rebellion, son turned against father, Yoshitomo against Tameyoshi. During the Genpei War, Yoshinaka broke ranks with Yoritomo and paid with his life. Yoritomo's decision to persecute Yoshitsune was dissented by his birth brother Noriyori. As for Noriyori, he brazenly consoled his brother's wife when a false rumour of Yoritomo's death made its way through. Yoritomo was thrice-blessed to escape death. With that, Noriyori's fate was sealed and eventually he was executed on suspicion of treason.
When Yoritomo died, he left behind two sons. The Hojo patriarch Tokimasa schemed against the firstborn, Minamoto no Yoriie. Siding with the younger son Sanetomo, word had it that Tokimasa ordered the assassination of Yoriie. When it was likely Sanetomo would share his brother's fate, Yoritomo's widowed wife and her brother acted. Together Masako and Yoshitoki forced their father to abdicate. To take the tonsure and swear never again to play the game of kings.
When peace seemed to have returned, death came for the Minamoto clan. A seemingly harmless priest, Kugyo turned out to be Zensai, the son of Yoriie who was brutally murdered. Like Yoshitomo against Tameyoshi and Yoritomo against Yoshitsune, so it was with Zensai against Sanetomo. Zensai's anger raged at his uncle, his wrath directed at the Hojo. In one single blow, he slew Sanetomo. With a stroke, he declared himself the Shogun. Alas, betrayal arrived. When justice demanded its due, Zensai was betrayed by his ally. Miura Yoshimura turned against him with false words and Nagao Sadakage took his head.
And with that, the Minamoto clan perished. A wise man once said those who live by the sword shall die by it. Such was the truth of the Minamoto clan. By the sword, it thrived. By the sword, it perished. By the sword, one turned against the other. By the sword, no one was left.
Then rumour swirled from the north, a realm beyond Oshu where men and women of the bear resided. The Ainu claimed a Yamato as their own, a man of their enemy as Okikurmi. They called him Yoshitsune and his companion Benkei. But how could it be? For how could the dead be revived? Unless someone died in his stead, one who looked like him. True or false, brazen lie or daring truth, who could tell? Yet the Ainu said Yoshitsune was Okikurmi and Okikurmi was Yoshitsune.
DISCLAIMER!
The following part is a conjecture of conjectures. I don't claim to be a PhD student in psychology. Therefore, please proceed at your own risk of racial sentiments. At the same time, I doubt my words will sound pretty. This is due to my manner of expression able to function only within either extreme instead of finding a middle ground. I've lived long enough to know this is a flaw beyond repair. Just don't ask me whether I'm mildly bipolar.
Remember what I said about Shizuka Gozen? Going by the events leading to her capture, it's interesting to see that while she was abandoned to the mercy of Yoritomo's soldiers, the opposite went for Sato Gozen. Given how the various tales went, the time gap shouldn't be that large. More specifically, it would seem that:
1. Yoshitsune intended to end the life of Sato Gozen and their daughter.
2. Yoshitsune's wish for Shizuka Gozen and their unborn child was for them to live on.
If Yoshitsune's desire was to orchestrate a family death, why was Shizuka Gozen spared? But since Yoshitsune was hell-bent on killing Sato Gozen and their daughter, why did he let Shizuka Gozen and their unborn child live? Even if Yoshitsune's undying love for Shizuka Gozen was a factor, you can't assume his relationship with Sato Gozen to be that of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Lady Tsukiyama. Because there's no proof.
On the other hand, how should we see the Ainu claiming Yoshitsune living among them? Finding the relevant evidence can be hard since everyone knows the Maori but not the Ainu. In fact, the Samurai Shodown series was the reason why I knew about the Ainu. If not for my exceptional memory, I wouldn't be typing this. Thankfully, my persistence paid off. Now, this is the only Ainu work I discovered telling us the Ainu narrative of Yoshitsune after a massive Hassou-tobi from Aomori to Hokkaido. One thing about the Ainu tales is that like the Celtic people, legends and folktales were passed down through oral means. As a result, not even Bronisław Piłsudski could tell us the Tales of Yoshitsune. The reason was that the Japanese government enforced a policy of assimilation on anyone not of Yamato blood. As a result, the Ainu got clobbered by a senseless policy. All in the name of racial harmony. Or something like that.
The history between the Ainu and the Yamato is nothing to scoff about. While I disagree with CRT, that doesn't mean the Ainu weren't suffering for many years. For how long? Longer than the Japanese occupation of Korea and Singapore combined by my guess. At best, they're never on talking terms. At worst, they'd be on fighting terms. Three notable events came to mind for the latter: Koshamain's War, Shakushain's revolt, and the Menashi-Kunashir rebellion. Out of the three, Koshamain's War might have been the most significant as Koshamain was a man of legend who sacked twelve forts manned by a superior Yamato army.
From the perspective of racial relationships, it'd make no sense for the Ainu to claim Yoshitsune as one of their own. Let alone Okikurmi. But if there's one thing I've learnt about life, it'd be the difference between the absurd and seemingly absurd. There's only this much we can dismiss until reality says so otherwise. If the Yamato claimed the Ainu account makes no sense, they're correct. But because they're actually right, it resulted in the need to make sense of what the Ainu said. One thing I've learnt in dealing with people is this: You don't speak as if the other person should listen to you. When someone speaks, listen. If you want to shoot down the person's words, then don't expect that person to trust you. And without trust, actual discourse can never take place. Trust, that's what separates civilised society from a kingdom of intelligent neanderthals.
But if Yoshitsune did escape, how did he pull it off? I stumbled upon an article suggesting the usage of political decoys may be more ancient than one might think. Granted this applies only to celebrities and historical figures, but do you know what's that one thing they have in common? The fact they're human beings.
This comes to Samai. Why would Benkei be there? I'd say that's the wrong question to ask. Instead, we need to ask how did the Ainu know he was Benkei? The only reason was the same reason why they claimed Yoshitsune was among them: Because he said so.
This comes to mind a person of interest: Hitachibō Kaison. Out of Yoshitsune's retainers, he's the only one to survive. But how considering the circumstances? Notably, he's a monk like Benkei. If Benkei truly died (and I believe this to be so), this would mean Samai was never the real Benkei. This was an imposter carrying on the dying wish of Benkei.
As for why Yoshitsune would be called Okikurmi, I need to point out the original Okikurmi was a demi-god figure teaching the Ainu the ways of civilisation as they knew it. In other words, this was a prehistorical mythical figure no different from Gilgamesh from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Therefore, it'd make perfect sense to assume Yoshitsune was never the original version. Instead, Okikurmi could be either a title of reverence or how the Ainu saw him: The reincarnation of an Ainu god.
This comes to the moral of the Ainu poem. Namely, do not take this story lightly. We all know certain kids nowadays. Always creating trouble because they're bored. Assuming Ainu kids are better behaved than Singaporean ones, it'd mean the moral of the story wasn't directed at them. Instead, it could be directed at any Yamato scoffing at such a tale. After all, Yoshitsune died.
Of course, that'd come to the question of why Yoshitsune would kill Sato Gozen and their daughter. I have to admit this is a question to which I don't have an answer. Assuming Shizuka Gozen didn't know what Yoshitsune was going to do, it'd only make sense for Sato Gozen to be fooled as well. This is why the issue of whether Yoshitsune died should be seen as a matter of public discourse. We're not talking about denial of the Holocaust where an agenda is clearly present. For the Ainu to challenge the Yamato narrative, one must ask whether there's an agenda? If so, then where?
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