The Letter from Koshigoe (腰越状, Koshigoe-jō) is a message allegedly dictated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune to his retainer Benkei on June 23, 1185 [1] and addressed to his brother, first Kamakura shogun Yoritomo. The letter was the first sign of a feud between brothers that would end with Yoshitsune's destruction[2].
Background
editThe letter appears in the Azuma Kagami and in the Heike Monogatari with almost identical content and was originally written in a Japanized version of classical Chinese known as hentai kanbun (変体漢文). For this reason, the massive work was incomprehensible to most Japanese until an edition with furigana glosses was published in 1626. Yoshitsune had arrived from Kyoto carrying with him two extremely important prisoners, Taira no Munemori and his son Hidetsuna, whom he had captured at the battle of ???. Yoritomo's representaves, after denying him admittance, received the prisoners, who were paraded on Kamakura's main street Wakamiya Ōji on May 5, 1185. Yoshitsune had angered him by accepting a title from the Emperor without asking his permission. Yoshitsune stayed at Manpuku-ji near the beach of Shichirigahama in Kawagoe hoping his brother would relent, but there is no evidence he was ever even given receipt. Yoshitsune would later be given his prisoners with instructions toò execute them and leave without having ever seen Yoritomo. This episode brought to the surface latent tension between the two brothers. The feud between them continued until a fugitive Yoshitsune was forced to kill himself. His six-week old head preserved in liquor was then brought to the shogun, who accepted it in Koshigoe in 1182[2]. Yoshitsune is enshrined in Shirahata Jinja in Fujisawa[2].
The episode is an integral part of the Yoshitsune saga, used as background in countless works of art, from Kabuki to videogames[2].
The letter
editBecause of its source, the authenticity of the letter is doubtful. What follows is a close translation of the letter as it appears in the Azuma Kagami[3]. The Heike Monogatari laos contains a version of the Letter, very similar in style and content to the Azuma Kagami's. Style and wording are not what would have been normal at the time in such a letter, and the letter is not believed to have been penned by Yoshitsune himself. The feelings expressed however coincide with Yoshitsune's own words left in documents on the relationship between the two brothers like the error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) and are probably an accurate description of the man's feelings.
In fear I, sublieutenant Yoshitsune, dare to address you. After having been chosen as my older brother's Daikan and received an imperial command, I vanquished the enemies of our emperor, showed the valor of our ancestors' bows and arrows and erased our terrible shame. When I expected high praise, I received terrible defamation, my enormous services were ignored, even if I had merits and no faults, I meet disfavor and I fruitlessly shed tears of blood. So far, the slander of those who defame me hasn't been corrected and, while I am not allowed to enter Kamakura, I have wasted several days already unable to explain my position. Having been so long without being able to see my older brother's face that the bond of blood that ties us already feels gone. Is my life near it's end, then? Am I paying the price for the evils I committed in a previous life? Sad state of things. Unless our late father (Minamoto no Yoshitomo]]) is resurrected, who will explain my grief? Who will pity me? 今更改まって申し上げるのも愚痴]]になりますが、義経は身体髪膚を父母に授かりこの世に生を受けて間もなく父上である故源義朝|左馬の頭]]殿が御他界され、孤児となって常盤御前|母]]の懐中に抱かれ、大和国]]宇多郡]]龍門の牧に赴いて以来、一日たりとも心安らぐ時がありませんでした。甲斐無き命を長らえるばかりとはいえども、京都の周辺で暮らす事も難しく、諸国を流浪し、所々に身を隠し、辺土遠国に住む為に土民百姓のなどに召し使われました。しかしながら、期が熟して幸運はにわかに巡り、平家]]の一族追討の為に上洛し、まず源義仲|木曾義仲]]と合戦して打ち倒した後は、平家を攻め滅ぼす為、ある時は険しくそびえ立つ岩山で駿馬にむち打ち、敵の為に命を失う事を顧みず、ある時は漫々たる大海で風波の危険を凌ぎ、身を海底に沈め、骸を鯨の餌になる事も厭いませんでした。また甲冑を枕とし、弓矢をとる本意は、亡き父上の魂を鎮めるというかねてからの願いである事の他に他意はありません。そればかりか、義経が官位|五位]]の尉に任ぜられたのは当家の名誉であり、希に見る重職です。これに勝る名誉はありません。そのとおりと言えども、今や嘆きは深く切なく、仏神のお助けの外は、どうして切なる嘆きの訴えを成し遂げらるでしょうか。ここに至って、諸神諸社の牛王宝印]]の裏を用いて、全く野心が無い事を日本国中の神様に誓って、数通の起請文]]を書き送りましたが、なおも寛大なお許しを頂けません。
我が国は神国であります。神様は非礼をお受けにはなりません。他に兄上への取り次ぎをお頼みする所は無く、偏に貴殿の広大の御慈悲を仰ぐのみです。便宜を図って兄上が聞き届けてくださり、秘計をめぐらせて私に誤りが無い事を申しなだめられ、寛大なお心でお許しに預かれば、善行があなたの家門を栄えさせ、栄華は永く子孫へ伝えられるでしょう。それによって私も年来の心配事も無くなり、生涯の安穏が得られるでしょう。言葉は言い尽くせませんが、ここで省略させて頂きました。ご賢察くださることを願います。義経恐れ謹んで申し上げます。
_ day of the 5th month of the Genryalku era 日 左衛門少尉源義経
進上大江広元|因幡前司殿
Style and wording are not what would have been normal at the time in such a letter, and the letter is not believed to have been penned by Yoshitsune himself. The feelings expressed however coincide with Yoshitsune's own words left in documents on the relationship between the two brothers like the Gyokuyō and are probably an accurate description of the man's feelings.
Manpuku-ji and Shirahata Jinja
editNotes
editReferences
edit- Azuma Kagami, June 23, 1185 entry, accessed on January 5, 2008
- A Guide to Kamakura, Manpukuji accessed on October 19, 2008
- Translation of the letter at pages 237 and 238 of:
Craig McCullough, Helen (1966). Yoshitsune:A 15th Century Japanese Chronicle. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804702706.</ref>
- Kamiya, Michinori (2008). Fukaku Aruku - Kamakura Shiseki Sansaku Vol. 1 & 2 (in Japanese). Kamakura: Kamakura Shunshūsha. ISBN 4774003409. OCLC 169992721.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Kamakura Shōkō Kaigijo (2008). Kamakura Kankō Bunka Kentei Kōshiki Tekisutobukku (in Japanese). Kamakura: Kamakura Shunshūsha. ISBN 978-4-7740-0386-3.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Yasuda, Motohisa (editor). Kamakura, Muromachi Jinmei Jiten. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha. ISBN 978-4-404-01757-4. OCLC 24654085.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Mutsu, Iso (1995/06). Kamakura. Fact and Legend. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0804819688. OCLC 33184655.
{{cite book}}: Check|first=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Shirai, Eiji (1976). Kamakura Jiten (in Japanese). Tōkyōdō Shuppan. ISBN 4-490-10303-4.
- Varley, H. Paul (1994). Warriors of Japan as Portrayed in the War Tales. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824816018.
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