Post by ichiro on Nov 23, 2003 10:07:16 GMT -5
Dear Friends & Customers
Hello from Japan! This is Weekly Kimono Flea Market Ichiroya's News Letter by Ichiro.
Last week we sent two e-mails from us, which are to inform you our new
'Random Time List Sale' and Antique uchikake prices. We thought it might
be a good idea to e-mail at the moment we add new items besides our
usual update.
Of course our weekly news mails are sent every weekends just as usual.
In this mail I would like to write the continuation of last week's story
of Yonutssune. If you are not interested in this story, I am very sorry.
But his lifestory is so famous that it is often made into various
stories, TV dramas or movies, and also used as motifs of designs of
kimono.
Here is his Yoshitsune's story ---
Kiyomori Taira, who killed Yoshitsune's father, dominated politics (along with his clan) while Yoshitsune lived in Hiraizumi as an exile, in northern Japan.
Over time the Emperor, aristocrats, and warriors endured intense grievance under the Taira's tyranny. In 1180 Prince Mochihitoo sent Minamoto family members a secret message calling for the defeat of the Taira.
In retaliation, Kiyomori Taira, had Prince Mochihito assisinated. However this deed marked the turning point for the Taira opposition, and Yoritomo Minamoto (Yoshitsune's elder half-brother) raised an army in Itsu (where he had been exiled), and rapidly dominated that area. Yoshitsune joined his brother's rebellion and arrived in Yoritomo's camp with 300 soldiers.
At this reunion the brothers [they had been separated when Yoshitsune was 2 years old], they embraced and shed many tears of regret.
Kiyomori Taira died from natural causes when he was 64 years old, but Yoritomo and his clan continued to battle against the Taira. Yoshitsune won important battles, which have become very famous, and often the subject of lore and the cinema. Yoritomo had another brother, and appointed him to be a commander, but it was Yonutssune who always seemed to win the difficult battles.
Battle of Ichinotani(1184)---
The Taira clan held a strategic castle with a garrison of
100,000 soldiers, which Yoshitsune attacked with 65,000 soldiers. The castle was protected in back by a precipitous bluff. Yoshitsune divided his command, and while one part made a frontal assault, Yoshitsune secretly plunged down the bluff on horseback at the head his split command. His soldiers were afraid to negotiate the bluff, because it seemed to be impossible. It just looked too precipitous for man and horse. However, when they saw a deer run down the bluff, they grew convinced the deed was possible.
Oral traditionhas it that, Yoshitsune proclaimed the words: "If it was possible for a deer - then why not for humans." When they succesfully negotiated the bluff, the Taira clan was caught off-guard, and routed.
That exploit put Yoshitsune in the spotlight. But because Yoritomo hadn't countenanced the bold attack he felt marginalized by his brothers acclaim.
If you ever finda picture with asamurai on horseback galloping down a steep bluff, it must be Yoshitsune in this battle of Ichinotani.
Battle of Dannoura(1185)---
The last great battle against the Taira was contested in the Straits near Shimonoseki. The Minamoto had 840
vessels against 500 for the Taira. Intitally the tide carried the Taira toward the Minamoto positions. As they approached thet shot volleys of arrows.
The ships of Minamoto had to struggle to maneuver as they tried to breast the tide. But Yoshitsune hit upon a strategem that turned the tables. He ordered his archers to kill the boatmen on the enemy boats.
As the Taira boats lost their boatmen, they also lost their ability to maneuver quickly and even their bearings in the battle. The Minamoto's soldiers seized the advantage and closed with the Taira boats to engage in hand-to-hand fighting.
Some of the Taira clan threw themselves into the
sea in dispair. Others died in the melee. The child-Emperor Antoku is supposed to have died in this battle when his mother (a Taira kinswoman) lept into the sea rather than becoming a prisoner. After this battle all Taira resistance ended.
Even before this battle, there was yet another famous battle (Yashima), which enhanced Yoshitsune's reputation. This one also occured near land so often scenes of battle near the sea are assumed to be referring to these two encounters
In the end Yoritomo persecuted his brother rather than rewarding him. He branded Yoshitsune a 'rebel' and captured his wife in order to drown their only child.
Yoshitsune finally commited suicide at Oshu, among his last few retainers as a party of 500 soldiers harassed them. Benkei (his most loyal follower) fought with halberd until he was overwhelmed by Yoritomo's men. He had been shot with many arrows and is said to have died while standing up.
A strong bond between Yoshitsune and Benkei when since he was first defeated by a very young Yoshitsune. At that time he was still called 'Ushiwakamaru'. Benkei devoted himself to Yoshitsune from that time onward.
When they knew their end was coming--Benkei told Yoshitsune to wait at the corner where 6 after-death world (both the celestial and nether regions) start.
Yoshitsune is reputed to have replied: I wish to see you after this world if possible, where there is no battles but heaven'.
Yoshitsune's life was full of tragedy-- his brother's
betrayal and finally parting with his most trustworthy follower. He was born to battle, but his fate was cruel.
Yoshitsune is one of the most beloved character because of his tragic end.
You should know by now, that both Oishi and Yoshitsune are tragic figures and the loyal sentiment they commanded are highly appreciated by Japanese people.
By now I am almost crying just introduicing this story...I need a Kleenex...excuse me.
Thank you again for your attention and ordering us! Arigatou gozaimasu! :-)
We wish you a nice autumn weather!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
adress: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
Hello from Japan! This is Weekly Kimono Flea Market Ichiroya's News Letter by Ichiro.
Last week we sent two e-mails from us, which are to inform you our new
'Random Time List Sale' and Antique uchikake prices. We thought it might
be a good idea to e-mail at the moment we add new items besides our
usual update.
Of course our weekly news mails are sent every weekends just as usual.
In this mail I would like to write the continuation of last week's story
of Yonutssune. If you are not interested in this story, I am very sorry.
But his lifestory is so famous that it is often made into various
stories, TV dramas or movies, and also used as motifs of designs of
kimono.
Here is his Yoshitsune's story ---
Kiyomori Taira, who killed Yoshitsune's father, dominated politics (along with his clan) while Yoshitsune lived in Hiraizumi as an exile, in northern Japan.
Over time the Emperor, aristocrats, and warriors endured intense grievance under the Taira's tyranny. In 1180 Prince Mochihitoo sent Minamoto family members a secret message calling for the defeat of the Taira.
In retaliation, Kiyomori Taira, had Prince Mochihito assisinated. However this deed marked the turning point for the Taira opposition, and Yoritomo Minamoto (Yoshitsune's elder half-brother) raised an army in Itsu (where he had been exiled), and rapidly dominated that area. Yoshitsune joined his brother's rebellion and arrived in Yoritomo's camp with 300 soldiers.
At this reunion the brothers [they had been separated when Yoshitsune was 2 years old], they embraced and shed many tears of regret.
Kiyomori Taira died from natural causes when he was 64 years old, but Yoritomo and his clan continued to battle against the Taira. Yoshitsune won important battles, which have become very famous, and often the subject of lore and the cinema. Yoritomo had another brother, and appointed him to be a commander, but it was Yonutssune who always seemed to win the difficult battles.
Battle of Ichinotani(1184)---
The Taira clan held a strategic castle with a garrison of
100,000 soldiers, which Yoshitsune attacked with 65,000 soldiers. The castle was protected in back by a precipitous bluff. Yoshitsune divided his command, and while one part made a frontal assault, Yoshitsune secretly plunged down the bluff on horseback at the head his split command. His soldiers were afraid to negotiate the bluff, because it seemed to be impossible. It just looked too precipitous for man and horse. However, when they saw a deer run down the bluff, they grew convinced the deed was possible.
Oral traditionhas it that, Yoshitsune proclaimed the words: "If it was possible for a deer - then why not for humans." When they succesfully negotiated the bluff, the Taira clan was caught off-guard, and routed.
That exploit put Yoshitsune in the spotlight. But because Yoritomo hadn't countenanced the bold attack he felt marginalized by his brothers acclaim.
If you ever finda picture with asamurai on horseback galloping down a steep bluff, it must be Yoshitsune in this battle of Ichinotani.
Battle of Dannoura(1185)---
The last great battle against the Taira was contested in the Straits near Shimonoseki. The Minamoto had 840
vessels against 500 for the Taira. Intitally the tide carried the Taira toward the Minamoto positions. As they approached thet shot volleys of arrows.
The ships of Minamoto had to struggle to maneuver as they tried to breast the tide. But Yoshitsune hit upon a strategem that turned the tables. He ordered his archers to kill the boatmen on the enemy boats.
As the Taira boats lost their boatmen, they also lost their ability to maneuver quickly and even their bearings in the battle. The Minamoto's soldiers seized the advantage and closed with the Taira boats to engage in hand-to-hand fighting.
Some of the Taira clan threw themselves into the
sea in dispair. Others died in the melee. The child-Emperor Antoku is supposed to have died in this battle when his mother (a Taira kinswoman) lept into the sea rather than becoming a prisoner. After this battle all Taira resistance ended.
Even before this battle, there was yet another famous battle (Yashima), which enhanced Yoshitsune's reputation. This one also occured near land so often scenes of battle near the sea are assumed to be referring to these two encounters
In the end Yoritomo persecuted his brother rather than rewarding him. He branded Yoshitsune a 'rebel' and captured his wife in order to drown their only child.
Yoshitsune finally commited suicide at Oshu, among his last few retainers as a party of 500 soldiers harassed them. Benkei (his most loyal follower) fought with halberd until he was overwhelmed by Yoritomo's men. He had been shot with many arrows and is said to have died while standing up.
A strong bond between Yoshitsune and Benkei when since he was first defeated by a very young Yoshitsune. At that time he was still called 'Ushiwakamaru'. Benkei devoted himself to Yoshitsune from that time onward.
When they knew their end was coming--Benkei told Yoshitsune to wait at the corner where 6 after-death world (both the celestial and nether regions) start.
Yoshitsune is reputed to have replied: I wish to see you after this world if possible, where there is no battles but heaven'.
Yoshitsune's life was full of tragedy-- his brother's
betrayal and finally parting with his most trustworthy follower. He was born to battle, but his fate was cruel.
Yoshitsune is one of the most beloved character because of his tragic end.
You should know by now, that both Oishi and Yoshitsune are tragic figures and the loyal sentiment they commanded are highly appreciated by Japanese people.
By now I am almost crying just introduicing this story...I need a Kleenex...excuse me.
Thank you again for your attention and ordering us! Arigatou gozaimasu! :-)
We wish you a nice autumn weather!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
adress: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446