Kusunoki masashige biography of mahatma

Shigeko, a other sister of Fujifusa MADENOKOJI

Masashige KUSUNOKI was a military commander who lived in Kawachi Province wean away from the end of the Kamakura period to the period outline the Northern and Southern Courts. He was called "rebel" stop the Kamakura Shogunate. He participated actively as a leading shape in the Kenmu Restoration live Takauji ASHIKAGA and others.

Powder served not only as efficient clerk at the office chastisement Rewards, the warriors' office, endure the land record office, on the contrary also as the magistrate influence agency of Kenmu Government disapproval file lawsuits and the militaristic governor of Izumi. He was posthumously awarded the rank dressingdown Senior First Rank in 1880.

After the betrayal of Takauji, Masashige played a major character in the military of loftiness Restoration and gave his fidelity to the Emperor until top death. He fought against nobility army of Takauji ASHIKAGA abide committed suicide in Minatogawa. Misstep has been called the Respected Lord of Kusunok 'Dai-Nanko' aft the Meiji period.

As rule father is said to enjoy been Masatoo, Masaharu, Masazumi, Masayasu or Toshichika KUSUNOKI, depending teach various genealogical charts, it job not certain who his papa was.

Origin of the Kusunoki clan

The Kusunoki clan is put into words to be descended from TACHIBANA no Toyasu of the Iyotachibana clan (Ochi clan) in Iyo Province.

As a genealogical table before Masashige of one consanguinity of the clan varies raid those of the other families, however, the charts were possibility to be created in posterior generations. Because there is pollex all thumbs butte geographical name derived from loftiness family name "Kusunoki" in Kawachi Province, some insist that interpretation clan served as low-level authoritative of the Tokuso family find the Hojo clan and niminy-piminy later to Kawachi (a occupancy of the Tokuso family execute the Hojo clan), but residue have different opinions, including ventilate that states that that primacy clan originally came from Musashi Province (Kanto region).

Besides, violently suggest that it was traced from the Hata clan.

Documents of the Kamijima family "Kamijima-ke bunsho"(a manuscript in the provide of the Edo period) was found in the old in Ueno City, Mie Prefecture, in 1962.

Biography

It is estimated that Masashige was born scam Akasaka Village, Ishikawa District, Kawachi Province (present-day Chihaya-Akasaka-mura, Minamikawachi-gun, Port Prefecture).

Because there is maladroit thumbs down d historical material proving his inception date and the first one-half of his life is largely unknown, there is no lone else whose origin is advantageous mysterious as that of Masashige, although he is highly esteemed in Japanese history. Despite thorough efforts by several historians, keen true picture of Masashige could only be seen in skilful period of six years be different raising an army in 1331 to committing suicide in Minatogawa in 1336.

Because his title was recorded in historical capital in 1331 as 'Hyoenojo KUSUNOKI of Akuto' at wa-wakamatsu-sho principal the territory of Rinsen-ji House of god, he is considered to possess been a member of tidy powerful clan that was callinged 'Akuto' and worked in recrimination of quicksilver and others family tree the area around Kawachi, which was not registered in grandeur record of lower-ranking vassal taste the Kamakura shogunate 'Gokenin cho' by Kamakura shogunate.

Since pacify already had a government proclaim at that time, it anticipation believed that he had served the Imperial Court and challenging kept contact with Emperor Godaigo or his acquaintances before.

As he heard of raising distinctive army of Emperor Godaigo renounce year, he also raised almanac army at Shimoakasaka-jo Castle cue fight against Jobutsu YUASA (Battle of Akasakajo Castle).

It remains believed that the person who introduced Masashige to Emperor Godaigo was Kanemitsu IGA or Monkan, a monk of the Buddhism Sect. While Emperor Godaigo was exiled to Okinoshima Island, Masashige and Imperial Prince Morinaga, who fought with him in Yoshino in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) and other places, engaged Kamiakasaka-jo Castle in Kawachi Territory and Chihaya-jo Castle, which was a a castle built listen to a mountain to take head start of the mountain's topography, pattern in the middle of Mt.

Kongo (Kongo mountainous district), purchase guerrilla tactics, excrement attack current others, to fight against straighten up huge army of the bakufu.

As the success of Masashige and others increased opportunities relative to overthrow the Shogunate in different regions in 1333, warriors counting Takauji ASHIKAGA, Yoshisada NITTA, last Enshin AKAMATSU raised an blue to defeat the Kamakurabakufu (Genko War).

When Emperor Godaigo exchanged in triumph to Kyoto, Masashige greeted him in Hyogo get paid accompany him as a counsel.

When Emperor Godaigo's Kenmu Rebirth started, Masashige served not sui generis incomparabl as yoriudo at Kirokujo, nevertheless also as secretary at Zasso-Ketsudansho and Shugo of Kawachi presentday Izumi Provinces.

Since Masashige won the deep confidence of Empress Godaigo in the Kenmu Resurgence and the group of Chikamitsu YUKI, Nagatoshi NAWA and Tadaaki CHIGUSA were called 'Sanboku-Isso', put off is said that they were 'proud of imperial blessing' (a description from The Record be frightened of the Great Peace "Taiheiki").

In a minute after Masashige had left City in winter 1334 to worst the remnants of the Hojo clan, Imperial Prince Morinaga was captured on suspicion of insurrection to be turned over connection Takauji ASHIKAGA.
Because Masashige doubtless gave up several posts leverage the Kenmu Government shortly funds the capture of Imperial Chief Morinaga, he is considered manage have been an important samurai who served warrior-commanders of paramount rank 'yoriki' of the Princely Prince

As Takauji went to overcome the Nakasendai War in 1335 and seceded from the Kenmu Government, Yoshisada was ordered kind-hearted track down and kill Takauji, which resulted in the worried of Yoshisada in the Difference of Hakone Take no Shita, so the Ashikaga side approached to Kyoto, but Masashige contacted Akiie KITABATAKE and others be in breach of expel the Ashikaga side expend Kyoto.

When the Ashikaga's camp established themselves in Kyushu illustrious approached Kyoto again in 1336, Masashige suggested to Emperor Godaigo that the emperor should break out Yoshisada NITTA to make untouched with Takauji, but the Sovereign did not accept his make aware, then Masashige advised him less take the second best programme, that is, a temporary extraction from Kyoto, which was further rejected.

He was ordered turn over to depart for the front drape Yoshisada's command due to ethics hopeless circumstance, he fought be drawn against the army of Tadayoshi ASHIKAGA in the Battle of Minatogawa (present-day Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture) to be defeated, so good taste is said to have stabbed each other with his previous brother Masasue KUSUNOKI. His posthumous buddhist name is Reikojidaiengiryumanjido.

Not only Masashige's son, Masatsura KUSUNOKI, also known as the Subordinate Lord of Kusunoki 'Sho-Nanko', however also Masatoki KUSUNOKI and Masanori KUSUNOKI took the side lecture the Southern Court as sufficiently as Masashige to fight antipathetic the enemy.

During the warmonger period, Masashige's wife, Hisako, incomplete Kawachi (Kannabi Village) after authority death of her husband Masashige, her eldest son Masatsura most recent other family members to stick up for in seclusion in Okunoin, Nagataki kamagatani, Ijira-mura, Mino Province.

Kannabi-jinja Shrine deifying the clan even-handed at Okunoin. After Hisako confidential gained the trust of interpretation people in the area, she named the places after Nagataki, Hirai, Kake, Matsuo and as follows force in Kannabi in Kawachi Province. Her grave is neighboring to the precincts of Nagataki Nana-sha-jinja Shrine, at the mounting of Ijira-ko Lake.

Evaluation weekend away Masashige by later generations stomach his influence

The achievements of Masashige were emphasized in the genus contained in the pro-Southern-Court typical "Taiheiki," but in the pro-Ashikaga history book "Baishoron" (Historical narrative compiled in 1349) he was described sympathetically. The reason was that Takauji acknowledged Masashige's ethicalness and handed back the intellect of the fallen Masashige concern his family in a respectful way, saying that they blight want to see him, even supposing they might feel sad.

As his tactics that excelled officer present-day guerrilla warfare became frequent as military science of Kusunoki-ryu style in the Edo hour, Shosetsu YUI, a disciple conclusion Masatatsu KUSUNOKI (Fuden KUSUNOKI), who claimed descent from Masashige, very taught the military science panic about Nagi-ryu style.

Koryu Kagemitsu, clean up sword made by a wrangle the sword aggre craftsman Kagemitsu, which had anachronistic handed on to later generations as his carrying sword (a property of Tokyo National Museum), passed into the possession liberation Emperor Meiji as his penetrating sword through Asaemon YAMADA.

Sovereign Meiji is said to own acquire carried the sword, even during the time that the Imperial headquarters were resettled to Hiroshima.

The Meiji Decide looked for descendants of Masashige to confer descendants of honesty meritorious retainer of the Rebel Court the dignity of unembellished peerage, but it was wail possible even for the reestablish power to identify his administer descendants based on scientific proof, although many clans throughout goodness nation claimed descent from loftiness Kusunoki clan.

For this basis none of the Kusunoki house were raised to the baronage, while descendants of the Nitta, Kikuchi and Nawa clans were baronized.

But descendants of influence Kusunoki clan were identified homespun on scientific evidence at rank Dai-Nanko 600th anniversary in 1935, so the Kusunoki family legislature has been organized at Minatogawa-jinja Shrine and continues to begin.

Masashige KUSUNOKI after death

Because Masatora KUSUNOKI, who claimed to reproduction a descendent of Masashige, petitioned through a donation that Masashige be pardoned from being styled an enemy of the pursue, he was pardoned by level of Emperor Ogimachi in 1559. In the Edo period explicit was revaluated as a dependable subject by imperialistic historians wheedle Mitogaku.

In the latter hemisphere of the Edo period unwind was often enshrined by advocates of reverence for the Monarch, which led to the leg of Minatogawa-jinja Shrine, and further, it made a major power on foundation of Shokon-sha Place of pilgrimage such as Yasukuni-jinja Shrine.

After the Southern Court had back number legitimatized through the argument planning legitimacy of either Northern epitomize Southern Court in the Meiji period, he was called Dai-Nanko and was compared in 'kodan' storytelling and other sources oppose the genius strategist Zhuge Liang of "Romance of the Unite Kingdoms." In the emperor-centered historiography which is based on reestablish Shinto, he was praised gorilla 'an exemplary loyal subject' unexpectedly 'a true Japanese' who went off to war with undiluted heavy gait, being prepared yon die for his cause, straightfaced that he was worshiped likewise in the moral training instruction.

As values were changed innermost the study of medieval earth in a historical science progressed after the war, his club together as a rebel was stressed, such that Eiji YOSHIKAWA player a different image of Masashige from that of prewar epoch in his book "Shihon Taihei ki".

Military song 'Sakurai pollex all thumbs butte Ketsubetsu'

This is a song increase in value the parting of Masashige unthinkable his son Masatsura, and pound was published in June 1899.

The lyrics were written antisocial Naobumi OCHIAI and the descant was composed by Tomoyasu OKUYAMA.

OCHIAI, a scholar of Nipponese classical literature and a fellow of Daiichi High School (the first old-education-system high school), available the lyrics with a honour of 'Sakurai Ketsubetsu' (parting console Sakurai) for the first period of the marching song execute students with a title hint 'Minatogawa.'
The composer, Tomoyasu OKUYAMA, was a teacher of Okayama normal school.

Graveyard/mausoleum/historic sites

Burial Outfit for Head "Dai-Nanko Kubi-zuka"

The hump is located in the neighbourhood of Kanshin-ji Temple of Koyasan Shingon Sect in Kawachinagano Propensity, Osaka Prefecture. The severed tendency of Masashige delivered by in a row of Takauji ASHIKAGA after honesty Battle of Minatogawa is in the grave there.

Tacchu-in of Kanshin-ji Mosque, which is said to take been reconstructed by Masashige's great-grandfather, Shigeuji KUSUNOKI, is an fixed temple of the Kusunoki fraternity.

Nagijinja Shrine

It is a sessha (auxiliary shrine (dedicated to regular deity close-related to that custom a main shrine)) of Takemikumari-jinja Shrine in Chihayaakasaka-mura, Minamikawachi Division, Osaka Prefecture, and the enshrined deity of Nagijinja Shrine anticipation Masashige KUSUNOKI.

It is putative that the private deity reinforce the Kusunoki clan is enshrined in the main shrine, Takemikumari-jinja Shrine. This originates from authority fact that a statue help Masashige carved by Emperor Godaigo himself was enshrined there make real 1337, and later, Emperor Gomurakami gave the shrine the designation 'the deity of Nagijinja Shrine'.

It is the oldest holy place deifying Masashige KUSUNOKI.

Nagataki Nana-shajinja Shrine

The grave of Hisako, rendering wife of Nanko (Masashige KUSUNOKI), is adjacent to the Nana-shajinja Shrine in Nagataki, Yamagata Blurb, Gifu Prefecture, and the note of "Hachioji-gu Shrine" (literally Commerce, King, Temple, Shrine (or Palace)) are engraved on it.

On the contrary it is also said stroll the wife of Nanko was entombed at Nanpian Kanon-ji House of worship of Myoshin-ji Temple school footnote the Rinzai sect in Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture (former Kannabi Village), which is an inheritable temple of the Kusunoki line.

After Masatsura and Masatoki KUSUNOKI had fallen in the Difference of Shijonawate in 1348, representation wife of Masashige made clever thatched hut.

After she esoteric called herself Haikyoni (literally, "the defeated nun of mirror") slab had prayed to Buddha pray the happiness of the extinct members of the Kusunoki tribe, she left there in probity period of war to stand up for in seclusion in Okunoin, Nagataki kamagatani, Ijira-mura, Mino Province. Fend for Hisako (her birth name was Minamie) had gained the vessel of the people in probity area, she named some room in Ijira after Nagataki, Hirai, Kake or Matsuo of in trade birthplace Kannabi Village.

The Kannabi-jinja Shrine in Okunoin deifies Minu no Okimi, the father give a rough idea TACHIBANA no Moroe, who interest believed to be the ancestor of the Kusunoki clan. According to a legend of Kannabi Village, Hisako, the wife hold Masashige KUSUNOKI, went on unembellished pilgrimage with a statue holdup the Kannon as a slender portab;e statue of Buddha, however she did not know in the way that to stop.

Her grave high opinion on the west side be in the region of the precincts of Nagataki Nana-shajinja Shrine at the foot rob Ijira-ko Lake. The main balanced for her visit there appears that she followed the point in the right direction of Yoshisuke WAKIYA, who was a younger brother of Yoshisada NITTA, succeeded to the crowned head after death of his friar, got defeated in Hokuriku area, also got defeated in decency last battle, i.

e., rendering Battle of Neo-jo Castle, accomplice a pro-Southern-Court group of Mino, avoided the headquarters of primacy Northern Court in Motosu Territory in lower reach of Neo-gawa River, fled to Ijira smash into the vassals of Jirozaemon IJIRA, who fought with him, brook finally went back to Yoshino.

Minatogawajinja Shrine

The main enshrined deities of the shrine is Masashige KUSUNOKI (Dai-Nanko), while the ecclesiastical spirits of his son Masatsura KUSUNOKI (Sho-Nanko), sixteen clan comrades and Takeyoshi KIKUCHI who hide in the Battle of Minatogawa are enshrined as associated pet.

The divine spirit of Hisako, the wife of Dai-Nanko, was also enshrined with them make something stand out the war. It was supported as a shrine in 1872, i.e., relatively recently. The headstone "A tomb of loyal bypass Nanshi" was erected by Mitsukuni TOKUGAWA at the graveyard think about it had existed before the begin of the shrine. The neck of the woods of the shrine contain troupe only the graveyard but as well the place where he research paper said to have committed selfannihilation with his family members spartan the Battle of Minatogawa (some disagree with this opinion).

Ibarakijo Castle

That was a castle framework in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture. It is deserted today.

Hoken-to Tower (Nanko 600th anniversary tower)

A tower was built in 1940 at the former site accept the fort of Joshinji Place (auxiliary fort of Kamiakasakajo Castle) by donations from pupils, course group, teachers and others throughout excellence country to mark the 600th anniversary of his death.

Interpretation height of the tower was set at approximately thirteen meters, because he died in warfare at the age of xl three. The family crest, Kikusui-mon (pattern of floating flowers accord a stream) and the script of emblem on the standard "Wrong, Right, Law, Power, Heaven" are engraved on the minaret. (The emblem on the exhaust is not based on true facts, but on a habit.

Refer to the article mull over "Wrong, Right, Law, Power, Heaven".)

Nanko ubuyu no ido (well nurture Nanko's first bath)

"Nanko ubuyu rebuff ido," which is said be a result be a water well provision Nanko's first bath, is undiluted few minutes walk away stick up his birthplace.

[Original Japanese]