Taiheiki Modern Translation 33-2: A Decisive Oracle Descends at Iwashimizu Hachimangu
To Taiheiki Modern Translation Index 17
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This modern translation is not faithful to the original text. Various embellishments and the like have been applied.
It is unclear whether the events described in the Taiheiki are historical facts. It would likely be a dangerous act to consider what is written in the Taiheiki as historical fact without undergoing careful verification.
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The military force on the side of Ashikaga Tadafuyu's camp, which had withdrawn after abandoning the siege of Kyoto, was roughly 50,000 horsemen.
Tadafuyu Camp Leader A: With this much military strength, we can still fight, right?
Tadafuyu Camp Leader B: That's right! Besides, we've received information that reinforcements will continue to arrive one after another! From Iga (western Mie Prefecture), Ise (central Mie Prefecture), Izumi (southwestern Osaka Prefecture), and Kii (Wakayama Prefecture), one after another.
Tadafuyu Camp Leader C: It would be a great waste to break up this army that we've gone to such trouble to gather. We should fight one more battle with this current organization.
Tadafuyu Camp Leader D: Hmm... but still.
Tadafuyu Camp Leader E: We attacked Kyoto that far, and in the end, we got that kind of result, didn't we? Even if we fight again, isn't there such a thing as timing?
The opinions of the leaders were divided.
Tadafuyu Camp Leader A: What shall we do? Lord Tadafuyu...
Ashikaga Tadafuyu: Let's see... whether we should fight again or not... hmm...
All Tadafuyu Camp Leaders: ...
Ashikaga Tadafuyu: (Sigh...) No matter how much ordinary people like us think about this, we'll never figure it out. How about this: why don't we ask Hachiman Daibosatsu for guidance?
All Tadafuyu Camp Leaders: ...
Ashikaga Tadafuyu: We shall perform sacred music before the Hachiman shrine and listen to the god's oracle. With that, let us have the fortune of the battle revealed to us.
And so, Tadafuyu and all the leaders went to worship at Iwashimizu Hachimangu (Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture).
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They offered various ritual offerings before the shrine, presented gifts, sat in that place, and waited patiently for the god's message to descend.
Ashikaga Tadafuyu: (Inwardly) Thump, thump, thump, thump...
All the leaders: (Inwardly) Thump, thump, thump, thump...
Under the moonlight of the deepening night, the sound of the drums beaten by the priests and the bells shaken by the shrine maidens echoed clearly. Waiting for the oracle that would soon be delivered, everyone poured their hearts into prayer.
Shrine Maiden: Ugh... ahem, ahem... Looking up to the great Hachiman Daibosatsu, Ashikaga Tadafuyu here offers his earnest prayers, begging for the profound and subtle divine oracle to be bestowed upon him. Please, have mercy on me, a mere mortal, and extend your protective hand.
Shrine Maiden: The matter I wish to inquire about concerns the war. Should we gather our troops once more and attack the Imperial capital or not?
Shrine Maiden: Hachiman Daibosatsu, who looks down upon the three thousand worlds, please bestow your great divine power and teach us regarding this matter... teach us... teach us... ugh, ugh, ugh... Aaaaaah...
Shrine Maiden: (Her expression changes completely) Aaaaaah... Uuuuuuu...
Ashikaga Tadafuyu and the leaders: (Holding their breath, staring intently at the shrine maiden)...
Shrine Maiden: Ta... ta... tara... chine...
Shrine Maiden: Since I am the god who protects the mountain of the parent, would I accept this offering? (Note 1)
Shrine Maiden: Since I am the god who protects the mountain of the parent, would I accept this offering?
Shrine Maiden: Since I am the god who protects the mountain of the parent... would I accept this offering... ugh...
Shrine Maiden: Ugh... Ah! Ah! Ah! (Thud, she collapses)
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(Translator's Note 1) In the original text, it reads, "Tarachine no oya wo mamori no kami nareba kono tamuke wo ba ukuru mono kawa," but referring to the notes in [Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 36, Taiheiki 3, edited by Tanji Goto and Masao Okami, Iwanami Shoten], I have interpreted it as "Tarachine no, Ooyama wo mamoru kami nareba, kono tamuke wo ba ukuru mono kawa." "Ooyama" is the name of the mountain where Iwashimizu Hachimangu is located. "Tarachine" is a pillow word for "parent."
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Ashikaga Tadafuyu and the leaders: ...
And then, the divine spirit departed from the shrine maiden.
Tadafuyu's camp leader F: (To himself) 'Since I am the god who protects the Ooyama (mountain)...' I see, so the god here is a 'god who protects the parent'.
Tadafuyu's camp leader G: (To himself) '...would I accept this offering?' After all, Lord Takauji is Tadafuyu's real father... That's right, since it's a god who protects parents, there's no way he would accept an offering from someone who draws a bow against their own father.
Tadafuyu's camp leader H: (To himself) This is no good.
Tadafuyu's camp leader I: (To himself) The god Hachiman will not lend us his strength.
Tadafuyu's camp leader J: (To himself) Ah, so it was a hopeless war after all... As long as we have Lord Tadafuyu as our commander, no matter how much we fight against the Shogun, we have no chance of winning.
And so, the warriors who had come from the Tosando and Hokurikudo roads whipped their horses and retreated to their own bases, and the San'in and Kyushu forces also hoisted their sails and fled home.
The laws of war are stern. While it is the soldiers who actually engage in combat, it is the general who determines victory or defeat.
Therefore, King Wu of the Zhou dynasty in ancient China had a mortuary tablet of his father, King Wen, made and placed it on his chariot as he faced the battlefield, eventually overthrowing the Yin dynasty. Emperor Gaozu of the Han dynasty also honored Emperor Yi and, under his command, destroyed the Qin dynasty. This is a fact known to all, recorded in the history books of old.
“A son attacking his father”... what an outrageous thing Ashikaga Tadafuyu has done... could Heaven possibly forgive such an act? I now realize that the prediction made by Yuwaken Hakuo, who, based on examples from India and China, frowned and prophesied that “the Southern Court side cannot win this battle” (Note 2), was indeed the absolute truth.
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(Translator's Note 2) See 32-6.
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The day after Tadafuyu and his men withdrew from To-ji Temple, two or three lampoons were posted in front of the gate. I will introduce their contents below.
Thinking you had built up a nine-story stone hall with such great effort, you have stumbled and fallen once again.
(Original text) The stone hall that was built up in any case has fallen again from the nine-story height (Note 3).
Do not rely on the deep sea or the high Yamana; I hear that someone did the same thing before.
(Original text) Do not rely on the deep sea or the high Yamana; I hear that someone did the same thing in the past (Note 4).
The reason Karahashi and Shiokoji burned is because Lord Momoi ground his spicy miso.
(Original text) The burning of Karahashi and Shiokoji is because Lord Momoi ground his spicy miso (Note 5).
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(Translator's Note 3) This means the ambition of Ishido Yorifusa, who supported (promoted) Tadafuyu as general, has also come to nothing. It plays on the words “nine-story (9 floors)” and “nine-fold (the capital),” as well as “stone hall” and “Ishido (the name).”
(Translator's Note 4) This plays on the words “high mountain” and “Yamana.” “Yamana” refers to Yamana Tokiuji. Yamana had previously invaded Kyoto but ended up retreating. (See 32-5).
(Translator's Note 5) Both “Karahashi (Minami Ward)” and “Shiokoji (Shimogyo Ward)” are near To-ji Temple. “Momoi” is Momoi Tada-tsune. “Onimiso” is a spicy miso. It plays on the words “spicy (karai)” and “Karahashi.”
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