Taiheiki Modern Japanese Translation 2-8 Kazan-in Morokata impersonates the Emperor and goes to Enryaku-ji
To Taiheiki Modern Japanese Translation Index 1
-----
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 careful verification.
-----
After escaping the palace, when they reached the area around Sanjo-gawara, Emperor Go-Daigo had already made a move.
Emperor Go-Daigo: Morokata!
Kazan-in Morokata: Yes, Your Majesty!
Emperor Go-Daigo: Since Morisada has set up various strategies like that, I think I'll try doing it just as he said.
Kazan-in Morokata: Yes.
Emperor Go-Daigo: You, impersonate me, climb Mount Hiei, and probe the hearts of the monks of Enryaku-ji. Then, handle it skillfully and bring them over to our side. Mobilize troops from elsewhere as well and start the battle.
Kazan-in Morokata: Yes, Your Majesty!
Morokata changed into the Emperor's ceremonial robes in front of Hossho-ji Temple (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto) and climbed to the Saito area of Enryaku-ji in a palanquin intended for the Emperor.
Shijo Takasuke, Nijo Tameakira, and Nakano-in Sadahira also straightened their court attire and followed, disguised as the Emperor's attendants.
The appearance of the group truly looked like an imperial procession.
After arriving at Enryaku-ji, they designated the Shaka-do in the Saito area as the 'Imperial Palace' and announced, 'His Majesty has sought refuge at Enryaku-ji!'
As soon as this information spread, not only those on Mount Hiei and in Sakamoto (Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture), but also people from Otsu, Matsumoto, Todo, Hieitsuji, Ogi, Kinugawa, Wani, and Katata (all located at the eastern foot of Mount Hiei and the southern shore of Lake Biwa in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture) rushed to join, and their forces filled both the Toto and Saito areas like clouds and mist.
-----
The Rokuhara Tandai had not caught wind of this change in the situation at all.
Just as two messengers from Kamakura had broken into the palace at dawn and were about to move the Emperor to the Rokuhara Tandai, a messenger arrived from Goyo Ajari of Jorimbo at Enryaku-ji.
Messenger: I convey the words of Goyo-sama.
'Around 4:00 AM this morning, the Emperor sought refuge at Enryaku-ji and has arrived here. All 3,000 monks of Enryaku-ji have rushed to serve under him.'
"As soon as reinforcements from Omi (Shiga Prefecture) and Echizen (eastern Fukui Prefecture) arrive, we have decided in our strategy meeting to attack the Rokuhara Tandai tomorrow."
"Before things get out of hand, send your troops to Sakamoto immediately from the Rokuhara Tandai. I will attack the Imperial army from the rear and capture the Emperor."
The two leaders of the Rokuhara Tandai were greatly surprised and rushed to the Imperial Palace immediately. However, the Emperor was no longer there, and only the sound of women gathering in various rooms and crying could be heard.
Rokuhara Tandai Member A: Yes, there is no mistake, it is just as Goyo said.
Rokuhara Tandai Leader B: It seems the Emperor has fled to Enryaku-ji.
Rokuhara Tandai Leader C: Before their momentum grows, we must attack Enryaku-ji!
Thereupon, the Rokuhara Tandai organized a frontal assault force of over 5,000 cavalry, consisting of samurai stationed at 48 guard posts throughout Kyoto and troops from five provinces in the Kinki region, and sent them toward the area of Ichijoji Sagari-matsu at the foot of Sekizan Zen-in (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto).
Meanwhile, as a rear assault force, they organized an army of over 7,000 cavalry, adding troops from Mino (southern Gifu Prefecture), Owari (western Aichi Prefecture), Tanba (northwestern Kyoto Prefecture + east-central Hyogo Prefecture), and Tajima (northern Hyogo Prefecture) to the forces of Sasaki Tokinobu, Kaito Shogen, Nagai Munehira, Oda Sadatomo, Hatano Nobumichi, and Oda Tokitomo, and marched them through Otsu and Matsumoto to the area of Karasaki Hitotsumatsu (Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture).
-----
On the Enryaku-ji side, as planned, Prince Muneyoshi and Prince Moriyoshi moved to Hachioji Shrine from the evening and raised their military banners there. Starting with Yuzen Sozu of Goshō-in and Genson Ajari of Myoko-bo, 300 cavalry from one side and 500 from the other rushed to Hachioji Shrine, and the army swelled to over 6,000 in a single night.
Thus, Prince Moriyoshi, the Tendai Zasu, and the people of Enryaku-ji cast off their robes of liberation, the kesa, and donned sturdy armor and sharp weapons. The place where the Buddha manifested as a deity to bestow protection was instantly transformed into a battlefield guarded by warriors... Where on earth is the heart of the gods... Oh my, I have completely lost track of what is going on.
-----
In the meantime,
"The Rokuhara Tandai army has already pushed as far as the area of Totsujuku!"
With that, Sakamoto became chaotic.
The eager warrior monks of Enshuin, Nakano-bo, and Shogyo-bo on the south shore, without even taking the time to gather their belongings, pushed out to Karasaki Beach to confront the Rokuhara army. They were all on foot, not on horseback, numbering less than 300.
Seeing this, Kaito Shogen, the leader of the Rokuhara Tandai expeditionary force, said,
Kaito Shogen: The enemy is a small force. We must scatter them before their reinforcements arrive! Everyone, follow me, yeah!
No sooner had he shouted than he drew his 3-shaku 4-sun long sword, held up his armored left arm, charged into the middle of the enemy throng, cut down three men, and reined in his horse at the water's edge to wait for his own troops to follow him.
Kaijitsu of Okamoto-bo, who had been watching this from afar, kicked over one of the shields lined up in front, swung his 2-shaku 8-sun short naginata like a waterwheel, and charged at Kaito.
Kaito, while receiving Kaijitsu's attack on his left side, swung his sword down with only his right hand, intending to split the crown of his opponent's helmet in two.
Kaito Shogen: Hey, take this!
Kaito's sword: Swoosh!
The sword, having missed its mark, only cut and dropped the sleeve of Kaijitsu's armor from the shoulder to the very bottom.
Kaito Shogen: Damn it! Then one more time!
When he swung his sword down for the second time, Kaito put too much force into it and snapped the stirrup on his left foot.
Timing the moment Kaito regained his balance from nearly falling off his horse, Kaijitsu extended his naginata, pointed the blade upward, and thrust it twice, then three times, into the inside of Kaito's helmet.
Kaijitsu: Hey, hey, hey!
The aim was true; the blade pierced Kaito's throat, and he fell headlong from his horse.
Kaijitsu immediately rushed over, climbed onto the back of Kaito's armor, grabbed his hair by the ear, slashed his throat in one swift motion, impaled the head on the tip of his naginata, and shouted with great joy,
Kaijitsu: I've taken down one of the Rokuhara army's commanders! What a great start to the day!
At that moment, a boy of about 15 or 16, whose identity was unknown, jumped out from the crowd of onlookers. He had a child-like hairstyle, wore pale yellowish-blue armor, and had the hem of his wide trousers tucked up high.
The boy drew a gold-decorated short sword, ran close to Kaijitsu, and struck the crown of his helmet three or four times violently.
Kaijitsu turned sharply and stared at the person who had attacked him. It was a boy of about 16 years old, with thick eyebrows and teeth blackened with ohaguro.
Kaijitsu: (To himself) It is too heartless for a monk like me to kill such a child. I must find a way to spare his life.
However, the boy continued to run at him and slash at him persistently.
Kaijitsu: (To himself) Should I use the handle of my naginata to knock that sword away and pin him down?
Just then, the men from Hieitsuji who were participating in the battle stood on the ridges of the rice fields and fired a volley of arrows from the side, one of which pierced the boy's chest, and he fell and died instantly.
Later, when the boy's identity was investigated, it was found to be Kowakamaru, the legitimate son of Kaito Shogen. He had been left at home and could not accompany his father to the battlefield, but perhaps out of deep concern, he had followed the army, mingling with the crowd of onlookers.
Though young, Kowakamaru, born into a samurai family, followed his father who died on the battlefield and met his own end, leaving his name in history... Ah, what a tragedy.
Seeing this, the retainers of the Kaitō family,
Kaitō family retainer D: Not only have two of our lords been killed right before our eyes,
Kaitō family retainer E: And our master's head taken by the enemy,
Kaitō family retainer F: How can we return home alive!
All Kaitō family retainers: Waaah!
The 36 retainers, lining up their horses' heads, charged in all at once, competing to die in battle using their master's corpse as a pillow.
Seeing this, Kaijitsu,
Kaijitsu: Hahahaha! You guys are strange. You should be focused on taking the enemy's head, yet you want the head of your own ally. This is surely a happy omen of the Kamakura Shogunate's self-destruction. If you want this head so badly, I'll give it to you, here!
He threw the head of Kaitō he was holding into the midst of the retainers, and Kaijitsu swung his sword from overhead, clearing the area in all directions and scattering sparks. The 36 retainers were cut down by Kaijitsu all by himself, to the point where their horses could barely stand.
Seeing this from the rear, Sasaki Tokinobu,
Sasaki Tokinobu: Don't let the Kaitō family men die, everyone, follow them!
At that command, over 300 horsemen including Iba, Megata, Kimura, and Mabuchi shouted in unison and attacked Kaijitsu. Kaijitsu's life was hanging by a thread!
Keirinbō Akusanuki: Kaijitsu, I'm coming to support you!
The four, Keirinbō Akusanuki, Nakabō Kosagami, Shōgyōbō Jōkai, and Konrenbō Jikigen, rushed from the left and right to support Kaijitsu, cutting down the Rokuhara Agency side.
Seeing Akusanuki and Jikigen fall in the same place, over 50 Enryaku-ji monks who were in the rear launched a simultaneous attack.
The place where this battle was unfolding, called Karasaki Beach, is a terrain where the east side faces the lake and has collapsed, the west side is a muddy field where horses cannot stand, and a narrow road extends through a flat sandy plain. Therefore, it is impossible to go around to the enemy's rear to surround them, and it is impossible to spread out widely to the left and right to envelop the enemy. Both the Enryaku-ji side and the Rokuhara Agency side could only have those positioned in the front fight, while those in the rear could only watch intently.
-----
Catching the information that 'Battle has started at Karasaki Beach!', over 3,000 horsemen from the Enryaku-ji side headed toward the Imamichigoe route via Shirai. Meanwhile, over 7,000 monks belonging to the Tōtō area descended from the forest of Sannomiya. Furthermore, forces from Wani and Katata boarded over 300 small boats and set sail for Ōtsu to cut off the rear of the Rokuhara Agency army.
Seeing these movements by the Enryaku-ji side, the Rokuhara Agency side judged that 'defeat is inevitable at this rate' and began their retreat to Kyoto via the Imamichigoe route from in front of the Enmadō in Shiga.
The Enryaku-ji side, familiar with the surrounding geography, moved to key points here and there, showering the Rokuhara Agency side with arrows. The Rokuhara Agency side, unfamiliar with the geography, had their progress hindered by surrounding moats and cliffs, and could only ride their horses here and there, making their retreat difficult to progress.
Eight young retainers of the Kaito army acting as the rearguard, thirteen retainers of the Hatano army, the father and son of the Mano clan, and the master and servant of Kuro Hirai were all driven into the bottom of the valley and killed in battle.
Tokinobu Sasaki also had his horse shot, and while he was waiting for a replacement horse, a large enemy force surged in from both sides.
Sasaki family young retainers: My lord is in danger!
The young retainers of the Sasaki family, who valued their honor more than their lives, launched desperate counterattack after counterattack, and though they were struck down one after another, they carved out a path of blood for their lord... Thus, Tokinobu Sasaki escaped certain death, survived, and fled back to Kyoto in broad daylight.
Until recently, the world had been peaceful and quiet, and the word "war" had not reached anyone's ears, but due to this sudden and strange event, all of Kyoto was in a state of total panic, and news raced through the capital as if the heavens and earth were about to turn upside down.
-----
To Taiheiki Modern Translation Index 1