The morning call., 1893-07-02
most brilliant soldier yet gentlest courtiel

in all the land.
Yoshitsune is the Sir Launcelot Of jap
anese history. but his fame. unlike that OF
the latter. was OF sullied by any unworthy
act. Yorimoto, Yoshitsune's elder brother.
was II years old when Tokiwa with her
baby made her perilous fight. Yorimoto
was with bis father at the time of his as
sassin ton. and in trying to make his es-
cape fell into the hands OF Tara soldier.
This officer brought him to KiOto. where
the day was fixed for execution.
kButthe officer. who had become inter
ested in tina lad. CHANGED to ask him II he
would like to live.
Eyes. for my father and eldest brother
being dead / alone am left to pray for their
happiness and well-being In the other
world" :
The officers heart was touched by this
answer and he went to Kiyomori's step
mother and sought her good offices. She
had become Buddhist nuu after her hus-
bands death, but the officer said to her:
This lad Yorimoto is very much like
Prince Una. your beloved son."
And the nuns heart was softened for
Una had been her only child and had
already shown great promise when death
suddenly carried him off. Urged by his
mother and reluctantly Kiy0mori COM
muted the sentence from death to exile.
YOrimot0's first and the foundation of his
greatest later successes was in his mar
riage.
His wife was not only a member of
powerful family who vowed themselves to
aid her husband, but she herself has be-
come famous as beautiful. clever woman
who assisted her husband materially by
her counsel. and she it was who afterward
maintained the splendor Of his court at
kamakura.
His fame grew in briIlancy, and he
showed not only courage but consummate
skill.
One of the most terrible battles ever re-
corded in the annals of history was the
sea fight that took place between the Taira
of the year 1855. 1t was civil war-brother
against brother. father against son.
Yoshtsune had successfully driven the
Tara from place to place so that their
lunks had become refugees for their
hunted wives and children.
He himself fought like demon and
with his own hand shot down many
chief and noble.
The Tara were vanquished and exter-
minated and the sea was thick with the
bodies of men. women and children and
court ladies floated dead in their sllken
robes and claspink IN their arms the
corpses of little children pierced with
arrows or with gaping sword wounds.
The sea was red with blood, and, re-
lovely May day the peasants round about
the shore on stormy nights declare they
see ''ghostly armies balIng out the sea
with bottomess dippers." These are the
dead of Tara and Mnamoto, who are
doomed TO free the ocean of the blood
spilled in that awful battle.
For the young general, Yoshtsune, it
was splendid victory, as not only did he
rout his enemies, but the head of the
Taira was betrayed into his hands.
For this he was made governor of a
province and he reached the summit of his
power.
Yoritomo was Shotgun now of Japan,
more powerful even than the Mikado,
who held the shadow of power, while
Yoritom0 grasped the reality. Yet despite
this it is YoshItsune. the younger brother,
who is the beloved and revcred hero of the
Japanese youth, and it is his character
and deeds that they long to emulate.
Yoritomo's treatment of his brothers, MORT
z0ri and Yosbtsune, was cruel and heart
less. He was consumed with jealousy OF
their brilliant victories and successes,
though he was occupying such an exalted
position.
Kajiwara, who was military adviser at
the great Taira battle had opposed a nj ght
attack ADVISED BY Yoshitsune and a vio-
lent quarrel ensued between the young
man and Kajiwara. The latter's already
bitter feeling was not modified when
Yoshirsune. taking only fifty men, carried
out his proposed scheme and won brill
liant victory.
So Kajiwara FASTENED home to Kama
kara, where Yoritomo held court, and
poisoned the TOO willing mind of the e!der
brother SO successfully that when Yoshi-
tsune was approaching Kamakura flushed
with triumph and the glory Of victor
bringing the spoils OF war to his brother.
he was met by stern and peremptory
orders to advance no further but to await
orders outside the city.
At the monastery of KOshigoye is still
preserved the pathetic letter which Yoshi-
tsune sent his heartess brother when he
received the ORDER. The priest who has it
in charge has mounted 1t in a rough case
with glass top and bottom.
The handwriting Is bold and clear, though
the language Is stilted and old fashioned.
This letter, which is carefully taught all
japanese boys OF good family, begins as
follows:
/, MinamotO Yoshitsune, venture respectfully
to address you for The pnr pose of pointing out
that have been appointed by the Empe or to
chastise his enemies. that | have upheld the
military proweSs Of our house and avenged our
fathers death. l have committed no
Offense, yet am censured and while this
anger lasts l am overwhelmed with vain dis.
tress and tears.
l am Islander by tigers mouths. 1
remember the ancient saying "Faithful words
are unpleasant to the ears and on this account
.
"