Samurai War Stories

by Cummins, Antony; Minami, Yoshie;

  I said to the master that if these five people hold onto the horse like this, there will be no way we cannot cross a river, no matter how big the river is and no matter how fast-flowing it is. However, the master did not answer nor say a word but smiled like a Pindola god and nodded a few times as if he was choking on pepper. By this I took it that he liked my idea, and so he rode the horse into the river with a loud splash. This horse – the one he has now – is as good as the one which was called Ikezuki and was owned by the lord of Kamakura62 and he was the first horse in the Battle of Ujigawa, as the rider of this horse only had to hold the reins until it crossed over without difficulty. However, other horses barely managed to reach the other side, being swept away by the fast flow and moving in an arc.

  As our master rode straight to the other side, all six of us together, our master and we followers, were the first ones to reach the opposite bank. Scarcely had the saddle got above water when the master got himself ready on horseback and with this he soon rode onto the other side and successfully got the head of an enemy, which was very impressive indeed. Anyway, it is most important for us two to agree on these points beforehand.

  When there is a battle on foot and we have undermined the enemy and begin to chase after them as they flee, it surely is not easy for our master to mount immediately and give chase. Lots of battle standards are the same in the same clan so there is something called a Dashi on the top of the standard [a mark to differentiate each person]. Our master’s one is the in the shape of a Sakabayashi63 which is a ball of cedar leaves. We should keep sight of it and get the horse to him as soon as it is needed. We really have to remember this. Generally, battle standards, even if they stand out, are good if they have an easy name to call out. This is because when things get busy, [lower people] do not call out a person’s name but the name of the standard or Dashi they use. So, it should be something common, but things such as misokoshi,64 setsukai,65 surikogi,66 kaishakushi67 etc., are so long to say and not so easy to call out. So any kind of marks, including battle-standards or war-curtains [as these two things are called by the design that they have upon them] should have images that are known to people, servants or labourers alike, and they should be short words.

  When crossing over a river, some horses take in too much water. For those horses, mix lime and water into a solidified substance and put it into the arse, this will make them pass the water quickly. After that, feed them, but not much; little by little.

  Magohachi says: Hikohachi, Hikohachi, that is a 6-year-old68 horse and in its prime! On the second day after we left Edo, when we crossed the Sako River in Soshu,69 having had heavy rain for two days in a row, the river was so high that the horse was soaked up to its trunk, and it had a very flustered look about it. This is fair enough, as this horse was sold by some Hatamoto, and has had its four leg tendons sliced (which is a modern trend). Because of this, I thought it would not be easy for the horse to cross the river, so I kept holding the neck to support him. As I expected, it was struggling and twisting its body in the water, and the horse ended up collapsing as it was a Yadauma blunted horse. Our master ended up nearly drowning, as the river was so rapid and we humans and horse were almost carried out to sea, bringing us close to death. However, our master is a good swimmer and has acquired experience from travelling to Edo and accompanying the lord every year and he saw that the river was very high and took off some of his clothes, that is his Haori jacket, Tattuke pantaloons and lower ‘leggings’ and then he tucked his kimono up, which allowed for his narrow escape. Actually, we all barely escaped death.

  Now I feel so annoyed, thinking it happened all because this horse is a Yadauma horse with its tendons sliced. The Sako river is not even that big but you cannot say it is safe at any time! Whether the river is high or not, you cannot feel safe or at ease if you have to handle such a horse as this. This is even more so when you cross over a big river, like the River Oi. In fact you should pull the horses head with a rope and pull it along.

  Hikohachi says: Magohachi, Magohachi, what’s your opinion? It is said that horses are as essential for samurai as their feet, but if so I wonder why they do such things to horses? Some samurai cut the tendons of such precious horses and make them all useless. It is much better to lift the horse’s tail and put Japanese pepper seeds into its arsehole.70 This seems to be done to show people their horse and win praises. Today’s samurai are so stupid, as they do what a horse dealer does and make their well bred horses totally useless!

  Magohachi says: Hikohachi, what did you say? What a strange thing to do! I have some more strange things to tell you, so listen carefully. If a horse gets thinner, they try to fatten and feed it three-year-old vintage sake, to help nourish it. In summer, keep the horse within a mosquito net so that it will not be bitten by mosquitoes. Or when riding them in a riding ground, put straw mats all the way round the stable floor so that their hooves will not get muddy. As all the feed is carefully chosen, it must be of taste good. However, the horses of today must be really annoyed, as they have been made useless and weak by this practice of slicing the tendons.

  Hikohachi, just try to look at it from the horse’s point of view, even if the feed is not so good, they would prefer not to have their tendons cut I guess. What do you think?

  Hikohachi says: That sounds quite right Magohachi-dono. What a shame it is! Even such humble grooms like you and I think lame-legged horses will not do any good, but how could today’s samurai favour such lame-legged horses, it is really strange.

  Remember, you should be prepared, as the River Oi is just at the foot of the Hakone Mountain range and the river is always rapid, so much so that even a stone as big as a Nagamochi long chest may be carried away. Think of the horse that collapsed in the Sako River as in the story above, imagine if that horse collapsed in the River Oi, together with our master, we would all be swept away all at once, maybe as far as Iro’o town, which is far away. Keep this in mind and be prepared!

  Magohachi says: Oh how annoying it is. These things have been brought about only because we have purchased such a horse. What do you think Hikohachi-dono? Life is most precious, so to avoid these things I want to serve a clan which does not like such weak horses next year. What say you?

  Hikohachi says: Magohachi, Magohachi, you are quite right. Life must be the first consideration. I will do the same thing as you next year.

  Related to this, I have just remembered a small trinket of information. My father once told me a story and it is still ringing in my ears. Now I will tell it to you, so you listen now, with your ears open wide:

  A long time ago, Lord Kusunoki led his army of 10,000 people and left Kyoto at the time between the hours Tiger and Hare [about 5 a.m.], and journeyed the equivalent of two days travel in one day and reached as far as Onohara, which is east of Mikusayama on the border between the three provinces of Tanba, Settsu and Harima, he arrived there as early as the hour of Dog (around 7-9 p.m.) of the next day. My father heard a blind monk in Hayamonogatari storytelling and he told me his story, and I have kept this story with me for seven or eight years or so. In those days they rode horses so well, just like this, but these days the samurai strangely like to have this new craze of lame legged horses. Magohachi, what do you think of this?

  Magohachi says: Hikohachi, everything you say is quite right. While listening to you, I too have remembered one thing. I will tell you now, so please listen. I heard that Lord Kusunoki liked those horses that were good at galloping and not so easy to tire, even after a long journey, is it true or not? Well, this is what I heard from the monk of our family temple, so what do you think?

  Hikohachi says: Magohachi, Magohachi, this is very interesting indeed. For that reason, today’s samurai try to imitate the way of a horse trader, but they should choose strongly built horses, those horses that people no longer give praise to any more. As horse traders deceive people to sell their horses for as much money as possible, it seems that only money matters to them. Today’s samurai behave like horse tr
aders in this way, so that they try to cheat people; but what they do not know is, they will be tricked by people in the end. What a stupid thing to do! Just to show off a delicate horse to people they follow this custom! Rather than having Yamabushi or monks pray for success in war, it would be much better if they did not have their horse’s legs blunted in this fashion – then they would have no need for prayers. Among all the hundreds of horses, more than half the number are Yadauma lame-legged ones, so they are not very useful. This is because the reign in this land has been so peaceful and those who fought in the Battle of Sekigahara or the Sieges of Osaka have all died, and even those in the Battle of Shimabara are now so old that they are bent like shrimp and turning senile, so that they cannot give an opinion on the matter. The samurai of today know nothing!

  Look at what will happen with such a horse. You do not have to wait for times of war to see the result of these poor horses. For example at the event of the Shogun ‘going up’71 to Kyoto, and if our master needs to accompany his Lordship, in the Doyo season of the sixth month,72 then almost all the Yadauma style horses will drop dead by the time they pass through Hakone. Only after the samurai are choked by the smell of rotten horses, dead on Hakone Pass, will they realise the reason for this and learn this lesson well.

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  1 They used to carry their ration in a form of cloth belt tied up into balls, each of which has rice for one meal.

  2 A paper cylinder which contains a bullet and gunpowder.

  3 The word here is used as humour and is a reference to the lower level swords used by foot soldiers.

  4 A common understanding in Japan is that the body reacts to this sour plum with a watering of the mouth, thus stopping one from feeling thirsty.

  5 Capsicum annuum.

  6 A spear-head or bayonet to be attached onto the top end of a bow.

  7 Shaku is a unit of length (1 shaku is about 30cm), and Do means rattan. Zukuri means ‘to be made with’. Therefore, Shakudo-zukuri means ‘a bow made with rattan at 1 shaku intervals’.

  8 When pickling, the Japanese would use a stone as a weight to hold the lid down.

  9 A strap of leather which went from the saddle to and under the horse’s tail.

  10 This section appears to be a mistake, but the original is obscure and is not fully clear on why this happens. However, it appears he is saying let go of the spear when you have made a strike.

  11 A small hook a short way down the scabbard of the sword to help secure the sword in place.

  12 The nuance of the syntax here suggests that both of these people are of equal class.

  13 The main point here is that the cover is nothing like the shape of the spear and is only for show.

  14 Literally ‘straight’ and ‘sword’ .

  15 The original is being humorous at this point.

  16 A travelling box carried at the end of a pole, which contains a person’s equipment.

  17 The text here has a comical and mock-boastful feel. It is without doubt that this is an impossible feat and the point of this boast is to show humour and courage, as the bullet that hit him would have taken his head off.

  18 The original does not say if this is back to the tang or wood of the hilt.

  19 The Mabishaku is a ladle used to wash the horses.

  20 The idea is to hold the head gear for the horse tack around your neck.

  21 This impossible idea, that he could hear and understand at seven days old is humorous. The specific time comes from the Japanese celebration, the Shichiya, which is held seven days after a child is born.

  22 This sentence has an element of comedy and implies a ‘mock reverence’.

  23 The original name for the island of Hokkaido.

  24 Baiboku – a form of wooden gag held in the mouth to keep troops quiet.

  25 A servant who would carry footwear that is not Zori sandals.

  26 This is their job title.

  27 This sentence is loaded with humour that does not translate into English, it implies that he has accepted his death and is ready for it.

  28 Usually 6 shaku long.

  29 i.e., they have been respectful and carried out their jobs without interfering with the combat.

  30 Onomatopoeic, the same as the sound of shooting a musket.

  31 The reason for this is unknown; a crackling sound perhaps?

  32 The name is a play on words to do with his position regarding food supply.

  33 It is still common practice to dry objects in the shade in Japan as the direct sunlight is considered too hot.

  34 Lower class people who fought, literally ‘young group’.

  35 A support person who helps someone fight – a man at arms – the main combatant has a spear. So first spear (Ichibanyari) and second spear (Nibanyari) are those brave enough to fight the enemy first. After these two attacks these side supports who fight off the enemy are no longer needed as mass combat has ensued.

  36 Bracken was salted in boxes, its straight nature is used to represent spears in this case.

  37 Of slightly higher status than the ‘shoe box’ carrying servant. This person would place the sandals of the samurai on the floor for him to step into.

  38 A percussion musical instrument made of strung bamboo slats. usually played with a ‘clapping’ and waving motion.

  39 The text actually states ‘persimmon’ but ‘melon-head’ has the correct connotations in English.

  40 Literally ‘it was good’ most likely he is happy that the bullet did not lodge inside his body.

  41 A legendary ascetic with magical powers and a horn on his forehead.

  42 There is a slight play on words here which connotes becoming dizzy, for comic effect.

  43 Tannin is mentioned here with a warning, as any wound with clothes dyed with tannin near it will bleed more.

  44 Literally ‘arm and leg bags’ probably leggings and gauntlets.

  45 6ft in the imperial system.

  46 This ‘pan’ refers to the foot soldier’s helmet, it is a comical statement suggesting they should cook food in their headgear.

  47 Rice bowls used to have small ‘feet’ on the bottom.

  48 The word samurai is implied here, the text only says long Haori jacket, meaning he wished to wear one like a samurai.

  49 Here the author uses the word for a second wife to add humour.

  50 This could either be the case that the troops who were separated from the main group were killed, or that in their flight they throw down their arms.

  51 A street performance in the medieval period. The performer, with a number of drums hung from the neck, beats and swings them while dancing.

  52 This is heavy with sarcasm.

  53 This appears to mean that when a soldier returns to an area that has been torched, he can pick up any war-curtains that are left and use them against the elements or heat of the ashes and take his meal.

  54 These flags generally stay at the rear of an army and, therefore, it is acceptable to have crests on them.

  55 This paragraph is not included in the printed version of 1846 but is found in transcriptions from the mid-Edo period.

  56 Spear fights and duels to be performed by brave warriors in the middle of the two sides before the two sides get to close in on each other.

  57 To take a head with a spear.

  58 After Ichibanyari and Nibanyari have occurred, this is to kill an opponent by exploiting the breaking up of the enemy lines as the fighting starts.

  59 Kunzu kumaretsu, literally, ‘grapple while grappling’ or ‘to wrestle’.

  60 It is easier to defend against an enemy attacking from the left.

  61 This means a six-man team may cross: two holding the bit, two holding the rear of the saddle, one holding the tail and the samurai riding it.

  62 Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, the founder of Kamakura shogunage.

  63 A ball made of cedar leaves and used as an offering to the god of wine.

  64 A kitchen tool, miso strainer.

  65 A
kitchen spatula.

  66 A wooden pestle.

  67 A shell ladle.

  68 In Japan they named the horse as a 1-year-old on the day of its birth, thus the horse here is actually 5 years old.

  69 Present Kanagawa prefecture.

  70 They give no reason for this.

  71 They traditionally used the word ‘up’ when visiting Kyoto as the Emperor is in residence.

  72 The first month is in February and, therefore, this is July/August when it is extremely hot.

  Musha Monogatari,

  Tales of the Samurai,

  1654

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  VOLUME ONE

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  Article 1

  According to an old samurai story, Ota Dokan Nyudo Mochisuke, from Edo of Bushu, when he went up to Kyoto for the first time, met the emperor who said to him, ‘as you live around Sumida river in Edo, you must know much of hooded gulls’.1 To this, Dokan replied with the poem:

  Despite those many years I have lived there, I have not known Miyakodori, though I have lived on the riverside of Sumida

  The emperor was impressed with this poem and composed a poem in reply:

  Though I heard that Musashino is a field of plume grass, I was impressed that there are such beautiful flowering words too

  Article 2

  According to an old samurai story, Genzanmi Nyudo Yorimasa killed himself at Byodoin of Uji, at which point he said to his men, ‘Do not bury my bones in Byodoin, put them in a pilgrim’s bag and perform ascetic practices around various provinces with the container hanging from your neck. At one point you will see an auspicious sign at the place I would like to stay, bury my bones there.’ At which point, he killed himself.