| Minamoto no Yorimitsu | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Other Names |
Minamoto no Raikō, Monjumaru |
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Born |
948 |
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Died |
29 August, 1021 |
Origin[]
Minamoto no Yorimitsu, also known as Minamoto no Raikō, was a Japanese samurai and folk hero of the Heian period, who served the regents of the Fujiwara clan along with his brother Yorinobu, taking the violent measures the Fujiwara were themselves unable to take. He is one of the earliest Minamoto of historical note for his military exploits, and is known for quelling the bandits of Ōeyama.
His loyal service earned him the governorships of Izu Province, Kozuke and a number of others in turn, as well as a number of other high government positions. Yorimitsu served as commander of a regiment of the Imperial Guard, and as a secretary in the Ministry of War. When his father Minamoto no Mitsunaka died, he inherited Settsu Province.
Yorimitsu is usually accompanied by his four legendary retainers, known as the Shitennō (The Four Heavenly Kings). They were Watanabe no Tsuna, Sakata no Kintoki, Urabe no Suetake, and Usui Sadamitsu.
His birthplace is not known, but it was either Tada, where he was based, or his father's mansion in Sakyo Ichijo in Heian-Kyo, which his father is known to have owned around 973. His history during his youth is not known. As with other mid-ranking aristocrats of the period, he began to work in the government at the age of 20, and it is thought that he accumulated his wealth by acquiring government positions through serving the Fujiwara clan, who, like Mitsunaka, acted as regents to the Emperor.
When Imperial Prince Okisada (later Emperor Sanjo) became the Crown Prince around 986, Yorimitsu was assigned as one of his advisers. In 992, he was assigned as the local governor of Bizen Province but as he stayed in the capital, it is believed that he was a yonin (absentee lord). Records of the yearly events associated with the rituals and ceremonies of the Imperial Court show that, while serving as the Crown Prince's adviser, he participated in horse races hosted by Fujiwara no Michinaga. According to "Nihon Giryaku," in October, 988, he presented 30 horses as a gift at the banquet held to celebrate the completion of the new mansion of the chief advisor to the Emperor, Fujiwara no Kaneie.
Yorimitsu is featured in a number of legends and tales, including the legend of Kintarō (Golden Boy a.k.a. Sakata no Kintoki), the legend of Shuten Dōji, and the legend of Tsuchigumo. The tachi (long sword) 'Dōjigiri' and Tenka-Goken ("Five Swords under Heaven"), and 'Onikirimaru', have a legend that Yorimitsu beheaded Shuten Dōji. Also, three swords of the same name, 'Hizamaru', Hakone Shrine and an individual, have a legend that Yorimitsu beat off Tsuchigumo.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu has ties to the creature known as the Shuten-dōji. In this tale he learns that this Yokai has captured several maidens, and so he takes a band of men with him in an attempt to free them from Mount Ōe. Diguised as monks they are made to sit through a feast of human flesh whilst they wait for the drugged sake they brought with them to take affect on the Shuten-doji and his army on Oni. Once it has done so they decapitate the creature and his army, freeing the maidens and taking them to safety.
Yorimitsu wrote a renga with his wife, which appears in the Kin'yō Wakashū:
- tade karu fune no suguru narikeri
- asa madaki kararo no oto no kikoyuru wa
This translates as:
- a boat harvesting smartweed is passing by
- I thought I heard someone rowing smartly before dawn
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Minamoto no Yorimitsu before January 1, 1929 are public domain.