Summary
In the late Heian period of Japan, the Taira clan was at the height of its glory, while the Minamoto clan was on the brink of extinction. At the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto, the formidable warrior monk Benkei stood. He vowed to collect a thousand swords and had already acquired 999 of them.
At that moment, the sound of a flute resonated, and a young man with an excellent sword at his waist appeared. Benkei declared loudly, "My lifelong wish is to gather a thousand swords. Just one more and my wish will be fulfilled. You carry a splendid sword. If you hand it over right now, I will spare your life." The young man calmly replied, "It is true that you have collected 999 swords. However, what you are doing is theft."
Furious, Benkei shouted, "Silence! I will take it by force!" but the young man answered without fear, "If you can take it, then try." Benkei swung his naginata down, but the young man skillfully evaded it. "Where are you going!" Benkei shouted, and the young man responded from behind, "Right here, my lord."
Benkei attacked again, but the young man leaped lightly and finally knocked Benkei’s naginata away. "Did you think my sword could be taken so easily?" the young man said proudly. Benkei conceded defeat and said, "I admit defeat. You seem to be a renowned figure in this martial art. May I know your name?"
"I am Ushiwaka. My father, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, was the head of the Minamoto clan, but he was destroyed in the Heiji Rebellion. I wish to defeat the Taira someday, but I need comrades. I would like you to become one of my followers." Benkei was impressed by the young man’s words. "In that case, I would gladly accept."
Thus, the meeting between Ushiwaka and Benkei was established, and he would later become famous as Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune joined forces with his brother Yoritomo to challenge the Taira clan, but after the battles, his fate took a dark turn. He suffered from his brother's suspicions and was ultimately driven to commit suicide. Nevertheless, Yoshitsune is still remembered as a beloved hero by many. His tragedy is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Japanese people.
