Tomoe Gozen's Revenge: A Short Story
Awazu-ga-hara ô-kassen no zu (粟津原大合戰之圖, Picture of the Battle of Awazu Moor), Maru-ya Seijirô, 1851-1852
Tomoe Gozen is pictured in the center here recieving a drink of water. Minamoto Yoshinaka flees into a bog on the right pannel while Imai no Shiro Kanehira fights off the pursuit on the left pannel. The following is work of fiction with its starting point inspired by this image:
Tomoe Gozen drank from the water offered up to her by the last of Yoshinaka's retainers. Ordered to leave the battle Tomoe begrudgingly was preparing to make the journey back to the Eastern provinces. She longed to rejoin the battle, to die with alongside her Lord Kiso. “How is it that while I am just as loyal, as skilled as Kanehira that I am forced to flee while he will have songs written about his death" Tomoe thought. With a heavy heart Tomoe began to put down the water and to ride away. But in that instant a call came from a paddy in the distance.
“Miura no Ishida no Jiro Tamehisa has killed Lord Kiso, the man known throughout Japan!" Hearing this call Tomoe made as is if to race back into the battle, to avenge Lord Kiso by taking the head of Tamehisa. But Tomoe remembered Yoshinaka's last request for her, and it would be shameful to disobey it. Sill as Tomoe finally fled Awazu she stole a glance back at the paddy where Yoshinaka had died. Ignoring the sight of the head of Lord Kiso, Tomoe memorized the face of Tamehisa.
Instead of fleeing east Tomoe remained hidden in the mountains outside of Kyoto. She longed to take her life and join Yoshinaka in the Shide Mountains, but one thing held her back: revenge. At a small shrine to Hachiman in the mountains Tomoe offered this prayer :
All hail I touch my head to the ground in obeisance!
The Great Bodhisattva Hachiman has protected and helped the members of the Minamoto family in their mission to overthrow the Taira. Yoshinaka was one of those who you had sent signs of your favor to. Now he has died at the hands of an unworthy foe, for his sake I seek to kill the man who took his life, Miura no Ishida no Jiro Tamehisa. If you accept this prayer help me to find the will and the opportunity to fight him, unhindered by others.
Tomoe offered her top arrow to the shrine. Immediately a wild dove flew by Tomoe, so close that it several hairs flew off of Tomoe's head. Quickly realizing what she must do, Tomoe cut her hair into the style of a man. Now no man would recognize her for who she was. She returned to Kyoto certain of her success.
At that time Yoshitsune was departing to fight the Tiara at Yashima. Tomoe took the head of a unknown warrior, donned his armor and followed Yoshitsune into battle. All the while that they traveled Tomoe looked for Tamehisha. He was easy to find, bragging of his recent success. A grin passed over Tomoe's face at the thought that he had no idea what was coming for him.
At Yashima in the thick of the battle Tomoe rode swiftly over to Tamehisha, and while his retainers looked away she siezed him in an unbreakable grip and pulled him against her saddle. But she did not take his head. She rode furiously away from the battle, no longer caring of the outcome. Soon she came upon a village. The villagers looked startled to see her and hid from her. But Tomoe spotted a child hiding behind a cherry tree. Tying Tamehisha to the tree she handed a small bow to the child and instructed him to shoot Tamehisha.
“Why are you doing this? It is dishonorable to die at the hands of a child!" cried Tamehisha with a look of horror upon his face.
“You took from my Lord Kiso the opportunity to die with honor. Now this mere child shall take away yours!" Tomoe replied.
The child was no expert marksman. But after several attempts he managed to shoot Tamehisha in the face, just as Tamehisha had done to Yoshinaka. Tomoe was satisfied with the death. Ready to move on to the next world Tomoe pulled out her sword. Not to be outdone by Kanehira, she climbed back upon her horse put the tip of the sword through her eye and jumped.
Tomoe Gozen is pictured in the center here recieving a drink of water. Minamoto Yoshinaka flees into a bog on the right pannel while Imai no Shiro Kanehira fights off the pursuit on the left pannel. The following is work of fiction with its starting point inspired by this image:
Tomoe Gozen drank from the water offered up to her by the last of Yoshinaka's retainers. Ordered to leave the battle Tomoe begrudgingly was preparing to make the journey back to the Eastern provinces. She longed to rejoin the battle, to die with alongside her Lord Kiso. “How is it that while I am just as loyal, as skilled as Kanehira that I am forced to flee while he will have songs written about his death" Tomoe thought. With a heavy heart Tomoe began to put down the water and to ride away. But in that instant a call came from a paddy in the distance.
“Miura no Ishida no Jiro Tamehisa has killed Lord Kiso, the man known throughout Japan!" Hearing this call Tomoe made as is if to race back into the battle, to avenge Lord Kiso by taking the head of Tamehisa. But Tomoe remembered Yoshinaka's last request for her, and it would be shameful to disobey it. Sill as Tomoe finally fled Awazu she stole a glance back at the paddy where Yoshinaka had died. Ignoring the sight of the head of Lord Kiso, Tomoe memorized the face of Tamehisa.
Instead of fleeing east Tomoe remained hidden in the mountains outside of Kyoto. She longed to take her life and join Yoshinaka in the Shide Mountains, but one thing held her back: revenge. At a small shrine to Hachiman in the mountains Tomoe offered this prayer :
All hail I touch my head to the ground in obeisance!
The Great Bodhisattva Hachiman has protected and helped the members of the Minamoto family in their mission to overthrow the Taira. Yoshinaka was one of those who you had sent signs of your favor to. Now he has died at the hands of an unworthy foe, for his sake I seek to kill the man who took his life, Miura no Ishida no Jiro Tamehisa. If you accept this prayer help me to find the will and the opportunity to fight him, unhindered by others.
Tomoe offered her top arrow to the shrine. Immediately a wild dove flew by Tomoe, so close that it several hairs flew off of Tomoe's head. Quickly realizing what she must do, Tomoe cut her hair into the style of a man. Now no man would recognize her for who she was. She returned to Kyoto certain of her success.
At that time Yoshitsune was departing to fight the Tiara at Yashima. Tomoe took the head of a unknown warrior, donned his armor and followed Yoshitsune into battle. All the while that they traveled Tomoe looked for Tamehisha. He was easy to find, bragging of his recent success. A grin passed over Tomoe's face at the thought that he had no idea what was coming for him.
At Yashima in the thick of the battle Tomoe rode swiftly over to Tamehisha, and while his retainers looked away she siezed him in an unbreakable grip and pulled him against her saddle. But she did not take his head. She rode furiously away from the battle, no longer caring of the outcome. Soon she came upon a village. The villagers looked startled to see her and hid from her. But Tomoe spotted a child hiding behind a cherry tree. Tying Tamehisha to the tree she handed a small bow to the child and instructed him to shoot Tamehisha.
“Why are you doing this? It is dishonorable to die at the hands of a child!" cried Tamehisha with a look of horror upon his face.
“You took from my Lord Kiso the opportunity to die with honor. Now this mere child shall take away yours!" Tomoe replied.
The child was no expert marksman. But after several attempts he managed to shoot Tamehisha in the face, just as Tamehisha had done to Yoshinaka. Tomoe was satisfied with the death. Ready to move on to the next world Tomoe pulled out her sword. Not to be outdone by Kanehira, she climbed back upon her horse put the tip of the sword through her eye and jumped.