Gochin no Tajima
Encyclopedia
Gochiin no Tajima called Tajima the arrow-cutter, was a warrior monk
from Miidera who fought alongside the Minamoto clan
forces, and many of his fellow Miidera monks
at the Battle of Uji
in 1180.
The bridge over the Uji River was torn up by Tajima's fellow sohei
, but the attacking Taira forces were still firing arrows, and were still threatening to cross the river. Tajima is said to have stood upon the bridge and, spinning his naginata
, deflected many if not most of the arrows that came his way.
According to the Heike Monogatari
,
"Then Gochi-in Tajima, throwing away the sheath of his long naginata, strode forth alone on to the bridge, whereupon the Heike straightaway shot at him fast and furious. Tajima, not at all perturbed, ducking to avoid the higher ones and leaping up over those that flew low, cut through those that flew straight with his whirring naginata, so that even the enemy looked on in admiration. Thus it was that he was dubbed 'Tajima the arrow-cutter'."
According to the Tale of Heike text, Tajima was listed as one of the samurai
supporters of prince Mochihito, and not as a warrior monk
, as he appears in most of the English sources.
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
from Miidera who fought alongside the Minamoto clan
Minamoto clan
was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian Period , although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku Era. The Taira were another such offshoot of...
forces, and many of his fellow Miidera monks
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
at the Battle of Uji
Battle of Uji (1180)
The first battle of Uji is famous and important for having opened the Genpei War.In early 1180, Prince Mochihito, the Minamoto Clan's favored claimant to the Imperial Throne, was chased by Taira forces to the Mii-dera, a temple just outside Kyoto....
in 1180.
The bridge over the Uji River was torn up by Tajima's fellow sohei
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
, but the attacking Taira forces were still firing arrows, and were still threatening to cross the river. Tajima is said to have stood upon the bridge and, spinning his naginata
Naginata
The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...
, deflected many if not most of the arrows that came his way.
According to the Heike Monogatari
The Tale of the Heike
is an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War...
,
"Then Gochi-in Tajima, throwing away the sheath of his long naginata, strode forth alone on to the bridge, whereupon the Heike straightaway shot at him fast and furious. Tajima, not at all perturbed, ducking to avoid the higher ones and leaping up over those that flew low, cut through those that flew straight with his whirring naginata, so that even the enemy looked on in admiration. Thus it was that he was dubbed 'Tajima the arrow-cutter'."
According to the Tale of Heike text, Tajima was listed as one of the samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
supporters of prince Mochihito, and not as a warrior monk
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
, as he appears in most of the English sources.