Emishi

• For a full list of Clans: See Clans.

Emishi

The Emishi (蝦夷 – Eastern Barbarians), also called at time the Ezo People¹, were a Clan of people living on the periphery of the Yamato borders. Some scholars believe they could be the ancestors of the Ainu.² Historically they are known to have lived in northern Japan, in particular Mutsu Province.¹

Description

In the 28th year of Emperor Keikō‘s reign Takeuchi no Sukune makes a report on the Emishi saying they tie up their hair and have tatoos upon their body.⁴

It is during his reign that we see a description of the people in the nihongi which describes them as people that, live together promiscously with no distinction of father and child. In the winter they live in holes, in summer they dwell in nests. Their clothing consists of fur and they drink blood and that when recieving favour they forget it, but when injured they never forget to take revenge. Due to this they keep arrows in their tops knots and swords in their clothes.⁴

Legendary Period

Takeuchi no Sukune reccomends Emperor Keikō attack them as they hold lots of fertile lands in a place called Hitakami in the East.⁴

Later, in the 40th year⁴ of Emperor Keiko’s reign he send Yamato Takeru to subdue the Emishi, accompanied by Takehiko, Takehi no Muraji and Nanatsukahagi.²⁴

Prior to this Ministers inquired as to who should be the one to go deal with the threat with Yamato Takeru saying his brother Ōsu should go.⁴ This of course contradicts the kojiki as Yamato Takeru had already ripped apart his brother in that narrative.⁵⁶

Once more he visits his aunt who gives him this time the sword Kusanagi⁴ and flints for lighting fire.²

He travels through Suruga with the people there tricking him to go hunt deer in the moor there. He does, but find the moor set on fire by those who sent him there to hunt. He makes a counter fire and survives and so then goes to kill all the brigands who tricked him.

An alternative version of the nihongi says because of this event Murokumo became called Kusanagi.

Venturing on the Sagami he wished to cross the sea to reach Kadzusa. Whilst sailing a storms begins an so Ototachibanahime, who was with him in the boat, sacrifices herself and the storm stops. Due to this Yamato Takeru can continue on and goes to Michi no Oku after Kadzusa.

Continuing on, he reaches Shimosa where he finds two Emishi leaders in Take called Shimatsukami and Kunitsukami. Upon seeing his ship, knowing they would be defeated, they throw down their weapons and so Yamato Takeru makes them his personal attendants.⁴

The Emishi that Yamato Takeru had captured were said to have fought day and night, with Yamatohime saying to not allow them near to the Ise Grand Shrine; and so they were sent to live next to Mount Mimoro.

They continue to fight, scaring those that live in the area and so the Emperor sends them to live in Harima, Sanuki, Iyo, Aki and Aha Provinces.

Prince Mimorowake later deals with the Emishi in the Tōsandō Provinces when he was attacked by the Emishi he fought back with the leaders Ashifurihe, Ohohafurihe and Tohotsu Kurahohe bowing to him in defeat.

They handed their territory to him and so he pardoned them. Those who did not submit he had killed.⁴

Asuka Period

Abe no Hirafu is recorded in the nihongi as being sent three times by Emperor Saimei between 658 and 660 to subdue the Ezo People, with some believing he may have gone as far north as Hokkaido.¹ He is said to have had 180 ships for his attacks on the Ezo.³

Nara Period

Fujiwara no Tsuginawa (727-796AD) and Fujiwara no Oguromaro (733-794) are sent north to battle the Emishi.³

Heian Period

Miltary outposts known as Nutari no Ki and Iwafune no Ki were constructed in the Province of Echigo to hold troops to aid in the control of the Emishi/Ezo people¹ and by 801AD they had been subdued by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. Additonally, other buidlings, such as Tagajō, Izawajō and Akitajō were built to also aide in the subjugation of these people.¹³

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Littleton. C.S. (1995) “Yamato-takeru: An Arthurian Hero in Japanese Tradition”. Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 54, No.2, pp.259-274.
3. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
4. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
6. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.

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