Memoirs of the warrior Kumagai : a historical novel

250 Pages·3.203 MB·English

by  Richie, Donald

A Hi'>toriral Novel
Donald Richie
"Donald Richie has given a new turn to the incident that made the
warrior Kumagai Naozane immortal. His superior narrative powers
will carry the reader easily along to find out what it is and to learn of
its subtle implications."
-Edward G. Seidensticker
"A tour de force combining a commanding mastery of historical fact
and detail, a comprehensive understanding of the human spirit, and
a poetic quality of expression that transforms the hearts of all those
it touches."
- The Japan Foundation Newsletter
'There is Richie's graceful writing ... scenes that reveal so much in
so few words ... subtle character sketches of familiar historical fig
ures."
- The Asahi Evening News
"Blood-soaked as these pages may be, Richie also infuses them with
a good dose of black humor ... a rich and multi-layered view ... an
admirable job of evoking the fading brilliance and aristocratic
excesses of old Kyoto."
- The Japan Times
"Richie recreates the feel and flavor of the Heian period, as well as
the sense and sensibilities of the people ... of value to students of
both the classical and modern martial arts."
- Koryu Book Reviews
"Fabulous tale of medieval japan, moving and insightful ... well
written, fascinating to read, impeccably researched."
- George Sawyer

Memoirs of the Warrior
KUMAGAI
A Historical Novel
by
Donald Richie
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
Tokyo • Rutland, Vermont • Singapore
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd,
with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759
Copyright © 1998 by Donald Richie
All rights reserved.
First Edition, 1999
LCC Card No. 98088195
ISBN 978-0-8048-3722-4
ISBN 0-8048-3722-8
ISBN 4-8053-0847-8 (for sale in Japan only)
Printed in Singapore
Distributed by:
Japan
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Email: [email protected]
North America, Latin America & Europe
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Email: [email protected]
www.periplus.com
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TUTTLE PUBLISH lNG® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing.
for
Richard Hayes
To become a man,
a true and worthwhile man,
that was all I wanted
-from the kowaka-mai
Atsumori
Excerpt from the deposition of the Priest Rensei
On the thirteenth day of the first month in the first year of the
Genkyii era [1204] I, the lay priest Rensei, declare the following:
It was in the fourth year of the Kenkyu era [ 1193] , now eleven years
past, that I began to pray for my rebirth in the highest paradise of the
Pure Land.
I well know that to be reborn among the lower would bring an after
life of bliss. But I also know that he who is reborn into the highest para
dise may then lead the dying into the Pure Land.
It is for the sake of these others that I, Rensei, wish to be reborn into
the highest paradise. Otherwise, I would refuse to be reborn into any of
the other eight.
MS.
Seiryoji, Kyoto
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Untitled MS.
On the fifteenth day of the fifth month in the first year of the
Genkyii era [1204], I, the monk Rensei, formerly the Minamoto
officer Kumagai no Jiro Naozane, take up my brush.
I am sixty-five years of age and, having written my deposi
tion and thus prepared for my death, I now wish to turn to my
life. It has been full and I now wish to transcribe what I have
experienced.
In this I am different from other men only in that I have the
leisure and disposition to do so. A priest with few tasks, I am free
to sit here and contemplate the past in my chamber at Seiryoji.
It is old, this temple-built long before I was born. Just out
side my porch lies a small garden of which I have grown fond. It
does not consist of much-a few rocks, a tree, some moss-but
it is pleasing. The winter sun reaches it in the afternoon.
Here I sit and remember and write. I have a library here and
an archive, including some of the military lists of my time.
Nonetheless, my account will be as badly written as my deposi
tion probably is, and in my usual execrable hand. Like so many
of my station and generation I never properly learned calli
graphy.
I cast an eye upon this deposition, a copy lying here before
me. An official statement, it seems certain, dignified-particu
larly the part about leading in the dying.
That part about my refusing any paradise except for the high
est is, however, quite true. Having aspired to a position in this
life, I see no reason for relinquishing it in the next.