Japanese Warring States figure 87 Sasaki Kojiro
The previous article introduces to you the "Japan's Deputy King". From a small retainer who relies on his talents and the help of several outstanding brothers, he spread his power throughout the ten countries, and influenced the emperor's Sanhao Changqing. In this article, let’s talk about the swordsman Kojiro Sasaki who came from a famous family, created the "Yanliu" school and practiced the "Yanhui".
Sasaki family was born in the Genji branch Uta Genji, also known as Oe Genji. He is the descendant of the 59th generation of Japanese Emperor Udatian, and his family pattern is the "four-eye knot" symbolizing the family emblem of the nobles. It was originally built in Sasakiso, Kusaki County, Oe Country, so it is called Sasaki. When Sasaki Taitaka was the direct descendant of Sasaki clan, he was favored by General Fujiwara Raike and served as the shogunate for his guard. As a Shurijuan, Kyoji held important positions in the shogunate, including attracting and evaluating the crowd.
In the fourth year of Furu (1595), Sasaki Kojiro was born in Echizen Mosakasuo, and was the second son of the wealthy merchant Sasaki Hisaki. Because of his origin, he was trained as a civil and military master since childhood. The young Kojiro developed a strong interest in swordsmanship. My father spent a lot of money to invite the swordsman Zhong Juan Zizhai to teach his son the oldest Nakajori swordsman in Japan. Kojiro showed amazing talent for kendo and defeated all his disciples of the same generation at less than ten years old, including Ito Ichidaozhai, who was fourteen years old at the time. Zhongjuan was amazed by Yu Kojiro's talent to introduce him to Echizen's most famous kendo priest Tomota.
Ten centimeters longer than ordinary tooth knife
After seeing Kojiro's potential, Tomoda Mito personally teach Kojiro. Tomota Yoshiki was a short sword (Kota Knife), which was only a foot long. He once competed with Saito Yoshiro's swordsmanship guide, Umetsu. The opponent used a three-foot true sword, but Tomota still used a foot-to-earth wooden sword to fight against the enemy and won with only one sword. Because Kojiro was young and had short arms at this time, Tomota asked him to use the Datai Knife to use the Xiaotai Knife technique. Over time, Kojiro's big sword technique became more and more proficient. When Kojiro was sixteen years old, he learned the technique of Tomota Kota's sword and created the technique of Noida's sword (Data's sword). Zhong Juan, the Enlightenment Normal School, gave his love knife "Baixian Captain's Light" also called "Yugan Zhuo" (the blade is three feet and two inches long, just suitable for Kojiro's good use of the Data Knife), hoping that it could become famous all over the world with Kojiro.
After leaving the army, Kojiro began his life traveling to various countries in order to practice swordsmanship, and headed west to Tanhou Kingdom first. After two days of training with the famous local swordsman Goro Tsuda, Tsuda is also good at using long swords. The sword he used is one foot longer than Kojiro's "Dry Dried Biao". On the first day of this competition, both sides tied, and Kojiro realized at night that he used the sword to increase his speed. The next day, Kojiro took advantage of the advantage of shorter blade than the opponent and used a sword to draw a sword and shoot down the opponent before he cut himself. Tsuda Goro was convinced by Kojiro, who was more than ten years younger than him.
Kojiro continued to rush west during the day and practiced swordsmanship at night. When Kojiro came to Inaba Country, he competed with the local Taoist director Tomoto, who was a swordsman.Defeat Zhitou within ten moves. Zhitou saw that Kojiro was so young and had such a high swordsmanship and handsome appearance. It is proposed to betroth his daughter Nana to Kojiro and let Kojiro stay in the gym. Kojiro was full of heart and never thought about getting married. He was about to reject the good intentions of Chitoshi, but when he saw Nao, who was two years younger than him, he agreed to the matter at first sight. The couple was very sweet after marriage. During the three years in the gym, Kojiro defeated famous challengers from various countries, and Kojiro's name spread throughout the Western countries. The mother and son were not saved by the difficulty of giving birth. Kojiro left the gym in his heart and continued to wander westward, practicing sword to wipe away the grief in his heart.
Kojiro traveling in the West
When entering Zhoufangguo (Yamaguchi Prefecture), heavy rain fell from the sky, Kojiro entered Ciming Temple to shelter from the rain, and a group of swallows were also sheltering from the rain under the eaves. Bored, Kojiro began to practice sword drawing. When the rain passed, the sky was sunny, he was disturbed by the swallow's cry. Kojiro, who was in a bad mood, drew his sword to chop the swallow under the eaves. The swallow was frightened and fled. At this time, Kojiro Fuku suddenly drew his sword from his heart and quickly and accurately cut down one of the swallows flying past in front of him. Looking at the flying swallows that were beheaded on the ground, Kojiro was inexplicably surprised. As early as when he was a child, he heard from his master that there was a legend a long time ago that he could cut off the flying birds. Unexpectedly, he actually did it. Kojiro called this "Yan Hui" and used this trick many times since then to defeat the master of swordsmanship.
The reputation of Kojiro's "Yanhui" reached the ears of another swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi fought more than 60 duels from the age of thirteen to twenty-nine, but never failed. He also established a sect and was known as "bright and first-class". Both of them are famous sword geniuses who became famous at a young age, so naturally they can't escape a shocking battle. Miyamoto Musashi has been working hard all the way until now, so naturally he doesn't want to take risks easily. So he arranged for his friend Aokura, who is also a master of swordsmanship, to challenge Kojiro again. During the two's battle, Miyamoto Musashi Hikaru observed Kojiro's actions among the audience. But Kojiro quickly defeated Aokura and did not use "Yan Return".
Understanding "Yan Return"
I saw that Kojiro's sword technique was indeed outstanding. The too-sword used by Kojiro was longer than the normal too-sword, so the attack distance was stronger when using the sword drawing technique. Kojiro had such achievements at a young age, naturally he was very arrogant. After inquiring from many sources, he learned that Kojiro came from a famous family and had a smooth journey with famous teachers since he was a child. At this time, the Hosokawa family issued an order to recruit military wizards (swordsman and shooter masters). Kojiro set out to sign up. Although Miyamoto Musashi had excellent swordsmanship, he had never been able to enter the famous circle because of his civilian origin. At this time, he had plans in his mind.
Miyomoto Musashi wrote a letter to Kojiro for a fight against Nagato Shinrijima. Only those who win this battle can go to the Hosokawa family to serve as a military wizard. Kojiro confidently accepted the duel at Okura Yanruo Island on the morning of April 13, 1612, the 17th year of Yu Qingchang. Miyamoto Musashi is not the highest in terms of swordsmanship, but his comprehensive combat ability is indeed terrible. He not only has passed countless famous swordsmanship masters, but also has broken through the Treasure Academy.The gun technique, the Shinto dream streaming stick technique by Rakano Kwonnosuke, the Sadha Scythe of Igabinto, and even the Nikkaido Hiraki Ninjutsu of Matsuyama. In terms of experience in the enemy, Kojiro, who is nine years younger than him. Moreover, Musashi has been famous for his ruthless actions since his debut. Since he killed Shindangru Arima Hibugu, he has never stopped killing all the way. In Kyoto, he even killed more than ten people from Shindooka Chuanro and Yukiro, including Yoshioka with two swords.
Kojiro came from a wealthy family. Throughout his life, he had only tried and did not hurt his life. Another character also influenced the duel, namely, Nagaoka Sado Yoshinaga, the son-in-law of Hosokawa Tadakashi, who was defeated by Kojiro. According to the "Biography of Wuyun", this person proposed to the lord Tadao Hosokawa to arbitration for Musashi and Kojiro to try out. He secretly informed Miyamoto Musashi of Kojiro's martial arts competition habits and even his clothes that day. Kojiro didn't know what weapons Musashi used until he stood on the beach.
The Battle of Yanliu Island
If Musashi uses two swords to fight against the enemy, one is the second swords to kill several people in Kyoto, and the routine is well known; the other is the technique of Kojiro's long sword breaking short swords is indeed unique, and the outcome is really unpredictable. So Musaki carefully planned every step of the duel before the war. Kojiro's sword was long, so Musashi abandoned the sword and cut off the four-foot-long boat into a knife. It was agreed to a duel at 8:00 a.m. out of respect for the opponent, Kojiro arrived at the scene at around 6:00. But Musashi has not appeared for a long time. The rules stipulate that if the opponent is abstained before 10 o'clock in the afternoon, Musashi has not arrived yet. At this time, Kojiro waited for both anxiety and a feeling of loss, thinking that he would win without a fight. But at 9:30, Musashi suddenly appeared. After waiting for three hours, Kojiro immediately drew his sword and threw it away, eager to respond. But Musashi said leisurely: "Kojiro, you are defeated! How can you defeat me without the knife cutting?" It is inevitable that Kojiro will be defeated one after another, and Musashi will not give him a second chance. Sasaki Kojiro was only twenty-seven years old when he died. Because Kojiro has no successor yet, "Yan Hui" has been lost since then.
