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The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War: Part 1 | The Hero of Isawa who Defeated the Imperial Army of Yamato

The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War: Part 1 | The Hero of Isawa who Defeated the Imperial Army of Yamato

Introduction

It is well known that although we refer to it as "Japan" in general, its scope has changed little by little over the years

For example, Hokkaido was confirmed as Japanese territory in 1869 (Meiji 2), and Okinawa, which was under American rule after the Pacific War, was returned to the mainland in 1972 (Showa 47)

Even in ancient times, there was no clear national division called "Japan,"

This was also the case with the people called "Emishi" who lived in the eastern or northeastern regions "aisui" appears in the ancient "Nihon Shoki" in the section before the accession of Emperor Jimmu, and this is thought to be the first appearance of the word "Emishi."

As the Yamato royal authority developed, it expanded its territory into the eastern and northeastern regions where the Emishi lived, resulting in conflicts between the two groups

For the Emishi, this was also a form of resistance against domination and oppression, but the most intense and tense period in history was from the end of the Nara period to the beginning of the Heian period, and the conflict between Yamato and Emishi during this period is sometimes called the "Thirty-eight Years' War."

At that time, several powerful leaders emerged from among the Emishi, who were said to have no wide-ranging coalition

One of the most well-known figures Aterui , the chief of the Emishi tribe who was based in the area around Isawa in Mutsu Province, which is now Oshu City in Iwate Prefecture, from the end of the Nara period to the beginning of the Heian period.

In this article, we will focus on Aterui and unravel the 38-year war that took place in the Tohoku region between the Yamato and Emishi

Who was Aterui, the ancient Emishi hero?

Statue of Aterui at Mt. Tsukaina in Iwate Prefecture
Statue of Aterui at Mt. Tsukaina in Iwate Prefecture

First, let's summarize what we know about Aterui, the famous Emishi chieftain

As mentioned earlier, he was the chief of the Emishi of Isawa, and it is recorded that he was active from the end of the 8th century to the beginning of the 9th century, and it is said that he gave the Yamato Imperial Army, which was advancing into the Tohoku region, a great deal of trouble

Aterui's name appears in the Rikkokushi .

The Six National Histories is a compilation of six official histories: the Nihon Shoki, the Shoku Nihongi, the Nihon Koki, the Shoku Nihon Koki, the Nihon Montoku Tenno Jitsuroku, and the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku .

It covers history from the mythological era to the end of the 9th century, and was published in stages over a period of approximately 200 years, from the beginning of the 8th century to the beginning of the 10th century

There are several Emishi whose names are recorded in these historical records, but it is no exaggeration to say that Aterui is a representative tribal leader who left a particularly large impact, given the scale of his battles with the Imperial Court and the length of his resistance

About Aterui's achievements

The name Aterui first appears in historical records in the Shoku Nihongi, in the entry for June 8th year of the Enryaku era, 789 AD (hereafter referred to as the Julian calendar)

The Imperial Court, which had been planning for a long time to bring the Tohoku region under its control, launched a large-scale military action in this year known as the "Enryaku 8 Seii (Subjugation of the Barbarians)."

the Battle of Subushi which is believed to have broken out in late May or late May of the same year , a total of about 1,500 Emishi troops repelled an Imperial army of approximately 4,000.

The battle is said to have taken place near Aterui's residence, but it is not clear whether he directly commanded the Emishi

However, the descriptions suggest that there was a strong leader who not only had the advantage of geographical location but also used precise military tactics to defeat a force superior in numbers, and it is possible that Aterui was involved as the actual leader

the "Entry for April, Gengzi" dated the 21st year of the Enryaku era (802) .

This was an article reporting that Aterui, who had continued to fight, had finally surrendered to the Imperial army, along with , Iwagu no Kimimore

The man leading the Imperial army at the time Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, a man , and it is said that he proposed sparing the lives of Aterui and More, who had accompanied him to Heian-kyo, and delegating governance over the Tohoku region.

In the end, Tamuramaro's wish was not granted, and Aterui and More were executed by decision of the Imperial Court, but it is a noteworthy fact that they had been fighting against the Imperial forces for at least the 13 years recorded in historical records, and probably even longer

Aterui was recognized as one of the greatest warriors of his time not only for his bravery but also for his political ability and spirituality

About the name Aterui

appears in the Shoku Nihongi in the June Koju entry for the 8th year of the Enryaku era (789) "Aterui."

Additionally, in the Ruijukokushi, a compilation of the Six National Histories, and the Nihonkiryaku, a history book compiled during the Heian period, the name "Omokko Ateri-nari" is written in the article for the 21st year of the Enryaku era (802).

Since there are two ways to write it, "Aterui" and "Aterii," it may actually have been pronounced somewhere between "Aterui" and "Aterii."

"Oboko" found in the Ruiju Kokushi and Nihon Kiryaku is also worth mentioning.

A surname is a title given to powerful clans by the Yamato royal authority in ancient times

In the 13th year of Emperor Tenmu (684), the "eight ranks of surnames" were established: Mahito, Asomi, Sukune, Imiki, Michinoshi, Omi, Muraji, and Inagi

Previous surnames included Omi (minister), Kimi (lord), Muraji (vassal), Atahi (director), Miyatsuko (manager), and Obito (head), and Aterui's "Ootoko" is a name that was originally given to powerful local clans by adding the name of their base to their title, but was later given to the Emishi chieftain and later changed to "ko."

However, some point out that since Aterui had been fighting the Imperial army for a long period of time, it is natural to think that the surname "Otomo no Kami" was given to him after he surrendered

It is still unclear how to read "Ootoko," and various hypotheses have been put forward, including "tamo" and "Otsuka/Ohaka."

One theory is that "Tamo" is a Japanese reading of the place name in the area where Aterui repelled the Imperial army, and that "Otsuka/Ohaka" comes from the keyhole-shaped tomb, Tsunozuka Kofun, located in Isawa, Aterui's base

Who was "More" who died along with Aterui?

Monument to Aterui and Mother at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto
Monument to Aterui and Mother at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto

, the article in the Nihon Shoki about Aterui's surrender to the imperial army led by Tamuramaro also mentions a person named "Bangu no Kimimori."

Nicknamed "More," his detailed history is unknown as he only appears in the articles from his surrender to his execution, but given that he shared the surname "Kimi" (Prince) like Aterui and that his name itself is recorded, it is believed that he was one of the powerful Emishi chieftains

There are various theories about the location of More's base, based on the principle that this surname should be named after the area in which the chief was active, but it is not clear which chief he was

Some studies have compared the name with the current place name of Oshu City in Iwate Prefecture, taking into account the possibility of misreading of the pronunciation or kanji characters, but there is no doubt that he was an important figure who worked with Nise and Aterui to lead the Emishi army and was even accompanied to Heian-kyo

He is often described as a "vice general," but this is not clear, and it cannot be denied that the scarcity of records has made him somewhat less memorable

However, it is thought that the Emishi were able to resist the Imperial forces for such a long period of time due to clever military strategies, including cooperation between tribes

When considering the chain of command for such a group, many personnel are needed, including not only the commander but also the staff members who will assist him as a team, and captains who will lead the operational units

The fact that not only Aterui's name but also More's is recorded in historical records suggests this background, and he was likely an excellent leader with the ability and virtue to be missed even by Tamuramaro, who was once his enemy

[Series] What is the ancient Emishi hero Aterui and the 38-year war in Tohoku?

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War: Part 1 | The Hero of Isawa who Defeated the Imperial Army of Yamato
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/50276
First, while we may refer to the term "Japan" in general, it is well known that its scope has gradually shifted over time. For example, Hokkaido was confirmed as Japanese territory in 1869 (Meiji 2), and Okinawa, which had been under American rule after the Pacific War, was returned to Japan in 1972 (Showa 47). Even in ancient times, there was no clear national division called "Japan," and there were people living in areas of the archipelago beyond the reach of Yamato rule. This included people called "Emishi" who lived in the eastern and northeastern regions. As far back as the Nihon Shoki, the preface to the enthronement of Emperor Jimmu, mentions "Aisha...".
Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War [Part 2] | Major Battles in Ancient Tohoku and Their History
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/50280
Why did the ancient Tohoku region become a battlefield? As we've seen, Aterui and the other Emishi were engaged in a long battle with the Yamato army, but why did the Tohoku region have to become a battlefield in the first place? First, as Yamato expanded its power as a nation, it sought to bring the various peoples living in the archipelago under its control. This likely included territorial expansion, land for production bases, and the acquisition of economic infrastructure such as unique products and resources. Aterui's name first appears around the end of the Nara period, but perhaps even earlier, in the 8th...
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Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War [Part 2] | Did Aterui End His Life in Present-Day Osaka Prefecture?
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/50285
The Conquest of the Emishi from 789 to 811 and its End Following the Ikomaro Rebellion, the Imperial Court further increased military pressure on the Emishi, frequently resorting to large-scale military action. One such campaign, known as the "Conquest of the Emishi in 789" around the current Taga Castle ruins (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture), is recorded as one such example. Records indicate that the Imperial Court ordered the consolidation of over 52,800 troops at Taga Castle the previous year, along with the preparation of provisions and other supplies, among other massive military preparations. Aterui's name first appears in historical records at the Battle of Sufuku during the Conquest of the Emishi in 789, where he personally took command of the battle...
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