The Ancient Emishi Hero Aterui and the 38-Year Tohoku War [Part 2] | Did Aterui End His Life in Present-Day Osaka Prefecture?

The end of the Conquest of the Emishi from 789 to 811

After the Ikomaro Rebellion, the Imperial Court further increased military pressure on the Emishi, and frequently resorted to large-scale military force

"Conquest of the Barbarians in the 8th year of the Enryaku era (789)," and it is recorded that the previous year the Imperial Court had ordered the gathering of over 52,800 soldiers at Taga Castle and the preparation of food and other supplies, among other massive military preparations.

Aterui's name first appears in historical records at the Battle of Sufukue during the Seii-sei (Subjugation of the Barbarians) in the eighth year of the Enryaku era, and although it is not certain whether he directly commanded the battle, it is highly likely that he was involved

In this battle, the General of the Eastern Expedition, Kinokosami, led a total of about 4,000 soldiers, but they were repelled by the Emishi army, which consisted of only about 1,500 men, using tactics of diversion, ambush, and pincer attack

Despite the complete and utter defeat, the vice-commanders who had planned the Imperial army's strategy did not take command themselves, and although many Emishi villages were burned down, Kosami unilaterally decided to halt military operations and disband the army. This angered Emperor Kanmu, who was severely reprimanded

As such, the morale of the Imperial Army was not necessarily high, and we can see that they wanted to avoid fighting the powerful Emishi army

Next, in the expedition to conquer the barbarians in 794, the famous warrior Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was appointed as deputy general of the imperial army, and it is believed that he played a central role in subsequent actions.

Two years later, in the 15th year of the Enryaku era, Tamuramaro was appointed Governor of Mutsu and Inspector General of Mutsu and Dewa, concurrently serving as Chinju Shogun. In the 20th year of the Enryaku era (801), he was awarded the ceremonial sword by Emperor Kanmu as Seii Taishogun, and thus rose to a position that could be described as the supreme commander in charge of managing the Tohoku region in both name and reality

, the following year Tamuramaro was again dispatched to Isawa County, Mutsu Province (present-day Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture) Isawa Castle , and Aterui and More surrendered there.

The construction of castle walls continued after that, but the people were exhausted from the long fighting and other hardships, so in the 24th year of the Enryaku era (805), Emperor Kanmu had Fujiwara no Otsugu and Sugano no Mamichi hold a debate on political policy called the "Tokusei Soron."

Otsugu recommended the construction of a capital and the cessation of military action against the Emishi, and Emperor Kanmu adopted this proposal, amending his own opinion, and the Imperial Court underwent a major policy shift

Military operations continued for a while, but in 812, it was decided to gradually reduce military forces in the Mutsu area, marking the tentative end of the 38-year war in the Tohoku region

Emishi Chief Aterui and General Sakanoue no Tamuramaro

What kind of people were Sakanoue no Tamuramaro whom More surrendered

Although Tamuramaro seems to be a legend that has taken on a life of its own in later generations, the Sakanoue clan from which he descended is believed to be the same clan as the Yamato no Ayauji, a clan of immigrants who claimed to be descendants of Emperor Ling of the Later Han Dynasty

The family was renowned for its martial arts, including archery and horsemanship, and "Hase-yumi," a . His father, Karita Maro, served as the general of the Mutsu Chinju (guardian of the Mutsu region) for a short period of only six months, and it has been suggested that Tamura Maro may have lived in Taga Castle as a boy.

If this is the case, it is likely that the personnel decisions for managing the Tohoku region in later years took into account not only Tamuramaro's bravery, but also his knowledge of Emishi culture and language

Were the Emishi army masters of guerrilla warfare?

As we have seen, the Emishi army plagued the Imperial army, and a long-term battle ensued, with large numbers of troops deployed

So why was the Emishi army so strong?

One obvious reason is that they had a geographical advantage. Local forces who were familiar with the terrain found it easier to devise strategies, and even with a small number of troops, it was easier to employ tactics such as diversions and pincer attacks

This was a guerrilla-like fighting style, and there are countless examples throughout history of people struggling with this tactic

The martial arts and weapons that made the Emishi so formidable

Another reason is that the Emishi were skilled in horse archery

Just like the "chisha" (fast shooting) that Tamuramaro's clan was familiar with, it is easy to imagine that shooting from horseback, which requires high speed maneuvering, was a threat

To achieve these skills, it is first necessary to have the necessary number of horses and the necessary system for raising them, and to be able to train as a group to acquire the skills

The Emishi army, based in the Tohoku region, known for producing fine horses, likely had a base of such equipment through their daily hunting activities. Evidence of the Imperial army increasing its cavalry forces in addition to its infantry is also one piece of evidence that points to this history of combat

Additionally, the Emishi used a unique sword called the "warabito,"

It is known that swords developed in the Tohoku region, which was blessed with iron raw materials, and that as horse-mounted combat intensified, they gradually evolved into curved swords

A Warabite sword has been preserved in its entirety in the Shosoin Repository in Nara, and the existence of this unique sword was likely known to the Imperial Court at the time

As an aside, it is believed that the Warabite sword had a great influence on the swords used by the Imperial Army, and that it eventually led to the birth of the Japanese sword

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

The missing link in the birth of the Japanese sword? What is the "Warabito" wielded by the Emishi? [Part 1]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/44354

First, the "Emishi," a people primarily from the ancient Tohoku region, lived under a different order from the Yamato royal authority. They excelled in horseback archery and were brave, and were revered, said to have the strength of a hundred soldiers. This can be inferred from the fact that they were used in Yamato names such as "Soga no Emishi" and "Saeki no Imae-hito." However, in order to expand its territory, Yamato had been conducting military operations since ancient times to bring the Emishi under its influence. Large-scale conflicts, particularly from the late Nara period to the early Heian period...

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Executions in Kawachi Province and the Mystery of the "Belief Tomb"

Finally, we will introduce the records surrounding Aterui and More's final moments and an episode related to the legend that has been revived in modern times

The Nihon Shoki, in its entry for August 21st year of the Enryaku era, succinctly describes their demise, saying that the two men were executed at Mt.□ in Kawachi Province

This is preceded by a plea for mercy from Tamuramaro, which suggests that he strongly expressed his opinion that he was a necessary person to govern the Emishi lands

However, the Imperial Court feared that he would rebel again like in the previous Ikomaro Rebellion, and decided to execute him by beheading

It is no exaggeration to say that this was a traumatic experience for the Imperial Court, and it can be said that there was a reasonable basis for the harsh treatment

Kawachi Province, where Aterui and More were executed, refers to the area around eastern Osaka Prefecture today, but the exact location is unknown. The fact that it is referred to as "Yamayama" indicates that it is written in various ways depending on the book, making it unclear which is the correct place name

there is an ancient tomb called "Kubizuka" in Makino Park in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture , and a monument has been erected there with the inscription "Traditionally Aterui's Mother's Tomb."

Interestingly, the legend that this is Aterui's grave is not ancient, but is said to have begun around 1979 when a local resident made an inquiry to the Hirakata City History Compilation Office

Apparently, the person had a dream in which he saw an old man with white hair and a white beard leaning out of the ground and pleading for something, so he asked if there had been any incident in the area

Although the editorial office did not take the story seriously, they did provide information that there was a record of the Emishi chief Aterui being beheaded in Kawachi

The media heard about the incident and reported it extensively, and it is said that a rumor was formed that this was the place where Aterui met his end

Regardless of its historical accuracy, this can be seen as a movement that was sparked by many people across the ages sympathizing with an ancient tragedy

Similarly, at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, which is said to have been founded by Tamuramaro, a stone monument bearing the inscription "The monument to Aterui, the hero of the northern sky, and Mother" was erected to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the capital's relocation to Heian

In any case, this is an example of how feelings of sorrow for ancient heroes have been revived in modern times

[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...".

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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...

Koroku Obito ( historical writer and novelist )

・Original text for Seibido Publishing's "Enjoy looking at the Heian period picture encyclopedia."
・"The Land of Star Reading" won an honorable mention in the 3rd Shosoin Misato Literary Award of the West.
・"Io-san's Bride Meal" won
an honorable mention in Everystar's "Delicious Time." ・"Swordsman's Message" won the "9th History and Period Novel Grand Prize" and the "Entertainment Swordsman Award" (plans to publish it as a book are currently underway).
・5th Dan in Iaido and 4th Dan in Jodo.

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