Funa Benkei, or Benkei Aboard Ship, was written by Kanze Nobumitsu, and was based upon Gikeiki (‘Record of Yoshitsune’), which tells the story of a young Yoshitsune who, through his training, won the loyalty of the fearsome warrior-monk, Musashibou Benkei—the titicular character of this play. Funa Benkei is considerably modern compared to the other plays included in Japanese Noh Dramas, and is a fifth-category play (kiri-noh), which is current in all five schools of noh (Tyler, pg.83). The structure
one would normally deduce from the title. In turn the role of the shite, not being played by Benkei himself, is divided between Shizuka Gozen and the ghost of Taira no Tomomori. Another oddity of Funa Benkei is that the role of the kokata, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, is portrayed by a child actor, which is a source of interest because a boy is unlikely to be a great general and also unlikely to be Shizuka’s lover. This, however, allows for Benkei’s role to become uncontested, thus allowing him to become
The Way of The Warrior in The Tale of The Heike Heike Monogatari, with its multitude of battles and skirmishes, provides a wonderful chance to analyze the way of the warrior in ancient Japan. There aren't a great number of surviving works from this period that show in such great detail both the brute and the compassion of the Japanese warriors. They followed carefully a distinct set of principles which made up the well-rounded warrior. Loyalty to one's master, bravery and glory in any situation
history behind the art, and how the fighting influenced each of the artists I will describe. During 1185 the Minamoto Army was lead by Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-1189). It was under Minamoto leadership that the army defeated the Taira at Dannoura, a small village near the port of Shimonoseki, and ended the five-year-long Genpei Civil War.4 Now Minamoto Yoshitsune had a older brother named Minamoto Yoritoma(1147-1199) who sat out most of the war in Kamakura. In 1180 Yomitomo had established his power base
northern islands of Hokkaido. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was the best-known shogun. He brought influence and conquest for the Emishi during the royal office of Emperor Kanmu. Politics in Japan got more complicated and violent by the early 11th century. Minamoto no Yoritomo gave himself the title of “The shoguns would rule Japan at Kamakura for nearly 150 years.” The shoguns ruled Japan while the emperors continued to hold their concern and spiritual power over the realm. The imperial family was reduced
and the Minamoto, these two clans would fight over who would have control of early Japan. This would later me known as the Gempei War. These two tribes would constantly fight over power until Minamoto Yoshitsune led his clan to victory after being sieged and had thought to have been destroyed by the Taira. Japanese warriors were