Japan!
Ahhh--we’re back.
The truth is, we can’t help ourselves when it comes to peering back through the lens
of history--searching for tragic tales of intrigue, adventure--and unbridled historical
horror--because let’s face it.
There is a reason why the ancient island nation of Japan has cultivated such a rich history
and lore which is revered the world over--and that’s because, pound for pound--Japanese
History is jammed to the rafters with more ghosts, spirits and unbound ancient warriors
than you can shake a bamboo stick at.
And luckily for us--that can mean only one thing.
So, let’s dive into it.
Hello horror fans, what’s going on--and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube--Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch--as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Stories From Ancient Japanese History.
Before we do that though--we’d just like to give a huge shout out to our sponsors--Coinmaster!
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On with the show.
Kicking off at Number 5--The Divine Wind
And this one in particular is such a tale of historical significance--that we just have
to talk about it, purely from an etymological perspective.
Because, you know that we all love words, right?
Well, for those of you that know--the term Kamikaze--actually translates to Divine Wind
in Japanese.
Which, is pretty metal anyway--but the actual reason behind that is something else entirely.
Now, over in the rich and intricate history of Asia--the Mongol Empire are a pretty big
deal--although they are inexplicably tied moreso to the ancient kingdom of China, than
Ancient Japan.
However, that is not to say that the Japanese didn’t have their own Mongol Horde to face
down--it’s just--well, something incredibly interesting happened.
And not only once.
But twice.
Let me explain.
In 1274--Kublai Khan of the Mongol Empire sent a massive navy to conquer Japan--with
an estimated 30 thousand to 40 thousand men, made up of Chinese and Korean warriors, as
well as the highly feared Mongol Troops.
The navy set off in the Autumn of that year--harrying the northern coastal islands of Kyushu.
However, once the main fleet arrived and began to anchor in Hataka Bay--as the legend goes,
a force of nature struck.
A Divine Wind.
A huge typhoon emerged from the depths of the ocean--sinking a third of the Mongol Fleet--and
sending the rest of them home.
It was certainly a force of nature--and it saved the Japanese from ruin.
But the same thing happened again--to everyone's divine amazement.
Not happy with his failure, Kublai Khan sent a second fleet several years later--in 1281--comprised
of over 4 and a half thousand vessels and some 140 thousand men.
Again, sailing in August--the fleet made the once familiar voyage toward Japan--and again,
this time--the Divine Wind struck once more.
I mean, obviously--there is a pinch of salt needed to this, as it’s the formation of
a Japanese legend--but the symbology alone is startling.
Again--the fleet was devastated by a far more powerful typhoon than the last, and over half
of the invading force was cast into the bay--perishing in the violent waters of the Pacific.
The Divine Wind--which once again, as the legend tells it--saved Japan from the Mongol
Empire.
However, there is a caveat to this story.
During their time preparing for the second Mongol Invasion--a 20 kilometer wall was ordered
to be constructed as a means of defence.
Despite holding off the Mongol Empire down to the Divine Act of the Wind--the construction
of this wall absolutely crippled the kingdom economically--ultimately leading to the Shogunate’s
downfall.
Hmm.
Maybe there’s a lesson there.
Coming in at Number 4--Yasuke
And--I’m gonna be honest guys, this one is so awesome--and why there hasn’t already
been a movie made about it yet is anyone's guess.
But--hold that thought, because actually--as of this year, rumours have stirred that Chadwick
Boseman--AKA the Black Panther himself--will be playing the first African Samurai in history.
Really, the epic tale of Yasuke, whilst being a startling reminder of the time--is also
one of the most incredible moments in history--and it is a story that needs to be told.
You see, in 1579--a Jesuit Missionary by the name of Alessandro Valignano brought an African
Slave of unknown origin with him on his travels to Japan.
Now, historical records aren’t exactly clear as to where he was born--but it has been proposed
that he may have been from Mozambique, Angola, Ethiopia--or perhaps even Portugal.
His real name, too--is known--but as far as Japanese records are concerned--they called
him Yasuke, believed to be a phonetic approximation of his real name, which was possibly Yasufe
or Isaque.
Whilst on their travels through the kingdom, Yasuke was eventually called to an audience
with Oda Nobunaga--the most powerful Japanese Warlord of the time--who was captivated by
Yasuke’s strength and size--and was so awestruck by this figure from a foreign land--that he
made him his personal retainer and bodyguard.
And, well--from then on, Yasuke pretty much pursue the path of the warrior in Japanese
Society, and he was pretty damn good at it--eventually learning the language and often speaking fluently
with the Warlord as a trusted counsel.
In 1581--Yasuke was elevated to the rank of samurai and stationed at Nobunaga’s stronghold
and crowning glory--Azuchi Castle--where he served by his side as his personal sword bearer.
Eventually, when Nobnuaga was later betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide and his army--a huge battle
erupted at Honno-ji in Kyoto--where Yasuke stood side by side with the Samurai Warriors--willing
to fight to the death.
Sadly, they were defeated--and after, Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku--ceremonial suicide.
Yasuke escaped however--and briefly served under Nobunaga’s son--until, he too was
attacked by Mitsuhide and commited suicide.
Eventually, Yasuke surrendered his sword to the pursuing warlord--and unaccustomed to
a samurai surrendering rather than ceremonial seppuku--he ordered Yasuke to return to the
Jesuit mission in Kyoto.
After that--Yasuke’s fate is unclear--he seemingly faded back into the sands of time--where
only his legend remained.
Next up at Number 3--Oiwa and Iemon
And of course--it can’t be a list without Ancient Japanese History unless there’s
a good old fashioned ghost story involved--and this one, is perhaps the most legendary of
them all.
A tale of betrayal, murder--and ghostly revenge--adapted over 30 times in Japanese History and Cinema--and
one of the underlying tales that forms the very unique aspect of Japanese Horror to this
day.
Yotsuya Kaidan--but more specifically, the story of Oiwa and Tamiya Iemon.
As the legend goes--Oiwa was a charming young woman who lived in a small town in Japan,
alongside her lover--Iemon--and although the pair were poor and had little money--they
loved each other very much.
Eventually, they married--they had a child--and they were content in their standing in life.
However--as time went on, the young Iemon became angry and depressed--surrounded by
his reminder of his failure and his lack of prospects.
Soon--he grew to hate Oiwa--and instead began an affair with a rich young woman by the name
of Oume.
As time passed--at the prospect of marrying into Oume’s family for their wealth and
riches--Iemon plotted to secretly poison his wife.
One night, over dinner, after he poisoned his wife's food--Oiwa pleaded with him to
tell her what was wrong.
The pair argued until the late evening--and then, dejected and confused, Oiwa eventually
consumed the poison.
Iemon watched as it slowly did it’s job.
However, it didn’t work as intended--and instead, instead of killing her--it grossly
disfigured Oiwa, contorting her into a shadow of her former self.
Iemon was too much of a coward to finish the job--and Oiwa lived.
One evening, after taking his wife for a walk--he pushed her off a cliff when he realised that
no one was around to notice.
In public, he played the part of the victim--spending all of his money on a marital and pious funeral,
knowing that his money troubles would soon be a thing of the past.
Well, on his wedding day to the wealthy Oume--when Iemon lifted the veil of his new bride--instead,
he saw his ex-wife’s contorted and twisted face--poisoned by his own hand.
It screamed betrayal at him--and in a panic, Iemon drew his sword and swung at the ghostly
apparition.
And then a severed head collapsed and roll across the floor of the wedding ceremony--but
it wasn’t his ghostly ex-wife's head--but instead--the head of his new bride.
Coming in at Number 2--The Standing Death of Benkei
Which--come on, you know what I’m gonna say, right?
That’s a pretty awesome title for a death metal album.
Just saying guys--another one to add to the pile.
But really--the unbelievable tale of the Standing Death of Benkei is just as awesome as it sounds.
Between 1180 and 1185, a series of bloodthirsty and complex battles were fought in Japan--a
period of history known as the Genpei War.
Now, during this time--many lives were lost--but a legendary hero of Japanese Folklore emerged--Minamoto
no Yoshitsune--the renowned warrior that defeated the Heike Clans.
But, this story isn’t so much concerned with Yoshitsune--but instead, his most loyal
follower.
Mushashibo Benkei--a man of mysterious birth--who lived his life first as a monk, then a mountain
hermit--and eventually the most badass warrior to have ever lived.
He was one of the few men who would eventually earn the respect of Yoshitsune--and he did
that, by being an all around unrelenting badass.
But it’s not exactly in his life where Benkei achieved immortality--but instead--in his
death.
Eventually, after the Genpei War had been settled for many years--history, of course--decided
to repeat itself, and the same echoes of betrayal stirred throughout the warring clans of Japan.
After falling out of favour with his half-brother, Yoshitsune retreated--and sought refuge with
the powerful Northern Fujiwara Clan for several years.
By 1187, though--the patron of the Fujiwara Clan had passed away--and Yoshitsune’s half-brother
forced the clan into succumbing to his will.
Eventually, his residence was surrounded by an impossibly large army--and yet one man
stood in their way.
Benkei.
The final, loyal warrior and follower of Yoshitsune--who guarded the one bridge that lay between his
leader and the bloodthirsty army.
It is said that during the battle, Benkei defeated more than 300 warriors single handedly,
allowing time for his leader to commit Seppuku in his residence.
Witnessing the unbridled bloodbath, the opposing force were terrified to approach--and instead
began firing from a distance with a volley of arrows.
One by why--arrow after arrow punctured Benkei--but still, he didn’t fall.
As the legend goes--after the terrified army finally worked up the courage to come near
him--they had found that Benkei had died from his many arrow wounds--yet, he had died standing
on his feet.
And finally, coming in at our Number 1 spot--The 47 Ronin
And--if you thought that the story of Benkei couldn’t be topped.
Of course it can--because, come on--this is Japan.
Now, I don’t say this lightly--but The Legend of the 47 Ronin is perhaps one of the most
important stories in Japanese Culture--and certainly *the* most defininitive of what
it means to be a samurai.
It exemplifies many traits that have been carved out over thousands of years of Japanese
History--and of course, as is the case with many important cultural tales--it has been
adapted hundreds of times in both literature and cinema to varying degrees of success.
And yes--I’m looking at you Keanu.
In the year 1701--the Daimyo of the Ako Domain, which was a sort of warlord--was a warrior
named Asano Naganori.
A legendary samurai, who inspired his host of loyal samurai’s for many years--leading
a group of over 300 men, all of them formidable warriors in ancient Japan.
Now, during one trip to Edo--which is now Tokyo--Asano butted heads with a particularly
corrupt and generally unlikeable protocol master--a man named Kira Yoshinaka, who was
accustomed to making people bend over backwards for him--despite the cultural importance of
hospitality in Japan.
You see--this kind of stuff didn’t fly with Asano.
And after putting up with insult after insult--he finally drew his sword on Kira--wounding him
in the process.
Of course--in the capital--this was very much a crime.
One that was punishable by death.
As a man of honor--Asano accepted his punishment--and was ordered to commit seppuku as fit with
his standing as a samurai.
His clan of 300 men was disbanded--and Asano Naganori’s estate was stripped of all holdings.
But--although the majority of his men would go off to wander the countryside, masterless--a
group of them couldn’t accept this beseechment of honor.
47 of them, to be precise.
The 47 Ronin--masterless Samurai, who would go on to plot their revenge for over two years--relentlessly
training day after day--seeking only one thing.
Justice for their wronged master--and the death of Kira Yoshinaka.
Well.
On the 14th December 1702--that is exactly what happened--and the 47 Ronin marched into
Edo--to Yoshinaka’s mansion--who had assembled the city guard to defend him.
The 47 Ronin fought like warrior poets--defeating Kira’s force in the name of their fallen
master--sustaining just two injuries in the process.
One of them was a sprained ankle.
Eventually, they found Kira--where they then cut off his head--and carried it through the
city of Edo--to the grave of their master, Asano Naganori.
Here--the 47 Ronin placed his head on Asano’s grave--serving their final purpose--where
they then turned themselves in to the city.
And, moved by the impossible feat of loyalty displayed by the ronin--the city allowed them
to commit seppuku--restoring the honor of Asano Naganori--and immortalising themselves
forever in the legend of the 47 Ronin.
And there we have it.
Our list for the Top 5 Scariest Stories From Ancient Japanese History.
What do you guys think?
Do you agree?
Disagree?
Have any more to add to this list?
Then let us know your thoughts down in the comment section below, as well as any choice
picks that you may have of your own.
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Unfortunately, on that note--that’s all we’ve got time for in today's video--cheers
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