A Note on “Ōgi-no-mato”: How to Interpret the Scene Where the “Man of Around Fifty” Is Shot to Death

Imai Shōnosuke

doi:10.20620/nihonbungaku.63.5_54

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Other Title

「扇の的」考
「扇の的」考 : 「とし五十ばかりなる男」の射殺をめぐって
「オウギノマト」コウ : 「トシゴジュウバカリナルオトコ」ノシャサツオメグッテ
――「とし五十ばかりなる男」の射殺をめぐって――

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Description

<p>“Ōgi-no-mato” is a well-known episode of Heike-monogatari in which Nasu-no-Yoichi excellently shoots off a fan on the mast of the enemy’s ship. It is still reprinted in most textbooks, but now instead of his heroic deed which fascinates even enemies, more emphasis has come to be placed on the cruelty of war by adding the scene where Yoichi shoots to death an old warrior who is dancing aboard in praise of his skill. Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune allegedly told Yoichi to kill the “man of around fifty” because, however friendly he looked, he was their enemy after all. But it is more likely that the old man was killed because both Toshitsune and Yoich saw through his evil design to interfere with the shooting to balk Yoichi in his heroic attempt.</p>

Journal

Japanese Literature

Japanese Literature 63 (5), 54-64, 2014-05-10

Japanese Literature Association