Japanese Reading This Summer - 7

It has been after a while in reading lengthy of story, I would be able to keep writing about this book "Ten - Chi - Jin".  In addition to the author's rhythmical writing, there are something the life of Kanetsugu Naoe was telling us.  Also, there was a mystery which no one including the author can figure out.  How and why Uesugi survived the lost war against Tokugawa who became Shogun later.

I feel I owe you an explanation a little bit.  Uesugi including Naoe was the subject clan of Toyotomi.  Tokugawa fought against Toyotomi and won the war.  Later Tokugawa became Shogun and destroyed all Toyotomi related people.  Many clans were perished.  But, Uesugi was not.  Why?

It was true that Uesugi did not take part in major war between Toyotomi and Tokugawa when they fought.  So, the Uesugi army which was said to be one of strongest in Japan that time was kept with no damage.  If Tokugawa tried to punish Uesugi like he did to other clans, Uesugi tried to fight to the end.  Tokugawa might not have won so easily.

Naoe being good strategist, had established pipeline with Tokugawa generals, key people, earlier, and never cut off the pipeline established.  So, even after Toyotomi lost their war, Uesugi, through Naoe and his Tokugawa pipeline could still talk.

Truth might be combination of all above or more.  I think Naoe was a person who could envision the best and worst  scenario and prepare for accepting 2nd best, 3rd best..., with cool understanding of the situation he is facing up to.  But, in addition, the strength of his were created by believing strongly in "Gi - Ultimate Righteousness" and "Ai - Love", which are the basics of Samurai spirit.

Even their enemy Tokugawa could not reject "Gi" and "Ai" and they became basic spirit of Samurai society.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-6.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-5.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-4-origin.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-1.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
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Japanese Reading This Summer - 6

Today I promised that I will list Kanetsugu Naoe's Military side of talent as top general of Uesugi Army which was called strongest in Japan in 16 - 17th century:

1.  In Uesugi clan's civil war, Naoe strategized and implemented to tie with enemy's 2 strongest allies and lead the civil war in favor of his master.  Everybody thought Naoe's strategy did not work.  It looks like he never thought his strategy was impossible.  His master went ahead on Naoe's strategy and won the war.

2.  When Nobunaga Oda, who almost unfied Japan, attacked Uesugi by 2 route, one from west, the other from south, Naoe successfully defended Uesugi territory by moving their force quickly from west to south, concentrating on fight against enemy from south.  The enemy needed to withdraw because Oda died in the middle of this war.  It was said that Naoe already knew when Oda was killed by betrayal by his information source (Ninja).

3. "Sekigahara war" which decided Tokugawa to be next Shogun, Naoe and Uesugi were fighting against Tokugawa ally in North Japan.  Uesugi needed to withdraw not because they are defeated, but because Uesugi ally was defeated in separate war.  Naoe guarded rear of their army and limited damage of their force minimum.

In all the wars he fought, the important thing was that he has the reason to fight.  In war, he wanted his own soldiers not to die even surrendered.  Many of his soldiers fought and died, but it was not because Uesugi and Naoe ordered them to die in fighting, but because soldiers in front decided to fight to the end.  It looks like what was important for Naoe was not win or lose, but if he can uphold "Gi - Ultimate Righteousness" and "Ai - Love".

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-5.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-4-origin.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-1.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Japanese Reading This Summer - 5

There are lots of episode on Naoe Kanetsugu as this book, "Ten - Chi - Jin" mentions.  If I were asked to select 3, I will select the followings:

1.  Naoe was subject of Uesugi.  Toyotomi, who unified all Japan, master of Uesugi, wanted Naoe to be direct subject of Toyotomi.  Toyotomi told people that Naoe is one of the few who he can relay on to rule Japan that time.  When Toyotomi asked Naoe if Naoe is interested in working for Toyotomi, Naoe told Toyotomi that Uesugi is only master of his and this will never change for his life no matter what happens.

2.  When Uesugi was moved from central Japan to northern Japan, Naoe told all Uesugi subjects that it depends on their own decision if they move with Uesugi or leave.  He assured that subjects leaving will be introduced to some other new masters.  The record indicates that there was no single subject left Uesugi despite the fact that their territories and yeild became less than 1/3 of before.

3.  In order to feed entire country after their move to northern Japan, Naoe recommended Samurai to help farmers and assure their own yield and food.  He had done lots of civil constructions including building bank to stop flooding for better rice yield.  50 years after his time, rice yield of his country got doubled.

He never betrayed his master.  He always gave priority of his people, his master, and other subjects.  Your priority is your master, your clan, your mission.  Your own self is always second.  One of basics of Samurai spirits.  He had never forgot "Gi - Ultimate Righteousness" and "Ai - Love"

It happened to be all his political episodes today.  I will list his military side of talent in next article.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-4-origin.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-1.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Japanese Reading This Summer - 4 (Origin of Samurai)

The more I thought about Kanetsugu Naoe and his lord, Kagekatsu Uesugi, I was ought to think the origin of Samurai. It is because what they protected was the spirit of Samurai in its origin. Good books always make readers to think something related.

Image - Kanetsugu Naoe (Public Domain)
This general looks like quiet scholar.

Before the age of Samurai and Shogun as the top leader of Samurai, there were the time for Emperor and Aristocrats in Japan. Although Emperors and Aristocrats were worriers and fighters before that, by 8th century, Emperor and Aristocrats became just for governing the nation and separated themselves from fighting.

Image below (Public Domain)
Armor of Kanetsugu Naoe.
Decoration of his helmet is
a character meaning "Love"




Later 8th century, however, Imperial government had a lot of problems fighting against northern tribe. They formed worrier group who could fight for them. They might have compared to gradiators in ancient Roman. These worriers formed were called "Saburau" -original word for "Samurai"- meaning "service, or wait on" to the Emperor or Imperial government. "Samurai" of this age were servants!

Long time, they were kept in the status of 2nd grade citizen. They were unable to even talk directly with the Emperor even on the strategies of fighting. As they become large in number, they needed a leader. It was early 9th century, first Shogun as the leader of "Saburau" was appointed. Since Japanese government that time, with the intention of keeping their status of being 2nd grade citizen, Samurai family was kept being Samurai for generations after generations.

For the nature of their mission to be professional soldiers, their children were educated and trained for being Samurai. They are taught that loyal to emperor, loyal to elders in their clan, fight until the very end, death rather than surrender, no betrayal, etc ... These basic spirits of "Samurai" deeply relate to Uesugi and Naoe spirit.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-1.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Japanese Reading This Summer - 3

There are some authors who do not allow readers to put down their book. The author of this "Ten - Chi - Jin", Masashi Hisaka is one of them. There is almost a rhythm of his sentences. When you dance in a disco with dance musics with beat of your kind, you cannot stop dancing. I would feel in the same way as reading his sentences. It was good thing that I could keep reading rhythmically, but bad news for me is the fact that I could not do anything else but reading his book.

Quite honestly, I did not have good impression on either Kanetsugu Naoe or Kagekatsu Uesugi, since I thought they missed the Shogun position after all, and survived by changing their loyalty to their masters who became Shogun later on. But, this book changed entire impression of Naoe and Uesugi. I almost believe myself that "Love" Naoe advocated is transmitted to my brain through this book.

Masashi Hisaka, the author described Naoe and the people around him in his age as alive as they could be, including their tears, sweat, blood, pain, and effort. Despite the fact that Naoe being very good general and fighter, at the same time excellent governpr loved by his people. Japanese some times say "Bunbu - Ryodo". It means prominent in fighting in war at the same time good at politics and achademic field. Naoe was one of few general who was good at the time of war or peace. But he was not a saint, the author was successful vividly describing his agony, pain, and fear of fighting and surviving the difficult time.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-1.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Japanese Reading This Summer - 2

I feel I need to explain a little bit more on the story of this book. The name of the book is "Ten-Chi-Jin", "God - Ground - People" in English. It is based on old Japanese or Asian (mostly Chinese - Japanese) philosophy that people who is successful needs to have all 3 elements of "God's Help, Advantage of Standing Ground, and People's Suport". I know this is from the hero's lord's father, great worrier lord "Kenshin Uesugi" philosophy of trusting "God Help and Standing Ground".

I uploaded cover picture of this book once again here since the cover picture shows Chinese - Japanese Character of "Ten - Chi - Jin".

The hero of this is a story is the #1 General of a Local Lord, who were very close to unify all Japan after chaos in 16th century. This general's name is "Kanetsugu Naoe". He is the one who advocated "Love" in fighting and governing his country. He was an inch close to get his master to be the governor of all Japan and survived his clan for all difficult years.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/10/japanese-reading-this-summer-1.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Japanese Reading This Summer - 1

In addition to struggling with my family matter and job offer matter, I went to book shops in Tokyo almost every day, this summer while we were in Japan. Being a Japanese living in the US for more than 10 years now, I some times miss readings in Japanese.

Do you like reading? Don't you have any book in mind for a long time, but have not read, yet? Isn't there any book half finished reading, but stopped. How about this fall to go back to reading of your kind.

In Japan, I planned to buy these books of "Kanetsugu Naoe" the general who had love for his fighting spirit. I introduced him in this blog, too, in several articles.

This general interested me in many ways. #1. He is from same home town where my parent is from. #2. Despite of the above, despite of the fact that I like my parent home town's history, I did not know much about him. #3. I learned that he was the key person who saved his clan to survive.

Starting to read, it was so good reading that I finished all 3 books in about 4 days. Some parts are going to be duplicated with my previous post about this general, I know. But I would like to introduce this reading once again. Because I thought this general is one of the Japanese who should be known to the world.

Related Posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-money-buy-real-alliance.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/general-who-prevailed-love-in-japans.html


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link