The Tale of the Heike, Volume 11, “Touya” – Modern translation summary|The final sea, Dannoura.

2024.08.14

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This is the website of MORINORI, which holds small Heikyoku (a recitation of the Tale of the Heike accompanied by Heike biwa) performances and lectures. On this page, we introduce a modern translation of the summary of the Tale of the Heike, Volume 11, “Touya”. It’s not very good, but please take a look if you like. We also introduce a small Heikyoku performance, “The Final Sea, Dannoura,” in the second half.

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A simple summary of Tale of the Heike, Volume 11, ‘Touya
Wadanokotarou Yoshimori, a member of the Genji clan, did not board a ship, but instead fought on horseback on the beach, shooting accurate arrows at distant enemies. In response, Niinokishirou Chikakiyo, a member of the Heike clan, shot back an arrow that hit a Genji soldier in the arm. Yoshimori was furious at this and, getting into a small boat, charged into the Heike camp and shot many of the enemy dead. After that, a large arrow was shot towards the ship of the Judge from the sea. The Judge received it and ordered the skilled Asari no Yoichi to shoot it back. Yoshiichi shot the arrow beautifully and shot down Niinokishirou Chikakiyo from the ship. While the battle continued, the Genji were struggling with the fact that the Heike had the Juzen-teiou and the three sacred treasures, but a white flag drifted down from the sky and landed on the Genji ship, showing signs that the tide of war was about to change.

The Tale of the Heike, Volume 11, “Touya” – Full modern translation
*This is a modern translation of the text taken from the Heikyoku score “Touya”.

On the side of the Genji, Wadanokotarou Yoshimori did not board a ship, but waited on the shore, and, with the nose of his stirrup turned up, he advanced to the point where his horse’s belly was immersed in the water, and fought strongly, never missing an enemy within three cho. Of the arrows he shot, he especially aimed those that flew far away, and raised his fan to signal that he would catch them. When the new middle councillor, Lord Tomori, picked up the arrow and looked at it, he saw that it was made from a combination of crane and white heron feathers, and was thirteen fukus long. On the tip of the arrow, about one fuku from the base, was written in lacquer, “Wadanokotarou Yoshimori, a resident of Sagami Province”.

The Heike side also had many skilled archers, but none of them could shoot arrows that far, and finally Niinokishirou Chikakiyo, a resident of Iyo Province, shot one back. The arrow flew over three cho (approx. 109 meters) and pierced the left arm of Miura no Ishiakon no Taro, who was standing behind Wada. The Miura men gathered round and laughed, saying, “How annoying! Wadanokotarou Yoshimori thought he had no bow as strong as his own, but he was humiliated.” The Minamoto warriors could not hold back their laughter. Yoshimori could not remain silent, and this time he got into a small boat and paddled out, shooting arrows furiously as he charged into the Heike camp and killing many of them.

After a short while, another arrow made of white bamboo was shot from the bow of the ship in which the Yoshitsune was riding, and he was invited to receive it. Hougan(Yoshitsune) called GotobyoueSanemoto and had him pull out the arrow, which was made from a white stick and a mountain bird’s tail, and was 14 sun 3 fuku long. On one of the bundles, about a foot from the tip, was written in lacquer “Niinokishirou Chikakiyo, a resident of Iyo Province”. When the Hougan(Yoshitsune) asked who could shoot this arrow back to their side, someone said, “Among the elite warriors, there is Asari no Yoichi-dono of the Kai Genji clan, who is particularly skilled.” The Hougan(Yoshitsune) ordered, “Then, call Yoichi,” and Asari no Yoichi was called.

Hougan(Yoshitsune) said, “This arrow was shot from the shore, but why don’t you try to catch it and shoot it back like Wada did?” Yoichi said, “I’ll try to catch it and shoot it back,” and took the arrow, twisted it with his fingernails, and said, “The shaft is weak, and the arrow is a little short. Let’s use Yoshitsune’s armor in the same way.” He then took the arrow with the black-lacquered handle and pressed it against his large hand, and, drawing back the bow, which was about nine feet long and made of lacquered bamboo, he let fly the arrow, which was fifteen fathoms and three fathoms long. The arrow flew over four cho and pierced the middle of Niinokishirou Chikakiyo, who was standing at the bow of the large ship, sending him plummeting headfirst into the ship’s bottom. Asari Yoichi was originally an elite archer, and he had the skill to shoot a deer running within two cho without missing.

After that, the soldiers of the Genji and Heike clans fought without sparing their lives. However, the Heike clan had the Emperor Jitsune and the three sacred treasures, so the Genji were wondering what to do. Then, for a while, it looked as if a white cloud was floating in the sky, but it wasn’t a cloud, but a white flag without a master that had come down in a single stream, and it looked as if it had caught the rope with the pole at the bow of the Genji ship.