Tokyo's guardian deity Taira Masakado - an unparalleled "shadow" power spot - ③

Taira Masakado - The existence of a mirror image of rebels, heroes, vengeful spirits, and desires

Taira Masakado. The name is set in the eastern province of the mid-Heian period, and is deeply engraved in history as a samurai who rebelled against the imperial court. However, to simply dismiss him as a "rebel," the character is so complicated and multifaceted. Masakado has a true image based on historical facts, a hero's image that projects the desires of the people, and a face as a vengeful spirit that was passed down after his death. These elements have intertwined and have created various interpretations depending on the era and position. This article traces Taira Masakado's life in detail, examines historical facts and legends, and examines how people's desires form his personality and continues to influence him even today.

1. The rise of Taira Masakado and local powerful clans as historical facts and resistance to centralization

Taira Masakado was born in Musashi Province (now Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo, and part of Kanagawa Prefecture) as a son of Taira Masakado, who was following the Kanmu Taira clan. At that time, the Kanto region was weak in the central government, and local powerful clans were swaying each other and repeatedly fought for power. Masakado was one of them, excelling in martial arts and led the surrounding samurai orders to expand his power. His origins were not just local samurai, but also descended from the royal family, descended from Emperor Kanmu, and were the source of a potential power struggle.

What made Masakado's name in history was his conflict with the provincial governors of surrounding countries. The provincial governments were local officials sent by the central government, many of whom were unscrupulous bureaucrats who fostered their own personal lives. Masakado denounced the injustice of the state governors, and sometimes resisted with force. The background to this was the harsh exploitation of the central government and the strong dissatisfaction with the lack of understanding of the provinces.

In particular, the conflict with King Kosei, the governor of Musashi's state, was serious. King Xingsi was busy exploiting the people and satisfying his selfish desires. Masakado appealed to the imperial court to stop King Xing's bad rule, but the imperial court defended King Xing. This was an event that symbolized the imperial court's attitude of ignoring local voices and prioritizing central authority.

The appearance of a character named Fujiwara Genmei greatly changes Masakado's fate. Xuanmei was the man who tried to save the people who were suffering from the oppression of the provincial governors, and Masakado sympathized with Xuanmei's actions and protected him. The imperial court sends soldiers to capture Genmyo, but Masakado refuses, and in 939 he finally attacks Hitachi Kokufu and occupys the imperial court, rebelling.

After that, Masakado conquered the surrounding countries one after another, and declared that he would establish an independent state in the eastern state, calling himself the "new emperor." This was not just a local rebellion, but a clear challenge to the centralised regime. Masakado sought to establish his own political system, aiming to support the independence of the eastern nation. However, the imperial court immediately sent soldiers to defeat Masakado, and Masakado was defeated in 940 by the army of Fujiwara Hidesato and Taira Sadamori. His head was sent to Kyoto and was exposed.

2. An idol created by Taira Masakado as a hero and the support of the people and the chivalry.

Masakado was a rebel from the Imperial Court's point of view, but he was a hero to the people of the eastern countries. The sight of Masakado, who was freed from the oppression of the state governor and attempted to build a new nation by calling himself the "new emperor," gave hope to the oppressed people. His actions embodied the dissatisfaction with the central government and the desire of those seeking local independence.

The reason Masakado was supported by the people was his chivalry. He believed in helping the needy people and protecting the weak, and had a sense of justice that would not tolerate the injustice. Historical records also include records that Masakado punished the state governor who had exploited the people, and his actions directly improved the lives of the people.

In the Edo period, Masakado frequently appeared as a subject for kabuki and ukiyo-e, and gained popularity among the common people. There, Masakado was portrayed as a hero who thwarts his strength and helps his weak, and became an entity that embodies the desires of the people. Through kabuki and ukiyo-e, Masakado was portrayed as not merely a historical figure, but as an individual who sympathizes with the hearts of the people, making his heroic image even more clear. He was deeply engraved in the hearts of people as the Robin Hood of the East.

3. The legend of Taira Masakado as a vengeful spirit and the history of requiem

After Masakado's death, a legend spread that the vengeful spirit would be cursed. Masakado's head, which was exposed in Kyoto, moaned every night, and is said to have sought out his torso. The head then flew away to the Kanto region and fell to the current location of the neck mound. This legend symbolized Masakado's remorseful death and the anger of the people towards the imperial court.

The head mound was built to calm Masakado's vengeful spirits, and many people still visit to worship today. In particular, among businessmen, it is said that visiting a neck mound will improve your luck with work, and is gaining popularity as a power spot. This can be said to be an indication of the people's desire to be conscious of Masakado's "power to overcome adversity."

However, it is not clear whether Masakado was truly a vengeful spirit. Looking back at Masakado's life, although he was dissatisfied with the imperial court, it appears that he was more likely to be based on a sense of justice and chivalry rather than a personal grudge. His actions were resistance to the centralised regime and demanding local independence.

It is also possible that the legend of the vengeful spirit was intentionally spread by the imperial court after Masakado's death. Masakado was a rebel to the imperial court, and his existence was a threat. By spreading the legend of the vengeful spirit, they may have tried to weaken the popular support for Masakado and strengthen the imperial court's control. It is also thought that the social situation at the time influenced the spread of legends of vengeful spirits. During the Heian period, natural disasters and epidemics occurred frequently, and people were constantly worried. Under such circumstances, rumors spread that Masakado's vengeful spirit was causing disaster, and people may have been scared and erected a neck mound to repose him.

4. The existence of Taira Masakado as a mirror image of his desires in modern times

What kind of existence does Taira Masakado look like in modern times? For businessmen, he is the god of power spots to improve his work luck, and for history lovers, he is the protagonist of an ancient heroic tale. In the world of underground culture, it is also sometimes treated as a symbol of anti-establishment.

Masakado's story also gives us many suggestions to us today. The way they resist absurd power and pursue their own ideals is resonating with modern society as well. Furthermore, the heroes who stand up with the desires of the people on their shoulders teach us the essence of leadership. His actions suggest solutions to a variety of problems in modern society.

Taira Masakado is not just a historical figure, but a symbolic figure that continues to live in the present day. His story gives us courage, hope and the power to pursue our ideals. And his presence serves as a mirror reflecting our own desires.

Summary: The charm of Taira Masakado, which is seen from a multifaceted perspective

Taira Masakado's character has been shaped by a complex intertwining of historical facts, legends, and people's desires. A mirror image of rebels, heroes, vengeful spirits, and desires. These elements combined have made Taira Masakado an attractive person who continues to capture people's hearts across the ages.

Masakado's story teaches us the importance of taking history from a multifaceted perspective. It also tells us how people's desires create heroes, and how legends color history.

Taira Masakado's head mound still exists today as a place filled with people's prayers and awe. The heroes shaped by people's desires still live in this way. And by visiting the Neck Mound, we will be able to feel the weight of history and rethink our own aspirations. Taira Masakado's story will continue to be told and will produce various interpretations. And we will likely project our own values ​​and desires into each interpretation.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

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Born in Aomori Prefecture in 1965, he has been suffering from troubles, illnesses and injuries caused by spiritual phenomena since childhood. However, one day, when he was 20 years old, he attended an event, had a mysterious experience at the venue, and was hit by lightning energy from the heavens, as if piercing the spinal cord from his brain, and his psychic abilities blossomed. He then began studying psychology and psychiatry, and now he has combined psychiatry and consciousness engineering. Established "Radionics exorcism" using our own radionics techniques. "It's possible to treat your fortune" beyond exorcism, memorial service, and healing.