The Legend of Benkei - Japan's Greatest Warrior Monk

Рет қаралды 104,877

11 ай бұрын

In this video we explore the fascinating and mythical story of Benkei, the greatest warrior monk Japan would ever know!
This video is done in collaboration with channels "Samurai and Ninja History", "Sengoku Studies戦国研究", and "Samurai Traditions of the Tada Genji" Check out their warrior monk videos!
Samurai and Ninja History: • Are Japanese Monks Spi...
Sengoku Studies戦国研究: • Armed Shintō Priests i...
Samurai Traditions of the Tada Genji: • Tada Genji Traditions ...
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Sources Used:
"The Tale of the Heike" (Translation by Royall Tyler)
"Legends of the Samurai" by Hiroaki Sato
"Saitō Mussashi-bō Benkei: Tales of the Wars of the Gempei" by James Seguin De Benneville
Further articles found through the Japanese Wiki Corpus.
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Music:
"Finding Movement" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
"Benkei" by Yasushi Akutagawa
"Music for Symphony Orchestra" by Yasushi Akutagawa
"Triptych for String Orchestra" by Yasushi Akutagawa
Artwork and Images:
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Other modern artist renditions and photos, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
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Social Media:
Facebook: / theshogunateyoutube
Twitter: / shogunatethe
Support the channel on Patreon! www.patreon.com/theshogunatey...
#Samurai #History #Japan

Пікірлер: 171

@akechijubeimitsuhide 11 ай бұрын

Benkei somehow pulling "You shall not pass" and Boromir's Last Stand simultaneously never stops being awesome

@Srrrgp 11 ай бұрын

Or publius horatius cocles

@aetius7139 10 ай бұрын

Or the unnamed viking berserker in stamford bridge...

@SHINOBIStreetNinja 10 ай бұрын

Amazing!

@Dragon-Slay3r 9 ай бұрын

➡️

@peterraab3411 5 ай бұрын

Aparantly these things have happened Before?

@bandit6272 11 ай бұрын

Just because someone's story becomes exaggerated over time, doesn't mean they didn't exist. Even if the tales become fantastical, nearly every tale starts out as truth.

@Torriotorres 11 ай бұрын

Yeah. I feel like Benkei did a good job, if you don't even know if he is real or not.

@TheMylittletony 11 ай бұрын

And sometimes, crazy things do actually happen. There are lots of wild stories from ww1 and ww2 that actually happened, I imagine it's the same in other wars.

@cookdislander4372 11 ай бұрын

300 story is probably bullshit too. End of the day we don't know

@jonathanpeterson1984 10 ай бұрын

The Bible (cough cough) pardon me

@doctorx2307 7 ай бұрын

@@jonathanpeterson1984 fr because if all that crazy stuff in the bible is "true" then this had to be true aswell

@huytra8157 11 ай бұрын

The way Benkei died is almost a mirror to Dian Wei death in the romance of the three kingdoms. Dian Wei was a former bandit turned general in service of Cao Cao. He was one of Cao Cao bodyguards, fiercely loyal to Cao Cao. He died protecting Cao Cao withdrawing from an ambush by Jiang xiu.

@shinsenshogun900 11 ай бұрын

1. If Dian Wei was to be described before his service as a Major, Commandant, and then Colonel to Cao Cao, he had done his deed of slaying a certain Li Yong in the tense past as a fugitive youxia (the Han Chinese equivalent of a drifter/ronin) 2. The ambush is specifically located within the once surrendered city of Wan (Yuan City if players from the game Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty are to read), where Cao Cao's camp is raided by the local roaming warlord Zhang Xiu, not Jiang, Zhang. This surprising uprising cost Cao Cao his swift shadowy steed, his bodyguard officer Dian Wei, his eldest son Cao Ang whose horse he lent to his father, and his obscure nephew Cao Anmin thanks to offending the local warlord (he had been awarded the city by the provincial governor Liu Biao in compassion to having killed Zhang Xiu's predecessor, whose warhost had come from leaving the rump Han court in Chang'an recently devastated by the Liang warlord regents Li Jue and Guo Si, successors of the slain Grand Chancellor Dong Zhuo) by characteristically wooing his late uncle Zhang Ji's widowed aunt Lady Zou, of which his adviser Jia Xu would take advantage of the Han Imperial Regent-Minister's accompanying garrison.

@LV_427 9 ай бұрын

Also that one nameless Viking warrior on the Stamford Bridge. He slew every English soldier that tried to cross past him, effectively holding the entire English army of king Harold Godwinson at one side of the river while the Norsemen under king Harald Sigurdsson got their time to regroup and prepare for battle at the other side. He eventually fell when an English soldier floated under the bridge and thrusted his spear upward, through the gaps in the bridge and mortally wounding him.

@shion2085_bluerider 10 ай бұрын

If you're a fan of One Piece, you'll notice that Benkei's weapons and way of dying resemble someone else's. Benkei's weapon was a naginata, and legend has it that he died standing. like a white beard.

@pavp001 6 ай бұрын

And also the warrior monk from the second chapter of Wano, all with the bridge battle

@SniperKing-O 6 ай бұрын

I had the exact same thought! Plus, also both Benkei and Yoshitsine respective descriptions remind me of Guts and Griffith from Berserk. Guts being a giant of a man, while Griffith. being noticeably slender and feminine. It was also thanks to Guts that Griffith and his mercenary group, the Band of the Hawk were able to attain great fame and glory. Just like those two legendary warriors. :o

@denistardif6650 5 ай бұрын

Also tashigi's goal to collect all swords from people who don't deserve them.

@randallpetroelje3913 11 ай бұрын

Minamoto Yoshitsine- his best friend like Robin Hood and his monk friend. Love this. Every person should have a friend like this.

@springmage6321 8 ай бұрын

Just don't go starting fights and expecting to make friends.. ✌😜

@aanchaallllllll 9 ай бұрын

0:00: 🗡 A warrior monk named Saito Musashibo Benkei arrives in Kyoto and embarks on a quest to defeat and take the swords of one thousand unworthy Samurai, but is ultimately defeated by a young and agile opponent. 4:01: 😮 Benkei's childhood was filled with shock and struggle, leading to his rebellious nature. 7:37: 👹 A young samurai named Minamoto Yoshitsune defeats the monstrous monk Benkei. 11:30: 📜 The Genpei War begins in 1180 as the Taira clan's influence over the Imperial Court prompts a call for aid, leading to the emergence of the MiniMoto Lords who rally under MiniMoto noyoritomo. 14:45: 🎥 The story is told in an obscure early Akira Kurosawa film called The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail. Recap by Tammy AI

@TheCynicalOptimist 11 ай бұрын

Speaking of Genpei war, I think we should appreciate Minamoto no Yoshinaka. He might be a rival to Yoritomo, but he has done much in Genpei war, many of which did much to fulfill Yoritomo's cause. It's his action during the kurikara pass which was the turning point of the war. It's a shame that in the end, he was killed and people don't acknowledge his achievements much anymore.

@nejiefelipe 11 ай бұрын

when i saw benkei on NiOH 2 carrying a lot of weapons i thought that this would be all invented, but now listening to his history it seens they pictured him quite accurate... 😌

@mydudes9248 6 ай бұрын

The duel of Benkei vs Yoshitsune almost reminds me of the initial duel between Guts and Griffith in Berserk.

@morricane5087 10 ай бұрын

It may be worth noting that what historical records (i.e., not tales) offer about Benkei is that his name is being mentioned a few times in listings of Yoshitsune's entourage. Nothing else: a man bearing the name did exist and was a vassal of Yoshitsune, but everything else is either fictionalized or fictive. Popular accounts and later adaptions (such as Nô plays etc.) are mostly based off the 15th-century war tale "Gikeiki" (The Record of Yoshitsune), which is the primary extant text responsible for fleshing out the figure.

@denistardif6650 5 ай бұрын

Maybe he was part of his entourage and was made into a samurai born from nobility this would maybe explain him being depicted with both samurai and farm hand weapons? Just speculating here or something. Maybe he was not born of nobility and people at the time felt they should make him into some sort of monster instead of having common people believe anybody could become samurai. Again just spitballing here.

@mikostubborn 11 ай бұрын

Thankyou for making this video! Watching this giving me nostalgia,used to be reading a manga about Yoshitsune’s feat in trying to defeat the Taira while “collecting” his loyal servants whom Benkei is his first and most badass and loyal servant. Once again thanks for making this video!

@TraitofSiNN727 10 ай бұрын

I learned something awesome today just in 18:13. and it was well worth it. now I can go around to friends and amaze them with this story. anything that deals with the Japanese old culture I'm so in. if a friend even gets a chance to say there's a Japanese show going on at the local museum I'm there before they get a chance to tell me.

@LSSJTHOR 10 ай бұрын

I feel *Kaoru Hanayama's* "standing man" tattoo in the anime/manga " *Baki* " was inspired by Benkei "the standing death".

@sandroclemus 11 ай бұрын

There's an anime movie called " Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust " where his competition was a hunter group called " The Marquez Brothers ". The biggest and strongest of the brothers, which was a heavy melee expert, dies just like that, standing up. Now I can see where they got the inspiration for that character.

@hanchiman 11 ай бұрын

Benkei basically added some colour and personality in the Genpei War or Tale of Heikei. Well Yoshitsune also have semi mytological background as well

@mehlessmidori602 11 ай бұрын

So mythological, they have Yoshitsune a freaking lightsaber in Warriors Orochi.

@zalop. 11 ай бұрын

I love you vids man I feel that benkei don’t get enough attention but you always come to make sure that the stories gets told that’s a W

@BenkeiWatches 11 ай бұрын

Great video! Benkei inspired me in my business, and the stories about him and Yoshitsune are amazing!

@mohammedibrahim42 11 ай бұрын

Thank you buddy for making this awesome documentary about legend benki I read about him long time ago, anyway God bless you and bless your family おだいじに！忍者

@lightshadow5294 11 ай бұрын

Fantastic video thank you

@thelemming54 11 ай бұрын

Great work!

@grantmathieson650 11 ай бұрын

Every lord needs a tank in his party.

@SengokuStudies 11 ай бұрын

It is entirely possible that Yoshitsune wanted to be independent or completely usurp Yoritomo. Yoshitsune was not the only one that fell afoul. After his decisive victory in the Genpei War and most of the mopping up operations, Yoritomo launched a purge in which he killed off those he saw as a potential threat to his new regime.

@Dragon-Slay3r 9 ай бұрын

😲☃️

@nont18411 6 ай бұрын

He also killed Noriyori, another one of his brothers. Which looking in the hindsight, Yoritomo’s paranoia benefited the Hojo a great deal.

@dislikebutton4981 10 ай бұрын

I wonder if the duel on the bridge is the inspiration for the Sekiro corrupted monk fight that also takes place on a bridge.

@NicholasW943 6 ай бұрын

I love how every picture the artist is like "how ugly can I make this noble without getting killed?"

@michaelthepizzahuman 11 ай бұрын

Episode 2 of the edo period was AMAZING, I can’t wait for episode 3!

@TalesofDawnandDusk 8 ай бұрын

I'm very blessed to actually live in the city next to Hiraizumi where Benkei's grave, along with a Buddhist hall dedicated to him.

@DionysianLovecraftian 11 ай бұрын

You should cover the genpai war more and the people associated with it. Also the Kamakura period. Maybe after you finished your series on the long Edo period this could be an interesting endeavor to tap into.

@TheShogunate 11 ай бұрын

I hope to!

@sevenproxies4255 9 ай бұрын

This monk must surely have inspired the character Ekei in the game Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny

@theonitoad7474 10 ай бұрын

Love it

@herman1francis 11 ай бұрын

This story was touching

@MsFrostitute 10 ай бұрын

The fact my name dates back and has connections to such astounding stories.. is unbelievable. Thank you for this, it means so very much. Amazing work as always.

@A.Clifton 10 ай бұрын

Weird parallels between Benkei's death on 1189 and the Dane of Stamford Bridge in 1066.

@LSSJTHOR 10 ай бұрын

Also to Kaoru Hanayama's "the standing man" tattoo in Baki. Benkei's tale was called "the standing death" that can be a coincidence?

@roeberdt-bT.1021 11 ай бұрын

...references of a remnsnt.,... ...Thanks for the post, absolutely appreciated.,... (...there's always more to the story/tale.)

@roeberdt-bT.1021 11 ай бұрын

...Abbott and Costello.,...

@89volvowithlazers 10 ай бұрын

The human experience creates our literature our fantasy and the more we embrace the/ our human story I believe we can embrace the potential of us all. These stories can block stop and prevent false narratives and lies. If we know our stories and our history false profits will have no chance to sway us in times of want or need.

@ericmixer 10 ай бұрын

I know the story of Minamoto Yoshitsune and Saito Musashibo Benkei they are legends to our time !

@-RONNIE 11 ай бұрын

I heard the legend of Benkei before but never knew all this information thank you.

@otanijourney6048 10 ай бұрын

Can You make a video on the Ainu People and Sakanoue no Tamuramaro

@koltohacros 11 ай бұрын

I think in the 1990s Japan actually made a 54 episode series on the subject you just discussed. It was on KZfaq about eight years ago. I can’t find it now.

@ghassanhammad855 6 күн бұрын

Great episode ! can you make one about Mongaku Shonin ? I've found very limited information about him

@TheEudaemonicPlague 10 ай бұрын

I remember reading about that battle on the bridge back in the seventies, but had forgotten who it was until I started watching this video. In the anime One Piece, sometimes they sing a funny song about Binkie's sake. I have a feeling it's a reference to Benkei.

@adamhbrennan 11 ай бұрын

“Wild and unpredictable” doesn’t sound very typically monk-like

@TheShogunate 11 ай бұрын

Not one bit haha

@CleversonSantos 11 ай бұрын

Woahhh just an hour ago!!! Lucky me!!!

@SuperBondfan007 11 ай бұрын

I had no idea Benkei was an actual person. I just thought it was the title of Akutagawa's piece of music, and when I saw his name on the video, I didn't really make the connection until I heard it in the video. I'm guessing the tune is about him, even though it's such a short jaunty little piece of music. (I also really enjoy the other Akutagawa pieces you used, particularly the Music for Symphony Orchestra. THAT'S a fun one!)

@TheShogunate 11 ай бұрын

It's such a great piece of music!

@waffle3602 10 ай бұрын

So we’ll done thank you

@wintermute7378 5 ай бұрын

- Benkei doesn't sleep. He waits - When Benkei jumps into a lake he doesn't get wet. The lake gets Benkeied

@undeadkitty334 11 ай бұрын

Tales of Genji is a good story. it tells about them.

@iansahleen1173 4 ай бұрын

His death is oddly reminiscent of the Berserker at Stamford bridge.

@obliviondust2719 11 ай бұрын

Benkei vs giant enemy crab 🦀 who wins?

@TONEDEAFSOUND 11 ай бұрын

why is this so funny

@crwydryny 11 ай бұрын

Benki is among my favourite stories from Japan, up there with the 47 ronin

@ludlowaloysius 10 ай бұрын

Benkei is the irl inspiration for Whitebeard and Raoh’s deaths.

@avalonjustin 3 ай бұрын

I feel bad for Benkei. If there is truth to these legends, he was a wild outcast searching for meaning in life. Something worth fighting for. Then after his battles with Yoshitsune, he found his best friend.

@chrisdiokno5600 11 ай бұрын

Such a badass

@jaredrevis4594 11 ай бұрын

I have actually watched The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail for a college class on Samurai

@Jobe-13 10 ай бұрын

I'd love to see a Studio Ghibli retelling of the legend of Benkei.

@seinaumaluco 10 ай бұрын

I don't think this story is very suitable for Studio Ghibli.

@smarc1325 10 ай бұрын

i have a Benkei Backpiece by Kuniyoshi Tattoo since 2004.. very proud of it.

@arseneken 11 ай бұрын

Wow it’s my first time seeing a video within a minute of posting

@arseneken 11 ай бұрын

That being said, great video! Thank you very much!

@Nero_Karel 10 ай бұрын

His ambivalent but doubtlessly outstanding life reminds me a lot of the Norse story of Starkad

@humanitiestheproblem 11 ай бұрын

Samurai Champloo has an episode about this, where Jin fights on the red bridge, against a bigger opponent who has traveled the land defeating unworthy Samurais and taking their swords. Direct reference to this legend, another reason that's one of my favorite all time animes.

@rabbyd542 10 ай бұрын

Yup,I saw the parallel to that too. Such a sick anime. I've grown to appreciate that it's not a series with 500 episodes. Best intro and outro music ever.

@kingleothesomethingsomethi285 10 ай бұрын

@@rabbyd542glad i’m not the only one that enjoys the music.

@evanjrclarke1079 11 ай бұрын

I actually watched Men Who Tread On Tiger's Tail. Good film, albeit a bit slow paced. Benkei and the civilian were my favorite characters

@Uncensored-ep8sf 11 ай бұрын

He is the only man who fits the background music of “Battle With Gilgamesh” in FF.

@johndole9810 11 ай бұрын

You should made a biography of miao xing...

@birddogbat 11 ай бұрын

Read about this from novels, Children of Hachiman and Shike. Worth a read.

@JiggaMan1297 11 ай бұрын

I doubt wether the 1,000 men he defeated would all be considered actual "samurai" probably more so just travelling warriors. Which is an equally amazing feat considering the period.

@stuarthynes6136 6 ай бұрын

In 80s was at airport and went to buy a book. Saw one.. Shike, time of the dragons, then there was Shike, last of the zinja next to it. Bought both. By Robert Shea. Basic tale of this story romanticised a bit. Still read them occasionally. Well worn.

@tatarcavalry2342 11 ай бұрын

THAT'S JAPANESE OGHUZ KHAGAN

@wetdog1445-tv4ny 11 ай бұрын

Benkei is the composite for the character "Jebu" in the saga, "Shike" by Robert Shea. Even as fiction, Shea's saga is a fabulous and highly recommended piece of literature

@augustopoliche8908 11 ай бұрын

I was about to say that It'd be so cool to have a vinland like manga and anime about benkei, then I noticed thorfinn father's dead is based on benkei's

@user-kt1nj8cq3l 9 ай бұрын

Нет слов, просто потрясающе

@seinaumaluco 10 ай бұрын

This story reminded me of Berserk.

@dematb 11 ай бұрын

I take the time to comment that i appreciate your diction, for a non english speaker, you’re easy to understand.

@anandgupta1989 11 ай бұрын

Uncanny similarity with battle of Stamford bridge !

@AncestorEmpireGaming 11 ай бұрын

Theory: I think Beneki inspired the creation of Gilgamesh in the final fantasy mythos.

@CheeWaiLee1972 11 ай бұрын

lol I was just about to comment on that. Gilgamesh in FF14 is hilarious.

@AncestorEmpireGaming 11 ай бұрын

@@CheeWaiLee1972 post his introduction in FF5. He’s treated as comic relief, except for FF13-2 and FF12. I wish he was in FF16. That game gets my highest recommendation.

@josh-oo 11 ай бұрын

@@AncestorEmpireGamingHe wasn't comic relief in Type-0. In that game, he's a godking of an entire nation, but his entire nation is wiped out by a magic nuke in the first 20 minutes, and when people die in that game, everyone forgets them. Since his entire nation gets wiped out in the blink of an eye, he forgets his entire culture and everyone who ever knew him, which means he also forgets who he is. So now he's just a lost, lonely, invincible, unaging, 8 foot tall badass in red samurai armor, going around fighting anyone who gets in his way with a giant greatsword. You fight him a couple of times, and during both fights your objective isn't to win, but to lead him toward your enemies so he'll fight them instead.

@AncestorEmpireGaming 11 ай бұрын

@@josh-oo I was just going to state that. Now back to watching Jill in FF16. Aka just as heartbreaking as watching Guts during the eclipse.

@nickarellano9487 11 ай бұрын

Benkai was a Hella hard boss battle in NIOH2

@zakuzeon7382 4 ай бұрын

See some anime/manga comparisons have been made. I started thinking this sounds similar to Gats & Griffith from Berserk. At least in The Golden Age arc.

@nobodyanymore 7 ай бұрын

Reminded me of Guts and Griffith

@godzilla5599 11 ай бұрын

I've read about certain Japanese the Americans ran into in WWII that were way bigger than the average,running six plus feet tall,maybe even six-five plus so Benki maybe being one of these folks may give a historical explanation to him,and at that time even if he was in the five ten to six two range he'd be a giant to the average person running around back then. Or maybe he was like Andre the Giant and had gigantism,I could imagine what a normal Japanese would think if they encountered a seven plus foot tall man with Andre's bulk? Yea I'd not be shocked if they called him an oni. Some tall tails growing up around such a person would also be expected,curious they say Yoshitsuni was maybe supposed to become a monk and Benki WAS a monk...could be why they really met? Could be they were a real pair? And the story/legend just grew around them over time, especially if Benki was unusually sized and maybe unusual looking.

@soulie2001 9 ай бұрын

Wait wait wait, Oniwaka was his nickname, like the Big ass gentle guy from Samurai Champloo?

@robertfowler7038 10 ай бұрын

Still can’t beat this dude in Nioh 2

@Bry_is_the_name 5 ай бұрын

Forever memorialize in nioh 2 ( my favorite yokai in the game )

@AlyxGlide 10 ай бұрын

what anime is this

@christopherhughes3895 6 ай бұрын

Musashi: "Hold my saki 😈."

@mikederasmo7621 10 ай бұрын

New SUB !! Long Live JAPAN !!

@ishakadriansyah8085 10 ай бұрын

now i know the origin of zoro vs sword collector in one piece

@Mikesman1000 6 күн бұрын

A person worthy to see if you have a time machine.

@arnoldmojados399 11 ай бұрын

Im bothered How Strong benkei is and great warrior he couldn't beat Yoshitsune? Benkei uses force but Yoshitsune uses finesse and patience

@MCorpReview 11 ай бұрын

Benkei standing death 💀 very much resembles that of Dian wei, one of cao cao’s retainers who was ambushed by the warlord zhang xiu 😮 Since 3 kingdoms happened way before the genpei 😂war, I wouldn’t be surprised if benkei❤is a fictional character inspired by Dian wei 😮

@Torriotorres 11 ай бұрын

The lineages of Japanese blacksmiths can be traced to around this time of history. It is likely, Benkei was a real person.

@giuseppelogiurato5718 10 ай бұрын

I dunno, Japanese history is interesting and everything, but these videos always just make me wish I could afford sushi. because it's delicious and it used to be affordable... Now, I'm not part of the "sushi class" anymore... I can still make 김팦 though! Haha! 😝

@mr.ewing8312 7 ай бұрын

Didn't the hojo start up in Kanto at the same time during this war

@matthewcalhoun4011 11 ай бұрын

got battle stories or myths like someone slaying a whole group?

@sassysaddles9981 11 ай бұрын

First thing comes to mind is MIKIRI COUNTER!

@JohnMarstonz 10 ай бұрын

That 1000th samurai that he encountered on the bridge was named Zoro.

@SHDW-nf2ki 6 ай бұрын

How many Japanese mythical warriors die making their last stand on a bridge?

@joeelbaumy8592 10 ай бұрын

Bankai!

@elliottbritt3937 10 ай бұрын

Yo they had this guy in one piece

@kylelinsly1351 10 ай бұрын

He's easy just gotta roll a log at his feet when he tries jumping. At-least in Goemon 64

@Oniwaki 9 ай бұрын

Benkei Benkei Benkei Oniwaka Musashibo

@sonnysantana5454 10 ай бұрын

i like war priest wu'chi that i ching is killer and unlike t'sun zu and machiavelli who only gave out free advice , wu'chi went off to war with his warriors