THE HISTORIOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

#86
86. RECORDS OF SERVICE AT ARMS, 1339

IN the civil war in which the greater part of Japan had now become involved, it was not seldom
that members of the same family-if it was large, like the Shimadzu and the Shibuya, and had
grown in branches which settled in different localities-were divided in opposite camps and fought
against one another. Of the Shibuya, we find that, during the years 1338 and 1339, their Keto-in
and Iriki-in branches sided with the Southern party, while the Togo and the Taki supported the
Northern. Thus, in 1338, as has been said, Keto-in Mago-zhiro took and defended the fortress
upon Mt. Hinata, near the Capital of Osumi; on the other hand, men of Togo took part in the
war against the Kitabatake near Osaka and Kyoto, (SK, XV, from a Honda report). Taki
Shigemune, in 1339. surrendered Yuta in Keto-in to Shibuya Tsuneshige and others; the latter in
turn lost it to the combined forces of the Togo and the Zai-koku-shi that besieged it (ibid., from
a report by a Murata).
At the investment of Ikari-yama, on the east side of the Sendai before the river takes a westerly
direction, which is described in the following documents, a Togo was among the defenders and
fought against a Keto-in and the fifth lord of Iriki, the partisans of the Southern Court. It will
be seen that the latter for a time retired into the fortress at Fuji-no-ue, in Kiyoshiki, and defended
it from 4 August, 1339; this is the first record of actual warfare in Iriki proper. The fighting was
fierce: Idzumi Yasu-sue "led the van," said he in his report, "at peril of death, and was the first
to fall into the most together with his horse, being wounded on the right hand." The fortress fell
on 8 August. (Yasu-sue's report and Kimotsuki Kaneshige's life quoted in SK, XV; also Dai Ni-hon
shi-ryo, VI, v, 571.)
Of the following documents, A and B, like No. 74, are examples of the class of reports known
as the gun-chu zho, "letters [reporting] loyal acts in war": when a service in arms was rendered at
a battle, the warrior drew up a careful account of his exploit, describing his feats, his encounters
with the enemy, and the injuries he inflicted upon him and those he and his followers sustained,
and citing the names of trustworthy eye-witnesses. The letter was also called an ikken zho, for the
commanding general certified the report with the usual phrase in three characters, ikken shi owannu,
"[I] have seen [the report]," over his monogram. Sometimes, as in the following examples, the
phrase ran (in only two characters): uketamawari owannu, "[I] do recognize [the statement]. "¹
The report was then forwarded by him to the sho-gun, and on its strength the latter would reward
the service of the warrior.
In the present instances, the certifying commander was Sakawa Hisakage, a hereditary vassal
and the deputy of the Shimadzu shu-go. The reporting warrior, Gon-Shuin, however, who, like the
Shibuya and many another, happened to be fighting under the general command of the Shimadzu
lord, was not a vassal of the latter, but a direct vassal of Takauji, or, at least, was considered as
such. He followed Shimadzu's leadership in war, because the latter was the shu-go of the kuni, and
not because the former owed him armed service as lord: his service was for the sho-gun, not for
Shimadzu. The time was still far distant when a relation of vassalage would be established between
the latter and the Shibuya.
The documents C and D, like Nos. 83C and E and 84, are kan zho or kan sho, "letters of ad-
miration," issued by the commander, praising the acts of a warrior and promising to aid him in
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securing from the sho-goun a just reward for the service. Such a kan zho by a direct commander
was preliminary to the sho-gun's own kan zho (cf. No. 83C and E), which would be final.

#86-A
A.GON-SHUIN TOSHIMASA'S GUN-CHU ZHO

(SK, XV, from a Gon-Shuin doc., now lost; also Dai Ni-hon shi-ryo, VI, v, 567.)
"[HIS] loyal services at arms reported by Saburo-zhiro Toshimasa, the proxy
and son of Gon-Shuin Ryo-Sen, part holder (ryo-shu) of Miyasato go, Satsuma
kuni.
"Since there was rumor on the 6th month 18th day of this year [25 July 1339] that
the southern insurgents of this kuni would come, [Toshimasa] on that day betook
himself into the fortress of Ikari-yama, and, being given charge of the turret by the
river, guarded it. On the 19th day [26 July], when forces were despatched to chas-
tize the enemy, Shikibu To-zaburo, Toshimasa went forth in person, and burned up
To-zaburo's lodging. On the 20th of the same month, as the insurgents came and at-
tacked the fortress of Ikari-yama, Toshimasa rendered service at arms [at the turret]
by the river. When, on the 22nd day [29 July], the southern insurgents, together with
Shibuya Mago-zhiro,² the same [family] Ko-shiro nyu-do, the same [family] Hei-
zhi-goro, ³ and others, besieged the fortress and fought strenuously, Toshimasa fought
[at the turret] by the river; but hearing, on the same day, at the hour of tori,⁴ that
the enemy had broken down the main entrance of the fortress, [Toshimasa] hastened
to the main entrance and did service, and repulsed the enemy. These acts were wit-
nessed at the same place by Sakawa Hyo-e Shiro and Taki Hiko-roku.⁵ At the night-
battle of the 25th day [1 August], when the enemy tried to break down the entrance
[facing] the river, and our forces issued from the little gate [facing] the river with a
view to dispersing the enemy, Toshimasa as [leader of] these forces went out of the
fortress and repulsed the enemy, as was witnessed by the present commander.⁶ When,
on the 29th day [5 August], the enemy retired from the fortress of Ikari-yama, and
entrenched himself in the fortress Fuji-no-ue, Iriki in, [Toshimasa] wished imme-
diately to hasten to that field of battle and fight; but since he was commanded, as-
men were deficient in the fortress [of Ikari-yama], to guard [the latter], he did the
guard [service]. Therefore, in order that at once, in accordance with the facts of his
service at arms, [his merits] be reported,⁷ and also that he be granted a certifying
seal, he presents a breif statement thus.
"Ryaku-o 2 y. 7 m.-d. [August 1339]."
"Sakawa Hisashige's '[I] do recognize' and monogram."

#86-B
B. HISHI-ZHIMA NORIHIRA'S GUN-CHU ZHO

(Hishi-zhima docs.; also Dai Ni-hon shi-ryo, VI, v, 569.)
"Since it was reported that insurgents of Satsuma had come to the fortress of Ikari-
yama, [which was] on the side of the shu-go,⁸ and attacked it, Shiibara Zhiro kore-
tane, proxy of Hishi-zhima Hiko-ichi-maru, of the same kuni, hastened thither to
guard the rear of the [shu-go's] army; and, on last 6th month 29th day [5 August],
strenuously attacked and fought [with the enemy] at Fuji-no-ue and Kamihara, Iriki
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in, of the same kuni. This was witnessed by Togo Zhiro-saburo, of Satsuma, and Kamo
Taro, of Osumi, who also fought at the same time. In order that these circumstances
be reported,⁷ a statement is presented thus.
"Ryaku-o 2 y. 7 m.- d. [August 1339]."
"[I] do recognize," (Sakawa Hisashige's monogram).

#86-C
C. KAN ZHO FOR TOSIMASA
(SK, XV, from a Gon-Shuin doc., now lost; alsoDai Ni-hon shi-ryo, VI, v, 569-570.)
"Since it was excellent that you, as our ally, ⁹ guarded the fortress of Ikari-yama
and rendered service at arms, the vacated land,¹⁰ [namely,] the rice-land and land
formerly held by Miyasato Rokuro-zhiro nyu-do, of Satsuma kuni, are given to you
in custody.¹¹ You shall hold them. We shall at the same time report the circumstances
to Kyoto. Therefore, a statement is made thus.
"Ryaku-o 2 y. 6 m. 23 d. [30 July 1339].
Hisakage,¹³ monogram.
Michiaki,¹⁴ monogram.
"Gon-Shuin Saburo-zhiro¹² dono. "

#86-D
D. ANOTHER KAN ZHO FOR TOSHIMASA
(Ibid.)
"Since it was excellent that you guarded the fortress of Ikari-yama and rendered
service at arms, the ta and sono formerly held by Miyasato Rokuro-zhiro nyu-do were
given you in custody.¹¹ However, as they are but a small place we shall recommend
[to Kyoto⁷] that, when there should occur a vacated land¹⁰ it subsequently be ar-
ranged [in your behalf]. Therefore, the order is transmitted thus.
"Ryaku-o 2 y. 8 m. 6 d. [9 September 1339]. Hisakage,¹³monogram.
"Gon-Shuin Saburo-zhiro¹² dono. "

¹The ikken zho was, therefore, an extremely abridged form of the vidimus or inspeximus (A.
Giry, Manuel de diplomatique, 1894, pp. 20 ff.), the confirmation meaning, however, that of the
truth of the statement, not the authenticity, of the document it certified.
²Terao Shigehiro.
³This is again the fifth Iriki lord, Shigekatsu. ⁴Six o'clock in the afternoon.
⁵An interesting incident of this day is reported by Sakawa Hisakage to the Shimadzu lord
thus: "When on the 6th month 22nd day [29 July] the enemy of southern Satsuma and men of
the Shibuya attacked the fortress of Ikari-yama and a fierce battle was fought, and when the
enemy had already broken down the fences on the rampart and invaded [the ground of the for-
tress], there issued from the sacred mount of the Niita temple two or three whistling arrows (kabura-
ya) and shot into the ranks of the enemy. As if [inspired by this manifestation of] divine will, our
forces were encouraged, and fought for victory, and the insurgents were defeated and retired."
(Shuin docs., roll VII; also D. N. -h. s. r., VI, v, 569.)
⁶Sakawa Hisashige. ⁷To Takauji, in Kyoto.
⁸Shimadzu Sadahisa. ⁹Mikata, supporter.
¹⁰Kessho.
¹¹Adzuke-oku, to give in trust, as though temporarily.
¹²Toshimasa.
¹³Hisakage also gave "in custody" to a Nobutoki pieces of land in Satsuma kori. (SK. XV, and
D. N. -h. s. r., VI, v, 570.)
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¹⁴Possibly a miscopy of Naoaki; the character Nao and Michi are somewhat similar in cursive
form.