This is a historical story from the Asaminami Ward in Hiroshima.
During the Middle Ages in Japan, there was a family that had ruled the country of Aki for 300 years – the Takeda family. It was Nobumune Takeda who had erected a mountain castle in the area of Gion, called Kaneyama Castle. It is said that the name of the mountain – Taketayama – was named after the family. Just over 400 meters in height, the mountain was the perfect home for the ancient Chinese gods of the four directions. To the east where the pure waters of the Otagawa River ran was Seiryu (Blue Dragon). To the west, home to the old Sanyodo Road, was Byako (White Tiger). To the south, with its expansive delta, was Suzaku (Vermillion Bird). To the north was Genmu (Black Turtle) where a succession of mountains (Aratani-yama, Notoro-zan、Gongen-zan) created an impenetrable mountain castle. Kaneyama Castle itself was the site of a great battle Motoshige Takeda lost to the Motonari Mori, heralding the weakening of the Takeda family’s power.
Fearing that the castle would fall, the leader of the family at the time buried gold and silver treasure – including pure gold and rice bowls passed down from their ascendants – in the middle of the mountains to the southeast of the castle. Even if the battle were lost, perhaps the hope was that the treasure would serve as military funds if someone were to restore the presence of the Takeda family. To mark the spot a yellow-fruited heavenly bamboo tree was planted.
It was thought that this fact was unknown. However, once the Takeda family fell, the legend spread and many warriors came to look for the yellow-fruited heavenly bamboo tree. But no one could find it. The warriors dug up the ground everywhere, but they could not find the treasure anywhere.
“That Takeda treasure. It doesn’t really exist. It was a complete lie,” said everyone and over time fewer and fewer people spoke about it. However, there really was treasure. And there was someone who had his eyes on it. That person was a martial arts master called Gondayu. “I’m going to find that treasure. But first of all I have find out where that yellow-fruited heavenly bamboo tree is.”
He had heard that one day an old villager had stumbled on the tree when he was gathering firewood. So he decided to make a visit to see him and learn how far it was from the top of the mountain until he had got a general idea of the position. Gondayu changed into clothes of a priest and he climbed up Takeda Mountain. He reached the spot where he was aiming for and when someone suddenly said, “What are you doing here?” An old man with wounds all over his face hobbled out and he said with a fearful voice as he juggled his bamboo spear. “You pitiful treasure seeker. Get out of here. Unless you do, you’re a dead man.”
But Gondayu was a famed martial arts master and he said, “Who are you? I bet you’re after the treasure, too.”
“Aha, aha, aha. You’ve come to find the yellow-fruited heavenly bamboo, right? You pitiful man. I heard that rumors of the treasure had spread in the village, so I moved it somewhere else. Aha, aha, aha. I live to protect my family’s treasure.”
“What did you say? What do you know of the treasure? Well, tell me then. Just tell me whether or not it exists. If you do, I’ll get my master to hire you as well.”
“You idiot. I’m not falling for that. I’m going to skewer you with this.” The large man thrust forward with his bamboo spear. Gondayu dodged out of the way. “You’re a curious one. I’ve made up my mind.”
Gondayu unsheathed his sword and swung at the large man. Breathing heavily, he twirled his bamboo spear and plunged forward. For a while, the two fought. But after a while the large old man sighed deeply and fell to the ground, showing the whites of his eyes.
“Hey. Come at me. What’s wrong with you? Huh? Come on. Oh no. Has his heart stopped? What a shame. If only we had talked this through instead of fighting.” Gondayu hit the ground. He was full of regret. Not to mention that he had lost all hope of finding out about the treasure. It is said that people searching for the yellow-fruited heavenly bamboo can’t actually see it. However, if you don’t go looking for it, you will find it on your way up the mountain.
There is another story about Taketayama, a story about an adventurer from Bitchu called Denbei. One day Denbei saw the sun rising over Taketayama from where he lived in Tosaka, and he thought it looked as if the mountain were glowing. He believed there must be meaning to this, so he entered the mountain and started to dig. In those days, when someone set out on a long journey, they would take roasted rice with them. His journey even became a popular song. “Climb up the mountain, up Taketayama. Dig up the ground, and find the roasted rice.” So Denbei ate the rice as he little by little dug into the ground.
In fact, Taketayama is famous for its roasted rice. There is another reason for this. The legend also springs from the fact that the rice granaries of Kanayamajo were burnt down, producing naturally roasted rice.
Denbei tried many things as he dug into the ground and struck coal. So the true treasure of Takeda can actually be said to be coal.
Later, Motonari Mori discovered Denbei’s techniques and took them home with him and dug up Sennoyama. Denbei cooperated with the first magistrate Iwami-no-kami Nagayasu Okubo and they created the Kamaya pit, striking a giant silver mine. This is the famous Iwami Ginzan. In July of 2007, the mountain was registered as a World Heritage Site. Denbei accompanied Nagayasu Okubo to build a large silver Buddhist bell, two-tatami mats in size and in the shape of Mt. Houraisan at Ieyasu Tokugawa’s Fushimi Castle. Ieyasu was delighted and gave Denbei the right to bear a sword and a surname – Denbei Yasuhara Bitchu no Kami. Additionally, he was also handed the Ieyasu battle surcoat and trunk garments by Ieyasu himself. Denbei’s grave is a grand one to be found at Ginzan’s Kiyomizudera in Omori-cho. The Yasu area was the back entrance and the Gion area the front entrance. The name of the castle is both known as “the golden castle” and “the silver castle.” However, in an old magazine – Geihantsushi – it is known as the “golden castle.”
With Taketayama and the ruins of Kanayama Castle both to be found in the Asaminami Ward, we must make sure that no one forgets that they are important remnants of Hiroshima’s rich history.
The End
|
