From Baishoron to Nantaiheiki

This volume includes seven introduced, annotated, and translated documents from the Japanese 14th century. (1) BAISHORON ("Of Pine and Plum"), the longest document in the book, is an essential record of Ashikaga Takauji's rise and achievements between 1331 and about 1350. It is more accurate than Taiheiki, and its account of the battles of Tadarahama and Minatogawa are especially valuable. (2) The Taiheiki passage on the Southern Court's kidnapping of three Northern Court emperors in 1352. (3) OJIMA NO KUCHIZUSAMI ("Casual Verses from Ojima"), by the regent and man of letters Nijo Yoshimoto, describes the author's dreary journey to the province of Mino, when Emperor Go-Kogon fled there in 1353. (4) This account of the battle of Toji in 1355, by a warrior then in Takauji's entourage, is drawn from the anonymous GEN'ISHU ("A Compendium of Genji Glory"). It offers some dramatic and moving scenes. (5) The Taiheiki account of the last years and death of Cloistered Emperor Kogon, who died in 1364. (6) MICHIYUKIBURI ("Notes from a Journey to Kyushu") is Imagawa Ryoshun's account of his journey to Kyushu in 1371, to pacify the island on behalf of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Ryoshun was prominent as a poet, warrior, and administrator. (7) NANTAIHEIKI ("Against Taiheiki"), was written in 1402, in Imagawa Ryoshun's old age. In this uniquely powerful work he laments that his very success in Kyushu caused him bitter personal loss.