Oni Codexery

Emishi

Ancient people of northern Honshū who resisted Yamato expansion.

Last updated

The Emishi are an ancient group first mentioned in Chinese records from the 5th century as "hairy people"[1][2] Their origin is disputed, with theories linking them to the Zoku-Jōmon peoples or pre-Yamato migrants.[3] The Emishi likely consisted of several tribes in northern Honshu, including pre-Ainu, non-Yamato, and admixed people.[4]

Key facts and history

The Nihongi describes the Emishi as fierce people who dwell in holes in winter and nests in summer, wearing furs and drinking blood.[5][6] The Emishi relied on horses in warfare, using horse archery and hit-and-run tactics against the Japanese imperial army.[7] Skirmishes continued until 811, when the war officially ended.[8] The earliest known mention of the Emishi in a verifiable source is from the 5th century, where Chinese records call them máorén.[1]

According to the Nihon Shoki, before his enthronement, Emperor Jimmu's military forces overcame a group of Emishi.[9] The Nihongi describes that these people store arrows in their hair buns and hide swords inside their garments.[5][6] During 658, Abe no Hirafu commanded 180 vessels on a maritime campaign to Aguta and Watarishima, establishing pacts with local Emishi tribes.[10] General Sakanoue no Tamuramaro employed soldiers trained in horseback archery, and the Isawa Emishi leader Aterui surrendered in 802.[8]

What the cited sources add

The Nihongi records that the Yemishi have rebelled to a man and frequently carry off people.[5] The Yemishi of the East made a fresh rebellion.[5] The Nihongi describes Yemishi chieftains Ashi-furi-he, Oho-ha-furi-he, and Tohotsu Kura-ho-he bowing their heads and offering all their territory.[5] The source "The era of Emishi" states that Emishi brought special products like kelp to Mutsu Kokufu as tribute.[11]

Possessing such items became a symbol of social status in Emishi society.[11]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The era of Emishi" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shen Yue (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: de Boer, "Japan considered from the hypothesis of farmer/language spread", Evolutionary Human Sciences, 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: See, for example: Xiaoxi Liu, Satoshi Koyama, Kohei Tomizuka, Sadaaki Takata, Yuki Ishikawa, Shuji Ito, Shunichi Kosugi, Kunihiko Suzuki, Keiko Hikino, Masaru K; Aston, "Nihongi: chronicles of Japan from the earliest times to A.D. 697", Published for the Society by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübrer & Co., Limited, 1896 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. "Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697, Volume 1". facts only, no text reused. en.wikisource.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697, Volume 1" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Takahashi 1986, p. 110–113 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Very detailed analysis of the end of the war and the effects on the former Emishi territory. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Chōtei-gun no shinryaku ni teikō", Iwate Nippo, September 24, 2004; "Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD 697", Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1972, p. 18; Takahashi, "Ainu to Kodai Nippon", Shogakukan, 1982; "Chōtei-gun no shinryaku ni teikō", Iwate Nippo, September 24, 2004 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Emishi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Aston, W. G. trans. Nihongi (Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle), pp. 252, 260, 264.; Modern analysis of the expedition. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. "The era of Emishi". facts only, no text reused. bunka.pref.iwate.jp

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Emishi (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

More in Oni

HannyaHashihimeHell wardensHyakki YagyōIbaraki-dōjiIssun-bōshiKidōmaruKijo (folklore)KurozukaMegijimaMishihaseMomiji (oni)

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

Spotted an error? Know more?

Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced

Comments

Loading…
Open in the interactive codex →