52 吉野五十七年（一）
建武の中興は、脆くも崩れ去りました。正中の変から数えただけでも十年の辛苦、数
多くの犠牲を出して漸く鎌倉幕府を倒す事が出来ましたのに、その途端に早くも足利の
謀反となってしまい、承久の昔に劣らぬ悲劇を迎えました。後醍醐天皇吉野へ御登りに
なったのが延元元年（西暦一三三六年）のくれ、それより後村上天皇･長慶天皇･後亀山
天皇と御位をおつぎになりますが、その後亀山天皇が京都へお帰りになりますのは元中
九年（西暦一三九二年）の冬、この間足掛け五十七年、于四代にわたって、都をお離れ
になり、山の中の安在所に、侘びしい月日をお送りになったのであります。
（中略）
若し京都へお帰りの事、それだけの御希望であれば、それは実はすぐに実現出来た筈
であります。どうなさればよいかと云うに、足利高氏の申し出のままに、三種の神器（
しんき）をお渡しになり、足利の幕府を御承認になれば、足利は喜んでお迎え申し上げ
たでしょう。しかしそれは暴力に屈し、反逆を認める事であって、つまりは道義道徳を
否定する事になりましょう。且つまたそれでは承久以来数多くの忠臣悉く犬死にになり
ましょう。それ故に後醍醐天皇は、どんなに苦しくても足利を許容せず、幕府を承認せ
られなかったのです。後醍醐天皇おかくれの際の御遺勅、太平記にはこう伝えています
。
「朝敵を悉く亡ぼして、四海を泰平ならしめんと思ふばかりなり。朕則ち早世の後は
、第七の宮（後村上天皇）を天子の位に即け奉り、賢士忠臣、事を謀り、義貞･義助が忠
功を賞して、子孫不義の行無くば、股肱の臣として天下を鎮むべし。之を思ふ故に、玉
骨は縦令（たとい）南山（なんざん）の苔に埋もるとも、魂魄は常に北闕（ほくけつ）
の天を望まんと思ふ。若し命を背き義を軽んぜば、君も継体の君にあらず、臣も忠烈の
臣にあらじ。」
即ち天皇は、無道不義との妥協を、どんな事があっても、お許しにならなかったので
あります。新田･楠木･名和･菊池を見捨てて、足利と手を握ってはならぬと仰せられたの
であります。この決然たる御態度の為に、四代五十七年間、吉野の山の中に、侘びしい
月日を送らせ給うた事は、日本の国柄を考える上に、日本の歴史をかえりみる上に、最
も重要な点であります。
天皇の御態度は、これで分かりました。次に臣下の態度を見ましょう。足利高氏大軍
をひきいて九州より攻め上りました時、楠木正成は一応賊兵を京都へ入れた上で、四方
より包囲して討とうと云う戦略を提案しましたが、朝廷では御採用にならず、京都へ入
れないように防戦せよと命ぜられました。正成、この上は異議を述べず、兵庫へ向かい
ます。その時の様子、太平記に次のように記してあります。
「正成是れを最後の合戦と思ひければ、嫡子正行が、今年十一歳にて供したりけるを
、思ふ様ありとて、桜井の宿より河内へ返し遣すとて、庭訓（ていきん）を残しけるは
、獅子子を産んで三日を経る時、数千丈の石壁より是れを擲ぐ、其の子獅子の機分あれ
ば、教へざるに中より跳返りて、死する事を得ずといへり、況や汝すでに十歳にあまり
ぬ、一言耳に留まらば、我が教誡に違ふ事なかれ、今度の合戦、天下の安否と思ふ間、
今生にて汝が顔を見んこと、是れが限と思ふなり、正成すでに討死すと聞きなば、天下
は必ず将軍（高氏）の代に成りぬと心得べし、然りといへども、一旦の身命を助からん
ために、多年の忠烈を失ひて、降人に出づる事あるべからず、一族若党の一人も死残っ
てあらん程は、金剛山のほとりに引籠って、敵寄せ来らば、命を養由が矢さきに懸けて
、義を紀信が忠に比すべし、是れぞ汝が第一の孝行ならんずると、泣々申含めて、各東
西へ別れにけり。」
これが楠木正成の、その子正行に与えた最後の教訓であります。そして数日後に、湊
川で奮戦の後、力尽きて弟の正季と差しちがえて自決したのでしたが、太平記はその事
を記したあとで、次のように述べています。
「そもそも元弘よりこのかた、かたじけなくも此の君にたのまれまゐらせて、忠を致
し功に誇る者、幾千万ぞや。しかれども此の乱又出で来て後、仁を知らぬ者は朝恩を捨
てて敵に属し、勇無き者は苟くも死を免れんとて刑戮にあひ、智無き者は時の変を弁ぜ
ずして道に違ふ事のみ有りしに、智仁勇の三徳を兼ねて、死を善道に守るは、古より今
に至る迄、正成程の者は未だ無かりつるに、兄弟共に自害しけるこそ、聖主再び国を失
ひて、逆臣横しまに威を振ふべき、その前表のしるしなれ。」
太平記は誰が作ったものか、著者は明らかでありませんが、足利の勢力の強い時に当
たって、きびしく之を逆臣ときめつけ、自決して果てた楠木正成に対して、絶讃の辞を
惜しまなかったのは、正邪の判断の正しい事と、堂々と之を発表して恐れなかった勇気
と、二つながら偉大なる歴史家であったと、すべきでしょう。
（以下略）
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52 Fifte-seven Years of the Yoshino Court [1]
The Kenmu Restoration failed, revealing its instability. It had taken a decade
of concerted effort from the Shouchuu Incident (1324), when the Bakufu force
attacked the houses of Toki and Tajimi. Many wabbiors had sacrificed their
lives for the destruction of the Kamakura Bakufu. Yet once imperial rule was
restored, Ashikaga Takauji revolted, and the sftermath was similar to the
tragic events that followed the Joukyuu (1221).
Emperor Go-Daigo went up to Mt. Yoshino in the 12th momth of the first year of
the Engen era (1336). There he was succeeded by Emperor Go-Murakami, Choukei,
and Go-Kameyama. Emperor Go-Kameyama returned to Kyouto in the winter of the
9th year of the Genchuu era (1392), which marks the end of this period of 57
years. Four generation of sovereign left the capital, to live in desolate
temporary headquarters in the mountain of Yoshino (Nara Prefecture).
(an omission)
If their wish were merely to return to the capital, they could have done so at
any time. They had only to hand over the three imperial regalia, according to
the demands made by Ashikaga Takauji, and recognize his Bakufu. Ashikaga
Takauji would have received the Emperors gladly. However, that would be
submitting to force and condoning treason, thus ignoring moral principles.
Moreover, the past sacrifices of the loyal subjects since the Joukyuu War would
all have been for nothing. Thus Emperor Go-Daigo never forgave Ashikaga
Takauji or recognized his Bakufu, in spite of his own suffering. His posthumous
instructions, according to The Chronicle of Grand Pacification (Taiheiki),
were:
"My only wish is to completely vanquish the enemy of the imperial court, and
bring peace to Japan. Upon my untimely death, institute the Seventh Prince
(Emperor Go-Murakami) as Emperor; let wise and loyal subjects discuss the
matters of government; prize the loyalty and worth of Nitta Yoshisada and his
younger brother Nitta Yoshisuke; if their descendants remain just and
honorable, they should keep the peace as the most trusted retainers. My spirit
shall constantly face northward towards the imperial palace, even though my
ashes lie buried beneath the mosses of Mt. Yoshino. If any disobey my decree
and take lightly their service for the nation, the Emperor will cease to be
legitimate, and the subjects will not be loyal followers."
The Emperor would permit no compromise with anarchy and depravity. He ordered
that there be no truce with Ashikaga Takauji, at the expense of deserting the
loyal clans Nitta, Kusunoki, Nawa and Kikuchi. Because of this unshakable
determination, four generations of sovereign led desolate lives for 57 years.
This is an important aspect of the national character of Japan and its history.
Let us consider his subjects. When Ashikaga Takauji came up to Kyouto from
Kyuushuu with a large army, Kusunoki Masashige proposed a strategy; let the
enemy enter into the city of Kyouto, then surround them on four sides and
attack. The court refused this idea; instead, Kusunoki Masashige was commanded
to defend the capital, barring them from entering it. Kusunoki Masashige
obeyed the decree without question, and headed to Hyougo. According to The
Chronicle of Grand Pacification (Taiheki),
"Kusunoki Masashige thought this would be the last battle. At this time his
first son Masatsura, age 11, accompained him. Masashige told the boy that he
was to return to Province of Kawachi (Ohsaka Prefecture) from Sakyrai Station.
Masashige's last words to his son were: 'Three days after the birth of its cub,
a lion throws it from a cliff of several thousand jou (over 3,000 meters)
height. If the cub is talented, it will instinctively turn in mid-air and will
survive the faii. You, who are over 10 years old, remember my words and heed
them always. I think the forthcoming battle will be decisive. Probably this
will be the last time I see you in this world. When you hear that Masasige has
died in battle, never doubt that political power is in Ashikaga Takauji's
hands. However, do not sacrifice years of dedication by surrendering, merely to
preserve your life for a short time. If there is a single child alive within
our clan, hold firm at the foot of Mt. Kongou. When the enemy attacks, fight so
bravely that only the skilful bow of Yang-you can fell you. Be as dedicated as
Emperor Gao's loyal subject Jixin. This is the utmost you can do as my son,'
Masashige, with tears in his eyes, spoke to his son and they parted, one to the
east, the other to the west."
This was tha last lesson Kusunoki Masashige gave to his son Masatsura. A few
days later, agter a desperate fight, Kusunoki Masashige and his younger brother
Masasue committed suicide by stabbing each other with their swords. The
Chronicle of Grand Pacification (Taiheiki) describes this, and then continues:
"Since the Genkou Incident, how many tens of thousands of men had been given
the honor of being requested to serve the Emperor, have performed their acts of
duty and then boasted of their accomplishments ? But after these wars,
dishonorable men turned their backs on the imperial house and sided with the
enemy. Those who were cowards tried to escape death and were executed. Those
who were ignorant did not understand the changing times and could not follow
the right path. Yet among them, from antiquity to the present, there was none
like Kusunoki Masashige, a man of wisdom, kindness and courage, who upheld
justice with his own life. His and his brother's suicides may have been the
sign that August Emperor Go-Daigo would again be deposed, and that his
treacherous subjects would take power illegally."
We do not know the identity of the auther of The Chronicle of Grand
Pacification (Taiheiki), but it was written during the rule of the Ashikaga.
Yet the book accuses the Ashikaga clan of being rebels, and praises Kusunoki
Masashige who committed suicide. The auther must have been a particularly
astute historian with a strong sense of justice, and the courage to express his
views openly.
(Rest omitted)
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少年日本史 (平泉澄)
The story of Japan （Hiraizumi Kiyoshi)
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