Taira no Masakado

Masakado, a sixteen-year-old orphan, is sent by his uncles to the capital city to study and become a civilized man capable of leading his powerful and wealthy clan. The moment he steps foot in the city, the country boy from a frontier province receives his first lesson. After a long time away, he returns home to his younger brothers and family estate, determined to build a better life for all. However, his brothers have grown up to be meek and cowardly young men, and his uncles have picked his inheritance clean.

Masakado asks his uncles to return what is rightfully his, but their response is a beating. Undeterred, he appeals to the government, only to find that the superstitious elite class in the government is preoccupied with their own concerns and the pirates in the southern seas. This family squabble eventually escalates into a full-blown war, which goes down in history as one of the greatest threats to Japan's central government.

The great Japanese historical novelist Eiji Yoshikawa brings this story of a life of loyalty, insurgency, compassion, treachery, and love to life. Honesty and trust in others do not always lead to a happy ending, as Masakado discovers. His determination to reclaim what is his, coupled with the shortcomings of his brothers and the indifference of the government, sets in motion a chain of events that will have lasting consequences.

This captivating tale of Taira no Masakado's rebellion is a must-read for anyone interested in Japanese history and the complexities of human nature. Readers are invited to delve into the life of this warrior rebel and witness the unfolding of a pivotal moment in Japan's past. "Taira no Masakado" is a compelling work that explores the themes of loyalty, power, and the consequences of one's actions in the face of adversity.

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