Hatakeyama Shigetada

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Hatakeyama Shigetada (畠山重忠)(1164-1205) was a samurai who fought in the Genpei War, in Japan. Originally fighting for the Taira clan, he switched sides for the battle of Dan-no-ura, and ended the war on the winning side.

Following the war, when his son was killed by Hōjō Tokimasa, Shigetada spoke up, and was therefore killed as well, along with the rest of his family. His brave attempt to defend his honor, along with various acts of strength and skill during the war earned him a place in the Heike Monogatari and other chronicles of the period, in which he is praised for his martial ability and bravery.

In one amusing anecdote from the Heike monogatari, he is described as competing, along with a number of other warriors, to be the first across the Uji River. When his horse is shot in the head with an arrow, he abandons the creature and uses his bow as a staff to help himself across. Just as he is about to climb the bank, however, his godson Okushi no Shigechika asks for help, and is grabbed and thrown ashore by Shigetada; Shigechika then stands tall and proclaims himself the winner, the first across the river.

[edit] References

• Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
• Varley, Paul (1994). "Warriors of Japan as Portrayed in the War Tales." Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.