The First Samurai who became a GOD | Taira no Masakado
Taira no Masakado is often remembered as Japan’s first true samurai, due to his leadership of a self-governing party and his rebellion against the central government in Kyoto during the Heian period. He defied the established order and formed his own power base, a characteristic that resonates with the later samurai ethos. Born into a distinguished aristocratic family, Masakado lived the life of a rural knight in the eastern provinces of Japan, in the lands northeast of what is now Tokyo. Yet his legacy would not be one of quiet service. He would become the leader of the first recorded rebellion against the imperial government in Kyoto.
With remarkable speed and strategy, Masakado seized control of several provinces, ousting local officials and taking possession of the imperial seals and keys, symbols of authority. His bold defiance shook the foundations of centralized rule.
According to the Shōmonki, an anonymous chronicle written shortly after his death, a divine oracle from Hachiman, the god of archery and war, proclaimed Masakado as the emperor of Japan. This message was delivered through a shamaness, and Masakado, emboldened by this divine endorsement, assumed the title Shinnō meaning New Emperor, even though there was already an exiting emperor.
Legends tell of a mystical encounter in which a local goddess bathed Masakado in radiant light, rendering him nearly invincible—save for a single shadowed spot on his body, similar to the myth of the Achilles’ heel. In the war that followed his imperial proclamation, it is said that he was betrayed by a lover, and an arrow—striking the one vulnerable place on his body—ended his life.
His severed head was taken to Kyoto and displayed in the eastern marketplace as a warning to future rebels. The emperor forbade a proper burial or memorial, leaving Masakado’s spirit to wander the earth, restless and unredeemed. Thus, he became one of the “Three Great Onryō” of Japan, vengeful spirits believed to wreak havoc in the world of the living as retribution for the injustices they suffered.
Over the centuries, Masakado’s legacy evolved. Many came to revere him as a god or demigod, admiring his courage in defying imperial rule. Shrines were built in his honor, and offerings made to appease his wrath. Stories persist of his ghost appearing throughout the ages, bringing misfortune, plagues, earthquakes, and other calamities whenever his memory was dishonored. Yet paradoxically, he is also regarded as a protective deity, a bringer of prosperity to those who venerate him sincerely.
To this day, people still visit his shrine in Tokyo, leaving prayers and offerings in hopes of earning his favor—or at least avoiding his wrath. This is the legend of Taira no Masakado: the divine rebel, the first samurai, and the vengeful spirit, who perhaps still holds power in Japan's spiritual realm.
This is his story.
00:00 Introduction
04:01 Japan in the 10th century
07:29 Ancestry & early Life
10:54 Family Feud & The rise of a legend (Shōmonki)
19:46 Taking over the regions of Japan (Shōmonki)
22:19 Masakado becomes the New Emperor (Shōmonki)
24:57 Masakado's letter to the capital (Shōmonki)
31:05 Masakado's final battle & death
34:50 Masakado's Vengeful Spirit & Legacy
All credit for the music goes to: No Copyright Music
Track: Under the moonlight (Matouqin) NCM version
Music provided by Youtube Free Music Library (NCM)
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkvOjxHnPOI
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