Musashibô Benkei
Here's a movie about how Benkei (Joji Oka) tried to collect a thousand swords, and met and succored Ushiwakamaru (Hideko Takamine) in the waning days of the Heian Period of Japanese history. The period extended from 794 through 1185, and was named for Heian-kyo, modern Kyoto, the capital of Japan during this period. Although the country was nominally united under the Emperor, much of the power was wielded by the Fujiwara clan, which inevitably provided women who became the mothers of the next Emperor. The Fujiwaras fought almost constant wars with the three other clans, and the samurai clans, particularly the Taira, arose from mercenaries to major powers during this period. Although Chinese influence remained important, the rise of a distinct Japanese culture marked the conclusion of the classic period of Japan.Into this mix came Benkei, a man of uncertain origin. He became a warrior monk, and eventually served the leader of the Minamoto clan.I found the movie obscure; like many national legends, it has details tha defy the understanding of outsiders. The rther blurry print did not help.
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