The Legend of Benkei - Japan's Greatest Warrior Monk

In this video we explore the fascinating and mythical story of Benkei, the greatest warrior monk Japan would ever know!
This video is done in collaboration with channels "Samurai and Ninja History", "Sengoku Studies戦国研究", and "Samurai Traditions of the Tada Genji" Check out their warrior monk videos!
Samurai and Ninja History: • Are Japanese Monks Spi...
Sengoku Studies戦国研究: • Armed Shintō Priests i...
Samurai Traditions of the Tada Genji: • Tada Genji Traditions ...
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Sources Used:
"The Tale of the Heike" (Translation by Royall Tyler)
"Legends of the Samurai" by Hiroaki Sato
"Saitō Mussashi-bō Benkei: Tales of the Wars of the Gempei" by James Seguin De Benneville
Further articles found through the Japanese Wiki Corpus.
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Music:
"Finding Movement" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
"Benkei" by Yasushi Akutagawa
"Music for Symphony Orchestra" by Yasushi Akutagawa
"Triptych for String Orchestra" by Yasushi Akutagawa
Artwork and Images:
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Other modern artist renditions and photos, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
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Social Media:
Facebook: / theshogunateyoutube
Twitter: / shogunatethe
Support the channel on Patreon! www.patreon.co...
#Samurai #History #Japan

[@lorenzoparasole9775]

Actually crazy how this video popped up after sohei came out in for honor

[@Christopherson2006]

Strange...

[@KinaIchi]

I was trying to find this because of that haha. All I would find when searching Benkai was cringy anime

[@ChadErwinda]

Fr

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

Benkei somehow pulling "You shall not pass" and Boromir's Last Stand simultaneously never stops being awesome

[@Srrrgp]

Or publius horatius cocles

[@aetius7139]

Or the unnamed viking berserker in stamford bridge...

[@SHINOBIStreetNinja]

Amazing!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

➡️

[@peterraab3411]

Aparantly these things have happened Before?

[@bandit6272]

Just because someone's story becomes exaggerated over time, doesn't mean they didn't exist. Even if the tales become fantastical, nearly every tale starts out as truth.

[@Torriotorres]

Yeah. I feel like Benkei did a good job, if you don't even know if he is real or not.

[@TheMylittletony]

And sometimes, crazy things do actually happen. There are lots of wild stories from ww1 and ww2 that actually happened, I imagine it's the same in other wars.

[@cookdislander4372]

300 story is probably bullshit too. End of the day we don't know

[@jonathanpeterson1984]

The Bible (cough cough) pardon me

[@doctorx2307]

@@jonathanpeterson1984 fr because if all that crazy stuff in the bible is "true" then this had to be true aswell

[@huytra8157]

The way Benkei died is almost a mirror to Dian Wei death in the romance of the three kingdoms. Dian Wei was a former bandit turned general in service of Cao Cao. He was one of Cao Cao bodyguards, fiercely loyal to Cao Cao. He died protecting Cao Cao withdrawing from an ambush by Jiang xiu.

[@shinsenshogun900]

1. If Dian Wei was to be described before his service as a Major, Commandant, and then Colonel to Cao Cao, he had done his deed of slaying a certain Li Yong in the tense past as a fugitive youxia (the Han Chinese equivalent of a drifter/ronin) 2. The ambush is specifically located within the once surrendered city of Wan (Yuan City if players from the game Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty are to read), where Cao Cao's camp is raided by the local roaming warlord Zhang Xiu, not Jiang, Zhang. This surprising uprising cost Cao Cao his swift shadowy steed, his bodyguard officer Dian Wei, his eldest son Cao Ang whose horse he lent to his father, and his obscure nephew Cao Anmin thanks to offending the local warlord (he had been awarded the city by the provincial governor Liu Biao in compassion to having killed Zhang Xiu's predecessor, whose warhost had come from leaving the rump Han court in Chang'an recently devastated by the Liang warlord regents Li Jue and Guo Si, successors of the slain Grand Chancellor Dong Zhuo) by characteristically wooing his late uncle Zhang Ji's widowed aunt Lady Zou, of which his adviser Jia Xu would take advantage of the Han Imperial Regent-Minister's accompanying garrison.

[@LV_427]

Also that one nameless Viking warrior on the Stamford Bridge. He slew every English soldier that tried to cross past him, effectively holding the entire English army of king Harold Godwinson at one side of the river while the Norsemen under king Harald Sigurdsson got their time to regroup and prepare for battle at the other side. He eventually fell when an English soldier floated under the bridge and thrusted his spear upward, through the gaps in the bridge and mortally wounding him.

[@shion2085_bluerider]

If you're a fan of One Piece, you'll notice that Benkei's weapons and way of dying resemble someone else's. Benkei's weapon was a naginata, and legend has it that he died standing. like a white beard.

[@pavp001]

And also the warrior monk from the second chapter of Wano, all with the bridge battle

[@SniperKing-O]

I had the exact same thought! Plus, also both Benkei and Yoshitsine respective descriptions remind me of Guts and Griffith from Berserk. Guts being a giant of a man, while Griffith. being noticeably slender and feminine. It was also thanks to Guts that Griffith and his mercenary group, the Band of the Hawk were able to attain great fame and glory. Just like those two legendary warriors. :o

[@denistardif6650]

Also tashigi's goal to collect all swords from people who don't deserve them.

[@KinaIchi]

You mean they resembled Benkai. This story is almost 1000 years old

[@randallpetroelje3913]

Minamoto Yoshitsine- his best friend like Robin Hood and his monk friend. Love this. Every person should have a friend like this.

[@springmage6321]

Just don't go starting fights and expecting to make friends.. ✌😜

[@yeanahnah2976]

didn’t we just get a character like this in for honor ?

[@JDHD99]

Sohei was inspired by the Warrior Monk Benkei, Ubisoft said it on their website.

[@kommissarsenfklo576]

I mean its obvious once you look at Sohei​

[@JC-td1bt]

Yea this is who he is based on

[@AreteAskesis]

Time for me to start playing this game again after years of not

[@kingdovachief5707]

I'm here because of the For Honor trailer. This is still pretty awesome though.

[@nejiefelipe]

when i saw benkei on NiOH 2 carrying a lot of weapons i thought that this would be all invented, but now listening to his history it seens they pictured him quite accurate... 😌

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:00: 🗡 A warrior monk named Saito Musashibo Benkei arrives in Kyoto and embarks on a quest to defeat and take the swords of one thousand unworthy Samurai, but is ultimately defeated by a young and agile opponent. 4:01: 😮 Benkei's childhood was filled with shock and struggle, leading to his rebellious nature. 7:37: 👹 A young samurai named Minamoto Yoshitsune defeats the monstrous monk Benkei. 11:30: 📜 The Genpei War begins in 1180 as the Taira clan's influence over the Imperial Court prompts a call for aid, leading to the emergence of the MiniMoto Lords who rally under MiniMoto noyoritomo. 14:45: 🎥 The story is told in an obscure early Akira Kurosawa film called The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail. Recap by Tammy AI

[@TheCynicalOptimist]

Speaking of Genpei war, I think we should appreciate Minamoto no Yoshinaka. He might be a rival to Yoritomo, but he has done much in Genpei war, many of which did much to fulfill Yoritomo's cause. It's his action during the kurikara pass which was the turning point of the war. It's a shame that in the end, he was killed and people don't acknowledge his achievements much anymore.

[@mikostubborn]

Thankyou for making this video! Watching this giving me nostalgia,used to be reading a manga about Yoshitsune’s feat in trying to defeat the Taira while “collecting” his loyal servants whom Benkei is his first and most badass and loyal servant. Once again thanks for making this video!

[@SkipidyFlipity]

I'm here because of the new For Honor character

[@morricane5087]

It may be worth noting that what historical records (i.e., not tales) offer about Benkei is that his name is being mentioned a few times in listings of Yoshitsune's entourage. Nothing else: a man bearing the name did exist and was a vassal of Yoshitsune, but everything else is either fictionalized or fictive. Popular accounts and later adaptions (such as Nô plays etc.) are mostly based off the 15th-century war tale "Gikeiki" (The Record of Yoshitsune), which is the primary extant text responsible for fleshing out the figure.

[@denistardif6650]

Maybe he was part of his entourage and was made into a samurai born from nobility this would maybe explain him being depicted with both samurai and farm hand weapons? Just speculating here or something. Maybe he was not born of nobility and people at the time felt they should make him into some sort of monster instead of having common people believe anybody could become samurai. Again just spitballing here.

[@zalop.]

I love you vids man I feel that benkei don’t get enough attention but you always come to make sure that the stories gets told that’s a W

[@hanchiman]

Benkei basically added some colour and personality in the Genpei War or Tale of Heikei. Well Yoshitsune also have semi mytological background as well

[@mehlessmidori602]

So mythological, they have Yoshitsune a freaking lightsaber in Warriors Orochi.

[@TraitofSiNN727]

I learned something awesome today just in 18:13. and it was well worth it. now I can go around to friends and amaze them with this story. anything that deals with the Japanese old culture I'm so in. if a friend even gets a chance to say there's a Japanese show going on at the local museum I'm there before they get a chance to tell me.

[@sandroclemus]

There's an anime movie called " Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust " where his competition was a hunter group called " The Marquez Brothers ". The biggest and strongest of the brothers, which was a heavy melee expert, dies just like that, standing up. Now I can see where they got the inspiration for that character.

[@grantmathieson650]

Every lord needs a tank in his party.

[@SengokuStudies]

It is entirely possible that Yoshitsune wanted to be independent or completely usurp Yoritomo. Yoshitsune was not the only one that fell afoul. After his decisive victory in the Genpei War and most of the mopping up operations, Yoritomo launched a purge in which he killed off those he saw as a potential threat to his new regime.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

😲☃️

[@nont18411]

He also killed Noriyori, another one of his brothers. Which looking in the hindsight, Yoritomo’s paranoia benefited the Hojo a great deal.

[@ITALZONLY89]

He’s just been announced as a new hero in the game for honour

[@TalesofDawnandDusk]

I'm very blessed to actually live in the city next to Hiraizumi where Benkei's grave, along with a Buddhist hall dedicated to him.

[@mydudes9248]

The duel of Benkei vs Yoshitsune almost reminds me of the initial duel between Guts and Griffith in Berserk.

[@sachinkakade8735]

Thanks from the heart, it's a great history and story to listen and watch.

[@BenkeiWatches]

Great video! Benkei inspired me in my business, and the stories about him and Yoshitsune are amazing!

[@DionysianLovecraftian]

You should cover the genpai war more and the people associated with it. Also the Kamakura period. Maybe after you finished your series on the long Edo period this could be an interesting endeavor to tap into.

[@TheShogunate]

I hope to!

[@LSSJTHOR]

I feel *Kaoru Hanayama's* "standing man" tattoo in the anime/manga " *Baki* " was inspired by Benkei "the standing death".

[@wintermute7378]

- Benkei doesn't sleep. He waits - When Benkei jumps into a lake he doesn't get wet. The lake gets Benkeied

[@dislikebutton4981]

I wonder if the duel on the bridge is the inspiration for the Sekiro corrupted monk fight that also takes place on a bridge.

[@MsFrostitute]

The fact my name dates back and has connections to such astounding stories.. is unbelievable. Thank you for this, it means so very much. Amazing work as always.

[@mohammedibrahim42]

Thank you buddy for making this awesome documentary about legend benki I read about him long time ago, anyway God bless you and bless your family おだいじに！ 忍者

[@iansahleen1173]

His death is oddly reminiscent of the Berserker at Stamford bridge.

[@NicholasW943]

I love how every picture the artist is like "how ugly can I make this noble without getting killed?"

[@sevenproxies4255]

This monk must surely have inspired the character Ekei in the game Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny

[@michaelthepizzahuman]

Episode 2 of the edo period was AMAZING, I can’t wait for episode 3!

[@89volvowithlazers]

The human experience creates our literature our fantasy and the more we embrace the/ our human story I believe we can embrace the potential of us all. These stories can block stop and prevent false narratives and lies. If we know our stories and our history false profits will have no chance to sway us in times of want or need.

[@A.Clifton]

Weird parallels between Benkei's death on 1189 and the Dane of Stamford Bridge in 1066.

[@LSSJTHOR]

Also to Kaoru Hanayama's "the standing man" tattoo in Baki. Benkei's tale was called "the standing death" that can be a coincidence?

[@ericmixer]

I know the story of Minamoto Yoshitsune and Saito Musashibo Benkei they are legends to our time !

[@SuperBondfan007]

I had no idea Benkei was an actual person. I just thought it was the title of Akutagawa's piece of music, and when I saw his name on the video, I didn't really make the connection until I heard it in the video. I'm guessing the tune is about him, even though it's such a short jaunty little piece of music. (I also really enjoy the other Akutagawa pieces you used, particularly the Music for Symphony Orchestra. THAT'S a fun one!)

[@TheShogunate]

It's such a great piece of music!

[@otanijourney6048]

Can You make a video on the Ainu People and Sakanoue no Tamuramaro

[@koltoharcos]

I think in the 1990s Japan actually made a 54 episode series on the subject you just discussed. It was on KZbin about eight years ago. I can’t find it now.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

I remember reading about that battle on the bridge back in the seventies, but had forgotten who it was until I started watching this video. In the anime One Piece, sometimes they sing a funny song about Binkie's sake. I have a feeling it's a reference to Benkei.

[@adamhbrennan]

“Wild and unpredictable” doesn’t sound very typically monk-like

[@TheShogunate]

Not one bit haha

[@undeadkitty334]

Tales of Genji is a good story. it tells about them.

[@ludlowaloysius]

Benkei is the irl inspiration for Whitebeard and Raoh’s deaths.

[@obliviondust2719]

Benkei vs giant enemy crab 🦀 who wins?

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

why is this so funny

[@avalonjustin]

I feel bad for Benkei. If there is truth to these legends, he was a wild outcast searching for meaning in life. Something worth fighting for. Then after his battles with Yoshitsune, he found his best friend.

[@thelemming54]

Great work!

[@-RONNIE]

I heard the legend of Benkei before but never knew all this information thank you.

[@jaredrevis4594]

I have actually watched The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail for a college class on Samurai

[@yallnotlikedatirl6623]

Griffith: yoshitune Guts: Benkei

[@Jobe-13]

I'd love to see a Studio Ghibli retelling of the legend of Benkei.

[@seinaumaluco]

I don't think this story is very suitable for Studio Ghibli.

[@roeberdt-bT.1021]

...references of a remnsnt.,... ...Thanks for the post, absolutely appreciated.,... (...there's always more to the story/tale.)

[@roeberdt-bT.1021]

...Abbott and Costello.,...

[@lightshadow5294]

Fantastic video thank you

[@humanitiestheproblem]

Samurai Champloo has an episode about this, where Jin fights on the red bridge, against a bigger opponent who has traveled the land defeating unworthy Samurais and taking their swords. Direct reference to this legend, another reason that's one of my favorite all time animes.

[@rabbyd542]

Yup,I saw the parallel to that too. Such a sick anime. I've grown to appreciate that it's not a series with 500 episodes. Best intro and outro music ever.

[@kingleothesomethingsomethi285]

@@rabbyd542glad i’m not the only one that enjoys the music.

[@crwydryny]

Benki is among my favourite stories from Japan, up there with the 47 ronin

[@善悪の基準は人それぞれ]

He is the only man who fits the background music of “Battle With Gilgamesh” in FF.

[@Nero_Karel]

His ambivalent but doubtlessly outstanding life reminds me a lot of the Norse story of Starkad

[@JiggaMan1297]

I doubt wether the 1,000 men he defeated would all be considered actual "samurai" probably more so just travelling warriors. Which is an equally amazing feat considering the period.

[@ghassanhammad855]

Great episode ! can you make one about Mongaku Shonin ? I've found very limited information about him

[@smarc1325]

i have a Benkei Backpiece by Kuniyoshi Tattoo since 2004.. very proud of it.

[@TheSmaugDragon]

I wanna see this movie/anime. What an unreal being.

[@evanjrclarke1079]

I actually watched Men Who Tread On Tiger's Tail. Good film, albeit a bit slow paced. Benkei and the civilian were my favorite characters

[@arseneken]

Wow it’s my first time seeing a video within a minute of posting

[@arseneken]

That being said, great video! Thank you very much!

[@wetdog1445-tv4ny]

Benkei is the composite for the character "Jebu" in the saga, "Shike" by Robert Shea. Even as fiction, Shea's saga is a fabulous and highly recommended piece of literature

[@herman1francis]

This story was touching

[@seinaumaluco]

This story reminded me of Berserk.

[@birddogbat]

Read about this from novels, Children of Hachiman and Shike. Worth a read.

[@anandgupta1989]

Uncanny similarity with battle of Stamford bridge !

[@dematb]

I take the time to comment that i appreciate your diction, for a non english speaker, you’re easy to understand.

[@stuarthynes6136]

In 80s was at airport and went to buy a book. Saw one.. Shike, time of the dragons, then there was Shike, last of the zinja next to it. Bought both. By Robert Shea. Basic tale of this story romanticised a bit. Still read them occasionally. Well worn.

[@tatarcavalry2342]

THAT'S JAPANESE OGHUZ KHAGAN

[@seanpoore2428]

Omg it's Guts and Griffith....

[@nickarellano9487]

Benkai was a Hella hard boss battle in NIOH2

[@AncestorEmpire1]

Theory: I think Beneki inspired the creation of Gilgamesh in the final fantasy mythos.

[@CheeWaiLee1972]

lol I was just about to comment on that. Gilgamesh in FF14 is hilarious.

[@AncestorEmpire1]

@@CheeWaiLee1972 post his introduction in FF5. He’s treated as comic relief, except for FF13-2 and FF12. I wish he was in FF16. That game gets my highest recommendation.

[@josh-oo]

​​@@AncestorEmpire1He wasn't comic relief in Type-0. In that game, he's a godking of an entire nation, but his entire nation is wiped out by a magic nuke in the first 20 minutes, and when people die in that game, everyone forgets them. Since his entire nation gets wiped out in the blink of an eye, he forgets his entire culture and everyone who ever knew him, which means he also forgets who he is. So now he's just a lost, lonely, invincible, unaging, 8 foot tall badass in red samurai armor, going around fighting anyone who gets in his way with a giant greatsword. You fight him a couple of times, and during both fights your objective isn't to win, but to lead him toward your enemies so he'll fight them instead.

[@AncestorEmpire1]

@@josh-oo I was just going to state that. Now back to watching Jill in FF16. Aka just as heartbreaking as watching Guts during the eclipse.

[@zakuzeon7382]

See some anime/manga comparisons have been made. I started thinking this sounds similar to Gats & Griffith from Berserk. At least in The Golden Age arc.

[@godzilla5599]

I've read about certain Japanese the Americans ran into in WWII that were way bigger than the average,running six plus feet tall,maybe even six-five plus so Benki maybe being one of these folks may give a historical explanation to him,and at that time even if he was in the five ten to six two range he'd be a giant to the average person running around back then. Or maybe he was like Andre the Giant and had gigantism,I could imagine what a normal Japanese would think if they encountered a seven plus foot tall man with Andre's bulk? Yea I'd not be shocked if they called him an oni. Some tall tails growing up around such a person would also be expected,curious they say Yoshitsuni was maybe supposed to become a monk and Benki WAS a monk...could be why they really met? Could be they were a real pair? And the story/legend just grew around them over time, especially if Benki was unusually sized and maybe unusual looking.

[@johndole9810]

You should made a biography of miao xing...

[@soulie2001]

Wait wait wait, Oniwaka was his nickname, like the Big ass gentle guy from Samurai Champloo?

[@waffle3602]

So we’ll done thank you

[@Gameking40]

Am I the only one who kinda gets a Golden Age Era Guts and Griffith vibe from these two?

[@mr.unfunny329]

This guys going in the book of future dnd characters

[@augustopoliche8908]

I was about to say that It'd be so cool to have a vinland like manga and anime about benkei, then I noticed thorfinn father's dead is based on benkei's

[@nobodyanymore]

Reminded me of Guts and Griffith

[@theonitoad7474]

Love it

[@CleversonSantos]

Woahhh just an hour ago!!! Lucky me!!!

[@christopherhughes3895]

Musashi: "Hold my saki 😈."

[@NathanSharette]

Нет слов, просто потрясающе

[@chrisdiokno5600]

Such a badass

[@Bry_is_the_name]

Forever memorialize in nioh 2 ( my favorite yokai in the game )

[@FUBUOF]

Here because he is now going to be a playable character in For Honor

[@ilikeanime1610]

Who would win Benkei or Uesugi kenshin both were monster monk

[@MCorpReview]

Benkei standing death 💀 very much resembles that of Dian wei, one of cao cao’s retainers who was ambushed by the warlord zhang xiu 😮 Since 3 kingdoms happened way before the genpei 😂war, I wouldn’t be surprised if benkei❤is a fictional character inspired by Dian wei 😮

[@Torriotorres]

The lineages of Japanese blacksmiths can be traced to around this time of history. It is likely, Benkei was a real person.

[@robertfowler7038]

Still can’t beat this dude in Nioh 2

[@arnoldmojados399]

Im bothered How Strong benkei is and great warrior he couldn't beat Yoshitsune? Benkei uses force but Yoshitsune uses finesse and patience

[@Mikesman1000]

A person worthy to see if you have a time machine.

[@qwertymcflurry3013]

Benkei is the kinda guy to have a white mustache but be called white beard.

[@ishakadriansyah8085]

now i know the origin of zoro vs sword collector in one piece

[@mr.ewing8312]

Didn't the hojo start up in Kanto at the same time during this war

[@giuseppelogiurato5718]

I dunno, Japanese history is interesting and everything, but these videos always just make me wish I could afford sushi. because it's delicious and it used to be affordable... Now, I'm not part of the "sushi class" anymore... I can still make 김팦 though! Haha! 😝