Japanese heroic legend, Davis retelling
Benkei
Davis portrays Benkei through extraordinary strength, wit, tenderness and a taste for practical jokes. His encounter with Yoshitsune begins as a fight but ends with Benkei asking to become the younger warrior's retainer. Their subsequent adventures make companionship an important part of the heroic cycle.
Also known as Yoshitsune's retainer · Warrior Benkei
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In the sources
Strength joined with tenderness
TraditionalDavis's description combines feats of strength with Buddhist learning, practical joking and compassion toward Yoshitsune's household. The text deliberately gives the imposing warrior several different qualities.
Defeat leading to companionship
TraditionalAfter Yoshitsune evades his attacks and overcomes him, Benkei asks to become his retainer. Davis presents their resulting association as a union of strength and friendship.
Context & interpretation
This entry concerns Davis's legendary portrayal, not a comprehensive verified biography. His feats and accounts of an extraordinary birth remain elements of the retelling. The illustration places Benkei with Yoshitsune in the ghostly Taira encounter, providing a scene from their shared cycle rather than a historical portrait.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
courage, wit, resource, and a wonderful tendernessOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter II, printed p. 40
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0045
- Original scan leaf
- 54
- Recorded leaf number
- 54
- Current Reader position
- 44
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
become a retainer of the young conqueror.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter II, printed p. 43
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0049
- Original scan leaf
- 59
- Recorded leaf number
- 59
- Current Reader position
- 48
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
