Japanese heroic legend, Davis retelling
Ghosts of the Taira
Davis follows the account of the Taira defeat with a legendary sea encounter. During a storm, armoured ghosts rise from the waves and try to halt Yoshitsune and Benkei's boat. Benkei sets aside the prospect of further fighting and recites Buddhist prayers, after which the spirits fade and the sea becomes calm.
Also known as Taira ghosts · Phantom host of Dan-no-ura
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In the sources
An explicitly legendary continuation
DocumentedDavis recounts the warriors' defeat and introduces the next glimpse of Dan-no-ura as legendary. That wording distinguishes the supernatural encounter from his preceding account of conflict.
An armed host quieted by prayer
TraditionalThe ghosts wear torn, blood-stained armour and reach toward the boat. Benkei uses a rosary and Buddhist prayers; the wailing stops, the spirits fade into the sea, and the water becomes calm.
Context & interpretation
The entry records a legend connected with the battle of Dan-no-ura, not independent confirmation of an apparition. Davis's account of fishermen and marked crabs is a reported folkloric explanation within that legend. The plate illustrates the story and supplies no separate eyewitness evidence.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
from a legendary point of viewOpen 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
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
there arose a ghostly company of the Taira clan.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter II, printed p. 44
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0050
- Original scan leaf
- 60
- Recorded leaf number
- 60
- Current Reader position
- 49
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
