Last Stands

The concept of the last stand is something that’s incredibly prominent throughout the Tale of the Heike. People who have the option to run but decide to stay and fight to their death against the enemy show an incredible level of bravery and strength, especially when their sacrifice saves the lives of the rest of their fellow soldiers. Of course, there are countless soldiers in the Tale of the Heike that go into battle knowing they will certainly not return, and especially in Chapter 9, with battles taking place in the capital and at Ichi-no-Tani. However, a true last stand is something more than that, and a perfect example lies in the deaths of Yoshinaka and Kanehira.

With their backs against the wall, Yoshinaka and Kanehira run from the capital to avoid being captured and killed by Yoritomo. They fight and kill many soldiers, but upon realizing that there is no way for them to escape, Kanehira tells Yoshinaka to go to the nearby forest and take his own life, as to avoid being killed by someone of little importance. Kanehira, determined to protect his foster brother while he ends his life honorably, viciously holds off Yoritomo’s soldiers. When he realizes that Yoshinaka has died, he stops fighting and kills himself.

Other examples of what can be considered a last stand take place during the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, during the individual fights that are examined in Chapter 9. Atsumori in particular is another notable example, as he turns around to fight instead of escaping with the rest of the Heike. Although Atsumori’s case is not as cut-and-dry as Yoshinaka and Kanehira’s, their desire to die with honor remains the same, which is at its core what any last stand is all about.