上の写真は昨日も紹介した博多と博多湾を一望できる上空写真と、今回はじめて参観できた「元寇史料館」で確認できた元軍船舶の「侵略」状況ジオラマ。この状況は元寇の１回目、1274年の「文永の役」のときのものです。13世紀において日本社会はこういう惨禍を実体験した。
わたしたち北海道もその開拓殖民に当たっては、「北門の鎖鑰〜さやく」（鎖鑰というのは「戸締まり・用心」のような意味）という国家意志・目的が大きな要素として行われてきた歴史経緯。北方からのロシアの侵略脅威に対して、日本社会が立ち上がって国土開発努力が傾けられてきた。
しかし明治以前の江戸時代という一国平和体制が国民意識に深く沈殿してなのか、日本人は対外的な外交とか、国家戦略的な自らの立ち位置という論議には「熱しやすく冷めやすい」側面が大きいのではないか。とくに戦後社会ではある意味タブーとまでしてきたように思う。
そういった流れの中で、元寇についての国民としての深い認識というものも欠けている。
なんとなく「神風が吹いて、侵略勢力軍は船が難破して崩壊した」という認識。わたし自身も、それほどリアリティを持って認識していなかった。記録を見てみると元の軍兵が着ていた鎧の実物、兜などの戦闘具の現物などが保存されていて、実際的な「戦況」も解明されている。
博多の街は上陸した元軍・侵略者によって一夜にして灰燼に帰した事実もわかる。国家としての侵略軍兵に対してほぼ1/3程度、総数10,000程度の九州各地域の武士層によって「抵抗した」というのが実態のように思える。当時の戦闘スタイルでは日本側武士層は単騎で敵前に進出し「名乗りを上げて」戦おうとしたという。鎌倉期の武士の意識として「武名を上げる」ことが最優先とされ個人戦優位の考え方が良く現れている。一方侵略軍は当然ながら数を頼んでの集団戦で、そうした鎌倉武士を各個撃破してきていた。指揮命令系統的にも「日本国家防衛軍」的な集団指導が為されていたとは言い難い。日本の「武士」というのは「国土防衛戦争」という概念自体を持てなかったのだ。一所懸命の「自分自身の領地」を保守し、そのなかでの権力を志向するのみの存在だった。言ってみれば国家観を持っていない状態。
結果として侵略軍の上陸を許し、博多の市街地を炎上・灰燼にさせてしまった。「文永の役」の段階では日本人の意識としては、そのようだったと言えるのだろう。元寇の研究、明日以降につづく。
English version⬇
[Experiencing invasion and historically experiencing external pressure - Northern Kyushu]
The invading army occupied and attacked Japan with national will. The Kamakura warriors, on the other hand, were “single-minded” and “name first” in their outposts. They had no clear national defence strategy. ...
The photo above shows the aerial view of Hakata and Hakata Bay introduced yesterday, and a diorama of the ‘invasion’ of Yuan ships, which we were able to see at the Yuan Pirates Historical Museum for the first time. This situation is from the first invasion, the “Bun'ei no Yaku” in 1274, when Japanese society experienced this kind of devastation in the 13th century.
In Hokkaido, too, the key to the northern gate was a major element of the state's will and purpose in the development and colonisation of the island. In response to the threat of Russian aggression from the north, Japanese society rose to the occasion and efforts were made to develop the country.
However, perhaps because of the one nation peace system of the Edo period (pre-Meiji period) that was deeply ingrained in the national consciousness, Japanese people tend to ‘easily cool down’ when discussing foreign diplomacy and their own position in terms of national strategy. Especially in post-war society, it seems to have been taboo in a sense.
In this context, there is also a lack of a deep national awareness of the Genko.
The perception is that ‘a kamikaze blew and the invading force's army collapsed after their ships were wrecked’. I myself was not aware of it with that much reality. The records show that the actual armour worn by the original soldiers and actual battle gear such as helmets have been preserved, and the actual “battle situation” has also been clarified.
It also shows the fact that the city of Hakata was burnt to ashes overnight by the landed Yuan troops and invaders. The actual situation seems to be that about 1/3 of the invading army as a nation was “resisted” by a total of about 10,000 samurai from the various regions of Kyushu. According to the fighting style of the time, the samurai on the Japanese side advanced into the enemy's front line single-handedly and attempted to fight ‘by making a name for themselves’. In the awareness of the samurai of the Kamakura period, the highest priority was given to “raising one's name”, and the idea of the superiority of individual warfare is well expressed. The invading army, on the other hand, naturally fought in groups, and defeated the Kamakura warriors individually. In terms of the chain of command, it is difficult to say that the group leadership of the “Japanese National Defence Force” was being implemented. The Japanese “warriors” were incapable of the concept of a “war of national defence”. They were only interested in maintaining their own territory and power within it. In other words, they had no national outlook.
As a result, they allowed the invading army to land and burn the city of Hakata to the ground. The Japanese people's consciousness at the time of the Bun'ei no Yaku could be described as such. Research on the Genko, to be continued tomorrow onwards.
