This is the tale of the early life of Prince Umayato,
later to be known as Crown Prince Shotoku.
Over 1,400 years ago,
Korea was comprised of three warring kingdoms.
Koguryo, Silla, and Paikche.
Silla and Paikche, in particular...
fought for control of Kaya, southernmost tip of Korea.
It was because Kaya produced the peninsula's most iron.
January 585...
It's him. Be careful.
You're from Silla?!
Stop!
Don't kill me!
You're going to Wakoku only to make tiles?
The people are building a temple.
They need tiles.
The government sent me because they need apothecaries.
Can't the people of Wakoku grow their own herbs?
It's the same with music.
They leave it all to Paikche.
They're fighting in Wakoku again?
They're always fighting.
That's why they want iron and weapons.
It's in sight. It's Wakoku.
It's Wakoku!
"Wakoku."
That is what foreigners called the land of Yamato.
{}PRINCE SHOTOKU
This is punishment!
Punishment by the Emperor!
Kill Buddhism!
Pull down the statue!
March 585...
Asuka, capital of the state of Yamato, was in disarray.
Two clans clashed over newly introduced Buddhism,
led by Soga Umako and Mononobe Moriya.
Moriya had received an order from Emperor Bidatsu
to burn down all the Buddhist images in Umako's mansion.
Great Minister Soga!
This is an edict from the Emperor!
Since you brought these Buddhist images from Paikche,
the provinces have been swept by an evil plague.
The suffering of the people could lead to our destruction.
You are ordered to destroy all Buddhist Images!
Our compassionate Emperor...
could not have Issued that edict!
You probably pressed him to do it!
What of it?!
The Emperor has agreed with our concerns!
NAKATOM KATSUMI
Since time immemorial,
countless gods and deities have existed in Yamato.
We need no foreign gods!
Drag it out!
Strike the sinners in punishment!
Great Minister!
An evil curse may have befallen you!
Cough in here and exorcise the evil.
Your Highness!
When did you arrive?
You're a strange one, Great Minister.
Though you teach me Buddhism,
you still believe in other gods as well.
Buddha still has not cured my toothache.
Though treated shabbily, he does not punish these men!
This god is slow to act.
Is that why you doubt him?
No, I do not. However...
This was written in the sutra I read today...
"There is only one truth in this world."
"Only one."
"Only one truth. Only one."
It has a nice ring to it.
The sutra was one you obtained from Paikche.
Great Aunt allowed me to take it from the storehouse, and I read it.
Unfortunately, this is the state of the storehouse today.
If it interests you so much, take it.
No, it is already in here.
In there?
My faithful followers...
My body is frail And impermanent.
It has no power, no certainty.
In this world, all things fade away.
Rely not on them.
Last night, I had a dream that was like this situation.
A Buddhist hall was in flames.
However, the rains dame at once.
A great rain came and put out the fire.
Rain...?
The road turned into mire.
The troops could not take the Buddhist images far.
It means that the images will someday return.
Look there!
The dream has become true!
Great Minister!
Whence have you come?
From Paikche.
On what business?
I heard Great Minister Soga is seeking sword makers.
Sword maker...? You are a smithy?
Your name?
Ishin.
Prince Umayato was twelve at this time.
He was a prince of the Emperor's house that ruled Yamato.
Shortly after this incident,
Emperor Bidatsu fell ill and died.
The people said he had been cursed for burning the sacred images.
A fight for succession began among Bidatsu's half brothers.
Among them, the eldest, Prince Oye,
was the leading candidate for Emperor.
Prince Oye was Umayato's father...
and a devout Buddhist.
Umayato...
Look at this blade.
It is a new spade brought from Paikche.
It can dig deeper than any preceding it.
As your Uncle Soga says...
Paikche's farming methods are greatly advanced.
And not only in spades.
Their Buddhist writings are incredibly deep.
Paikche is great to adopt them as national doctrine.
Umayato...
Kume...
Do you not think the sun's light is wondrous?
It has shone upon the great earth since time began.
Unmoved by anything.
Shining upon good and evil men,
upon stones and grasses.
The Buddha's heart might be like the sun.
If only...
I could live as this light.
{}AMAKASHI HILL
I thought a smithy only made swords.
You make Buddhist images as well?
Dried persimmon.
Have some?
I am coming in.
Don't stand on formality. Let us eat.
How beautiful.
May I touch it?
For whom did you make this?
No one in particular. It was to pass the time.
Will you show this to the Great Minister?
No. I was ordered to make a sword for the Great Minister.
Many images were destroyed in the raid.
He is surely downhearted.
This is sure to please him! Why not show it to him now?
SHIMANOMIYA, MANSION OF SOGA NO UMAKO
Tell the Great Minister Umayato has come.
I have.
May I go inside?
You may.
Tojiko, speak in the Yamato tongue.
You should speak in the Paikche tongue, Highness!
Father says we must speak Paikche in the mansion.
You shall be obliged to do so, too.
The Great Ministers daughter. An incorrigible hoyden!
I am not a hoyden!
Why is Oye the leading candidate for Emperor?!
I wish to know!
Though I, Anahobe, am Oye's half brother,
my mother was a Soga princess, too.
I am just as suited to be Emperor!
My hands are tied.
The widow of the late Emperor...
must select the Emperor.
The Consort is also Soga.
They say your influence with her is great.
Brother...
Prince Umayato...!
To Prince Anahobe,
Umayato's father Oye was his greatest rival.
Who do you think would be the best Emperor?
I, Anahobe? Or Oye?
You, Brother.
Why?
Tell Uncle the reason.
Tell him!
Brother believes iron is necessary...
to make our land strong and prosperous.
The iron is in Kaya.
Kaya a is controlled by Silla.
That is why Brother wishes to fight Silla...
and take Kaya.
He has nobility and energy.
I, Hatsusebe, believe
my brother, Anahobe, is the true hero...
who will bring prosperity to our land.
Also, when as Emperor, I have taken Kaya,
you shall have all the mining rights for iron.
You should be quite satisfied with that.
I see. However...
war with Silla is a difficult affair.
Umako did not accept Anahobe's offers.
He knew Anahobe was in league with Moriya.
HATA KAWAKATSU, MERCHANT
The problem is Prince Anahobe.
He plans to attack Silla.
The Mononobe are the same.
For iron, the illustrious houses of Yamato...
always wish to wage war with Silla.
My homeland...
was attacked from the north by Koguryo.
And from the west by Paikche.
Now if even Yamato should attack...
we will easily fall.
A secret messenger came from Silla.
I was asked to help you.
I have formed close ties through trade with Silla.
I do not want war.
Before Prince Anahobe furthers his ambition, we must act.
Please. Help me, sir.
In any case,
a warlike man must never become Emperor.
In September...
Umayato's father Prince Oye was crowned Emperor.
He would become Emperor Yomei.
The ceremony was led by Great Minister Soga Umako...
and Minister Mononobe Moriya.
Before chieftains who served the Yamato Court,
Princess Nukatabe, the widow of Emperor Bidatsu,
was made guardian to Emperor Yomei.
To His Majesty, the new Emperor,
felicitations and praises of all the gods.
Yomei Emperor was the natural brother of Nukatabe.
He was the first Emperor from the Soga house.
At the coronation,
the influence of Nukatabe and Soga Umako was strong.
It was plain for anyone to see.
{}TEMPORARY IMPERIAL MORTUARY
That night, Nukatabe was at Mogari no Miya.
Mogari no Miya was a makeshift palace...
for the repose of the late Emperor.
For several months before the body was buried,
or for several years, at the most,
the Consort watched over the late Emperor there.
She ate with the dead
and slept with the dead.
Who is there?!
This is Mogari no Miya! Show respect!
Forgive me. This was the only way I could speak to you.
I am risking my life for this.
Why did you select my brother, Oye?
The Emperor's line will die.
Brother is too kindhearted.
He's controlled by Uncle Umako.
Uncle intends to rule Yamato behind the Emperor!
Absurd!
Absurd?
When you selected Oye, what did Uncle promise you?
Did he promise to make your son, Takeda, next Emperor?!
Don't be deceived.
Uncle has no intention of making Takeda Emperor.
After Oye, he's decided on Umayato!
Uncle's deceiving you to create a Court of his own.
More than Soga...!
We are of the Emperor's house.
We must fight the evil Great Minister.
Is it not so?!
Join with me and we can drive Uncle from the Court!
Please. Make me Emperor.
Let me replace Oye.
I shall have Takeda succeed me!
Stop!
Begone!
Join with me.
Join forces with me!
Who are you?
Show your face!
Monster!
Who goes there?!
Brazen wretch!
Where do you think this is?!
This is Mogari no Miya!
I am no intruder.
I am Prince Anahobe!
Why has a man of your station...
drawn his sword in this palace?!
I saw someone suspicious. Stop arguing and move aside!
No!
I must speak with the Consort.
No!
I, Sakau, have served the late Emperor!
I'll allow no one to disturb his sacred bier!
Wretch!
You dare defy an Imperial Prince?
Anahobe was stopped by the late Emperor's vassal, Miwanokimi Sakau.
This touched off killings that shook the Court.
Kill them!
Hating Miwanokimi Sakau,
Anahobe ordered Mononobe Moriya to punish him.
Then in April...
Moriya's closest vassal, Nakatomi Katsumi, was killed.
Make way!
Make way or I'll trample you!
Filthy wretch!
He was killed by a footman called Tomi Ichii.
That's an insult, Omuraji!
Are you saying it was Great Minister Soga...
who killed Nakatomi Katsumi?!
Nakatomi died as Heaven's punishment...
because you killed Miwanokimi Sakau!
Let us not quibble!
Give us the head of Ichii!
The ones who killed Miwanokimi must pay!
You dare, sir?!
Are you accusing me, Moriya?!
Who else is there?!
The Court was split into two factions, Soga and Mononobe.
Emperor Yomei was powerless to do anything.
{}PRINCE UMAYATO
It's the Prince!
You dropped six small objects, did you not?
Two are at your feet.
Three are under the shelf.
The last one is near the wall.
Your eyes are keen, Your Highness!
I heard them. I heard six sounds.
You are not very talkative today.
I have heard that His Majesty lies ill abed.
Excessive cares.
From endless fighting since Father became Emperor.
No one considers Father's feelings.
They all make selfish demands.
This will only lead to chaos in the land.
Kume says...
Father worries too much about others.
All wrongdoers, whether it be Uncle Anahobe or Mononobe,
they should be severely punished.
Mother takes an even bleaker view.
She says Father is much too kind.
She says perhaps he is not suited to be Emperor.
But why is it bad for an Emperor to be kind?
Because he is kind, he abhors war.
Because he is kind, he prays for his subjects happiness.
Because he is kind, he does not strive for self-gain.
What is wrong with that?
Uncle Soga says...
The Emperor is a Buddha.
In Buddhism, the Buddha is protected by the Four Devas.
Uncle says the Soga can act as the Four Devas...
and protect the Emperor.
What do you think, Ishin?
With Great Minister Soga as guardian deity,
the present unrest should subside.
What if it does not subside?
What then?
A new guardian deity must be found.
Across the ocean to the west is a land called Sui China.
In the last few years, it has grown to a nation of millions.
Koguryo, Silla and Paikche fear Sui...
and watch anxiously.
I've heard of it.
The Emperor of Sui
does not rely only on warriors for protection.
He seeks out men from among the people...
to help govern his land.
From among the people?
Even among farmers and merchants...
are brilliant men that understand governance.
They are summoned from all over the land...
and given important positions in Court,
putting their talents to good use.
The Emperor of Sui is also said to believe in Buddhism.
I see.
Anyone who believes in Buddha can go to Paradise.
Warrior or peasant, all are alike.
The Emperor probably understands that.
Such a government has hope for all its people.
It will strengthen everyone.
Sui China might become great.
It was a good tale. I must tell it to Father.
Will you tell me more?
Brother!
PRINCE KUME
Brother! Father's condition has worsened!
Father...
Father!
April 587...
In the midst of the unrest,
Emperor Yomei died of an illness.
Princes Umayato and Kume had lost their father.
How bitter Brother must have felt.
It fairly breaks my heart.
Consort Hashihito's grief is so great...
she is unable to speak as Imperial Consort.
I can well understand.
Though she is Imperial Consort,
she is only a woman who has lost her husband.
I, Nukatabe, am still unable to leave this mortuary.
But unless we vassals name the next Emperor,
we'll not find our way out of this darkness.
What is that?
The Mononobe troops are parading through the town.
The Mononobe troops?
They are threatening to fight
if Prince Anahobe is not chosen as the next Emperor.
Anahobe is the wretch that killed Miwanokimi Sakau.
He shall never be Emperor!
Yes.
But Anahobe is the younger brother of the late Emperor.
Hatsusebe is also his brother.
Hatsusebe's father laments...
that Hatsusebe is weak in spirit.
But you can hardly make young Umayato Emperor.
Above all, your influence on Umayato is too strong.
The Mononobe will never accept him.
If Umayato is too young for the throne,
then so is your son, Takeda.
Will that do, Niece?
{}TSUBAICHI
I must ask one thing.
Why are you fond of Umayato?
It seems a strange pairing.
Why, I wonder?
We all love beautiful flowers.
The uglier we are, the more beautiful the flowers seem.
Flowers... the Buddha... Prince Umayato...
Perhaps they are all alike.
I cannot understand your answer.
What do you think about this solution?
Left alone, Anahobe will take the rule.
Rather, let Hatsusebe be Emperor for now.
Hatsusebe?
Until Prince Takeda and Prince Umayato are grown.
Will Anahobe agree to it?
If he does not...
we shall simply have to fight him.
{}PRINCESS TOJIKO
Ishin the smithy asked me to bring this to you.
The other smithies say...
Ishin is a skillful, but moody, man.
And yet he made this for you.
He must be quite concerned or you.
Your mother is concerned, as well.
She says you rarely eat.
You go out every day without attendants.
She fears you have gone mad with grief.
So I told her...
True, you are a strange person.
But you are not so weak that madness overtakes you.
You are always the same, Tojiko.
The same chatterbox?
The same meddler?
Both.
Shakamuni abandoned his home...
his clan...
and his country to pursue the true path.
If Father had done that, he need not have suffered.
He could have lived much longer.
Not caring what happened to his clan...
...or country.
But is that good?
Is it enough...
to seek Buddhism far one's self alone?
In the end, Father chose...
the most difficult way to live.
The pox.
The same illness, that your father had.
Your Highness!
Stay away! You shall be afflicted!
Princess!
Cold...
Would you like some water?
{}SOGA UMAKO MANSION
Events of that year moved swiftly.
Great Minister Soga Umako
ordered allies, Saeki and Haji of the Muraji...
to kill Prince Anahobe.
{}ANAHOBE PALACE
We only want Prince Anahobe! Attack!
Prince Anahobe!
Haji of the Muraji?!
I am the Crown Prince chosen by the gods.
Kill me if you dare!
Having lost Anahobe, Mononobe Moriya's band...
hurriedly left Asuka...
and amassed at the Mononobe homeland,
Shibukawa in Kawachi present-day Yao in Osaka.
War was suddenly imminent.
Soga Umako enlisted the Court's help...
to pursue the Mononobe as foes of the Emperor.
Joining in battle were the late Emperor's son, Umayato,
Princess Nukatabe's son, Takeda,
and Hatsusebe, who was promised the throne.
Now the punitive army was in place.
Since the palace was in mourning for the Emperor,
Princess Nukatabe prayed for victory...
and divined the outcome with a golden halberd.
The punitive force pushed forward to Shibukawa,
where the enemy awaited.
The Mononobe...
Have they no intention of quitting the battle?
No.
Each time they see me, Kawakatsu,
they demand 5,000 or so bows and arrows.
They also ask other merchants.
In the next few days, the decisive battle will be fought.
Which side has the advantage?
I intend to halt weapons sales to the Mononobe.
But the Mononobe are skilled fighters.
If the final battle is fought at Shibukawa...
the Soga will have a desperate fight.
Will the Prince be in danger?
Have you strength enough to protect him?
What fools the Soga are.
Do they think they can win here at Shibukawa?
Great Minister!
The distance is too great for our arrows to reach.
It is a trap of some kind.
Set up camp on the hill behind us.
Summon Kino Omaro and Kose Hirafu.
A war council will be held!
To the hill!
Kose and Katsuragi will attack the front.
After meeting up with Otomo Muraji,
the main force will attack this flank.
No! We shall take this road
and strike the flank with Minister Kashiwade.
The main army must remain here...
and join with us when the stockade falls.
{}PRINCE NANIWA
{}PRINCE TAKEDA, NUKATABE'S SON
Should we not attend the war council?
Prince Takeda, you must never forget...
Minister Soga will do the fighting.
We are only here as the banner for the Soga cause.
Tomorrow just remain in the rear and watch.
But arrows will come flying.
Do you fear war, Prince?
Yes.
Such a child.
Our army is several times larger than the enemy's.
It will be over in no time.
They'll have little time to shoot arrows.
Where are you going, Your Highness?
This is enemy territory.
Enemy arrows could come flying from anywhere.
You must not go walking alone.
Ishin...
I've made some good arrows and have come to bring them.
If I must ever use these, we will be losing...?
I pray that it will never happen.
Is there war in your land?
Have you ever fought?
Several times.
How did it go?
We won the war, but...
Win or lose, war is a tragedy.
It's the Prince.
It's Prince Umayato!
Earlier, I spoke with the troops there.
There were many who had to leave their farms.
Many had to leave sick children.
All brought here because of the war.
War is heartless.
But the Great Minister says...
This land cannot be united unless we fight.
He says the internal fighting which caused Father such pain can be ended.
If so, we must win.
In order to return those men to their homes,
we must win tomorrow.
Now that we are here, there is nothing but to win.
Attack!
Before the overwhelming Imperial forces,
the Mononobe offered scant resistance...
and seemed to be falling.
The enemy fled?!
Last night, Moriya and his men...
are believed to have left the stockade.
Did you hear, Minister Ki?
He fled?! Moriya?
I can't understand why, but the stockade fell!
What about other enemy troops?
They've all fled to the north.
I'll lead four main force to the stockade.
We'll have a war council with Otomo Muraji!
Perhaps we should wait a while...
before moving our main force.
Fear not! Koma is a fine scout.
Tell the Princes we are leaving here!
Look. It's ended.
There was nothing to fear.
Excellent, excellent.
The battle is over.
Why ride on a horse?
I do not like being carried in sedan chairs.
I shall ride to the stockade.
Move on to the stockade!
Great Minister!
The enemy is behind us!
In the woods!
Flee! Away from the woods!
Flee!
We cannot go to the stockade! Leave our horses!
The enemy is on both sides and behind us?
They are shooting from the trees!
We are unable to move.
Were in danger here! They're using fire!
Get to the rocks!
Your Highness!
It's Moriya.
Moriya is laughing.
Moriya is issuing orders.
Soga!
Heavens punishment upon you!
Die!
Tell Yasaka on the hill...
The Soga are hiding in the rocks.
Bid him beware!
We have lost...!
Wrong decisions were made in council last night.
Otomo, Kose...! They're supposed to know strategy?
The enemy's outwitted us
Your Highness, Buddha was no help, either.
All our images and sutra-readings were useless!
Koguryo, Silla, Paikche...
gave this useless gift?!
Great Minister! We have not lost yet!
We must not lose.
We must return these men to their homes!
Ishin!
Do you see a camphor tree midway in the woods?
About 18 feet below its top is Mononobe Moriya.
I cannot sere him.
He is there. I hear his voice.
18 feet below. Can you hit him?
From the cedar trees, perhaps.
Let's go.
Hear me, men!
We go now to shoot Mononobe Moriya!
Fell him, and the enemy will flee!
Then we shall attack the woods!
We entrust this battle to the Buddha!
And the Four Heavenly Devas!
Amidha Buddha! Grant us victory!
Wretch!
Fire!
You did it, Ishin!
Moriya is felled! Onward!
Having lost their commander, the Mononobe were routed.
It ended in an overwhelming victory for the Soga.
How terribly Aunt will grieve.
Asuka exulted in its victory.
Prince Hatsusebe, emerging without a scratch
took the throne as Emperor Sushun.
Asuka Temple was to be built to commemorate the victory.
The first Buddhist temple in Yamato.
In celebration, the kingdom of Paikche sent priests and craftsmen.
And a Bukkyo performance was given.
It had spread through the Silk Road, India, Tibet and Korea.
Allow me to introduce you.
These are the designers of the temple.
We are honored to be so warmly received
It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.
Behind them is the finishing master.
He casts metal work for tower decorations.
Behind him are the workers.
We are pleased to see you, sir!
Welcome to our land!
The war was won...
by the powers of Buddhism brought from Paikche!
So we wish to build temples as grand as those in Paikche,
and show our gratitude to the Buddha.
We beg your assistance.
Thank you, sir. We shall do our utmost for the Buddha.
Look at Great Minister Soga. He behaves like the Emperor.
No one approaches the true Emperor.
{}IMPERIAL CONSORT KAWAKAMI
Tojiko is melancholy.
She shuts herself up reading Buddhist writings.
Please speak to her.
I shall leave if you wish.
Do you not like mask shows?
Do you, Your Highness?
I do not dislike them.
But sometimes I do not wish to see them.
How do you feel now?
My spirits are rather low.
Why, pray?
I killed men in war.
What if an even greater war were to occur?
A greater war?
War with Silla.
Father is now considering...
a war with Silla.
The Great Minister.
Fight Silla?
Do you know why the Paikche envoys flatter Father so?!
Because they wish to involve Yamato...
in Paikche's war with Silla!
Every night, the envoys urge Father...
to fight Silla!
Father plans to send troops.
He told the envoys so last night.
No one knows of this.
I was the only one who overheard them.
Not even the Emperor knows.
Father decided this on his own!
You must stop Father!
I love my fattier dearly!
You must stop him from doing more dreadful things!
Please, Your Highness!
Make him stop planning dreadful things!
Keep Father from turning into an evil person!
You are the only one who can stop Father!
Only you can stop him!
The Great Minister...? Fight Silla?