Makinoshima and Uji River

 

In 1573, Nobunaga banished Shugun Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Makinoshima was his last stronghold. Short passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 187)

"On the 16th of the Seventh Month, Nobunaga headed for Makinoshima and pitched camp at Mount Yanagi above Gokasho. He gave immediate orders to cross the Uji River and take Makinoshima. The famous Uji River lived up to its reputation--it was a frightful, vast expanse of swirling and surging water. To make an assault crossing here would clearly be no easy matter, and Nobunaga's men viewed that prospect with dread. But Nobunaga showed no sign of irresolution, saying that if they hesitated, then he would go first. Now his men had to do it. Nobunaga ordered that they should cross the river divided in two groups. That being the case, the first group, following the ancient example, crossed the river upstream, to the northeast of the Byodoin, where once Kajiwara and Sasaki Shiro had competed for the honor being the first to cross."

Tenka no tame!