Windscript Volume 24, 2007-2008 - Saskatchewan Writers' Guild

The Magazine of Saskatchewan High School Writing
Sarah Neufeld
Kill the Songbird that Does
not Sing
Nobunaga is dead, killed by one of his own officers. Is it a
blessing or a curse? As of yet I am unsure. Nobunaga Oda’s
harsh rule has ended, but still, unease fills me. I can look
back as far to recall the chaos, the revolts, the divisions
that made us weak, made us open for invasion. I recall the
fear, the uncertainty. We were lucky then that the foreigners
were concerned with their own matters while we were
trying to sort out ours. I say sort out but really we were
going nowhere. It was during this time we began to become
aware of Nobunaga.
Being the young head of the Oda family, conflict surrounded
Nobunaga. However, like a true warlord, he dealt with these
problems in a military fashion, gaining power through his
victories. His status increased tremendously and soon he
was even able to conquer the capital, Kyoto, and choose the
next Shogunii. Nobunaga was not our legitimate ruler but I
thought of him as our unofficial Shogun.
Nobunaga was definitely the person the rest of the nation
was looking at as well. Riding into power on a river of Japanese
blood that was quickly turning to a sea he was ruthless
and commanding. Whether this is the way of the daimyoiii
or just the way of Nobunaga I do not know. However, I do
know that no one was safe under Nobunaga. Even those
loyal without fault came into suffering under his suspicious
glare, sometimes paying with their lives. When it came to his
own survival Nobunaga had no friends. I laugh as I say this
because Nobunaga had no enemies either. He killed them,
every one, slaughtered. Young, old, man, woman, there was
no discrimination, only brutality. Even thinking of it now I am
appalled at his cruelty, it is unimaginable.
All his battles became massacres, a sight difficult to forget.
I see them clearly now, as if I’m living them once again. The
tension that warps the air swaying around me, the sickness
in my belly, the rust that stains the earth, the scent of charred
flesh and the sound of flames crackling, perhaps it was hell,
that is what it felt like. Those who died, their last moments,
were they like that? I can only imagine; in this aspect I am
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glad for Nobunaga’s fate, perhaps retribution came in the
form of his death. How ironic for him I suppose, he died
in the same way he killed his defeated enemies, by being
burned alive. I only hope those dead by his hand can rest
with that. Still that is the past and I can only wish that the
era of senseless violence is over.
What is in store for Japan? Will we realize Nobunaga’s
dream? I pray it will be so, for although his methods drove
fear into even the stoutest heart, it was he who forged
the foundations of Japan, by blood. His ultimate goal ‘Tenka
Fubuiv’, were it completed would make Japan strong,
something we will need to be in the future. Nobunaga
rest easy, as the new leader of Japan I will take it upon myself
to create a unified country. A country where life will
once again be prosperous, no longer uncertain; a Japan
that will face the future with strength.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
i The title, “Kill the Songbird that Does not Sing”, is in
reference to a story told in Japanese where each ruler
that played a part in Japan’s unifications meets a songbird
who will not sing. The story demonstrates the character
of these three rulers by their reaction to problem.
ii Military Ruler
iii Feudal Lord
iv ‘A unified realm under military rule. ‘
windScript volume 24