Iwatooshi belonged to a warrior monk named Musashibou Benkei. At some point, Benkei was driven out from the temple he was studying at due to his overly violent behavior, and so he went around japan training his strength. He traveled around different places, and then went to Kyoto. He stood on a bridge from Kyoto called Gojou Bridge, where he would challenge passing samurai to duels. After defeating them, Benkei would take their swords. By doing this he managed to collect 999 swords. This scene here is Benkei’s famous sword 999 swords.
By the way the 1000th person Benkei challenged was Imanotsurugi’s owner, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Benkei couldn’t defeat Yoshitsune and became his retainer afterwards because of how impressed he was.
The Kurama temple had taken custody of Yoshitsune at an early age after most of his family was killed in the result of a civil war involving the Taira clan. In this temple Yoshitsune was supposedly thought swordsmanship by the Tengu that inhabited the area. However he later on left the temple as he did not want to pursue a life as a monk.
I’m not too sure about the shrine and temple’s locations, but from what I understand both the Kifune shrine and Kurama temple have staircases with these lanterns leading to them. The Kifune shrine can be reached from Kurama temple and it’s supposedly where Yoshitsune went to pray at.
On the staircases you can see some Japanese Fatsia leaves, which are used by Tengu as fans. The fall plants are probably there because of the mountain the shrine and temple are at. Tengu also live in mountains.
There’s also the plants from Minamoto clan crest, also visible in Iwatooshi’s shot.
Also this was in the 3rd ED too but the maple leaf Imanotsurugi is holding can mean “precious memories”.
Now these blank scrolls here are from a popular Kabuki play called Kanjincho. Fleeing his brother who wanted him dead, Yoshitsune traveled with Benkei and eventually reached the Ataka frontier. Yoshitsune, Benkei, and the rest of their followers tried to pass through by pretending to be traveling priests seeking donations for a temple. They’re asked for a Kanjinchou to prove they’re really priests. Unfortunately they didn’t have one, so instead Benkei pulled out a blank scroll and began reading from it as if it were a real Kanjinchou. So here’s the blank scroll from the story.
In the end Yoshitsune couldn’t escape and went on to commit seppuku. Meanwhile Benkei stalled the enemy forces by standing between them and Yoshitsune. They were afraid to challenge Benkei head on, so instead they fired arrows at him until he died. During the rain of arrows Benkei firmly stood there and even died while standing.
This is the bridge where Yoshitsune and Benkei first met. There’s also purple clouds here. Yoshitsune’s death poem right before he separated from Benkei mentions them: “Join me in the next world, and the next, until we mount to paradise, on a purple cloud.”
Also I am not too familiar with this but apparently Buddha welcomes the spirits of the dead by greeting them on a purple cloud. Before this scene there’s a sacred lotus flower too which relates to Buddhism as well.
And the flowers here are Spiderworts corresponding to the date 6/15, the day Yoshitsune and Benkei died. In flower language it can mean strong respect, like what Benkei and Yoshitsune had for each other.
The flowers in the previous shot next to the bridge are Kousa Dogwood, which also correspond to the date 6/15. But in flower language they mean friendship, so maybe it’s symbolizing how their friendship began at the bridge and also the day it came to an end.
The swallows that you see flying around come from a children’s song about Benkei and Yoshitsune’s encounter at the bridge. It compares Yoshitsune’s swift movements to a swallow. (also probably added this since Imanotsurugi has a very childlike attitude in general ; ;)
The big wheels in the back also an emblem of the Minamoto clan. If you look carefully there’s also some fans. Both of those things are visible on Higekiri and Hizamaru, who also belonged to the Minamoto clan.
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