World and Lore / Kyoto mystery

A Fateful Encounter

Kyoto's Gojo-ohashi Bridge is where Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his loyal retainer Benkei are said to have first crossed paths. Boasting of his matchless strength, Benkei was challenging passersby to duels and then claiming their swords. He had resolved to continue doing this until he had amassed no fewer than a thousand swords. Had he defeated one more swordsman, he would have reached his goal. However, it was then that there appeared before him the young Yoshitsune, still going by his childhood name of Ushiwakamaru. After he was defeated, Benkei pledged his loyalty to the young lord, and served as his retainer until his dying day.