Behind the peak is often destruction

Devyn 2022-04-23 07:03:27

The Jiji Gua in the Book of Changes says,

On the sixth: Moisten his head, Li. The "Elephant" says, "How long can it take to moisten its head?"


Climbing to the top is difficult; maintaining the top is even more difficult; behind the top is often destruction.

This is a theme of the color work "Shadow Warrior" by Akira Kurosawa in his later years.


The lord Takeda Shingen, a Japanese military strategist in the Warring States Period, had won several victories before, and he could wipe out Tokugawa Ieyasu, move into Kyoto, and complete the reunification. sniper.

Takeda Shingen's stand-in (Shadow Samurai) - a poor thief, after finally getting familiar with the role, he fell and was exposed when he tried to ride the original owner's horse.

Even Oda Nobunaga, who won the battle, saw that he was about to unify the whole country, but was killed in Honnoji by the people around him.


Of course, when you are at the peak, you will be vigorous, otherwise how can you mark the peak?

In "Sun Tzu: Military War"

Therefore, it is as swift as the wind, as soft as a forest, invaded as a fire, motionless as a mountain, difficult to know as the shadow, and moved as a thunderstorm.

Rather than a strategy, it is more evidence and advertising slogans of the peak of the Takeda family.

This colorful scene of the big army, compared with the rapid collapse of the Takeda family later, highlights the inadvertent and rapid collapse after the peak.


Shadow Wu, in the end, is still shadow, phantom, the so-called success and fame are all fleeting.

What really remains is the long-term cycle of wins and losses.


In the film, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who pretends to be a pig and eats a tiger, has a long life and finally unified Japan and founded the Tokugawa Shogunate for two hundred years. However, in the end, the Tokugawa shogunate quickly disappeared after the black ship arrived. How long can it be.

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Extended Reading

Kagemusha quotes

  • Masakage Yamagata: [Rainbow appears, causing the advancing Takeda army to halt] My lord, what do you think that light is that is barring your path?

    Katsuyori Takeda: [Gives it a quick glance] A rainbow.

    Masakage Yamagata: You're wrong! It is your late father's instructions not to proceed. He's telling you to stay in your domain and guard it. Those were your father's last words. If you do that, nothing can harm us.

    Katsuyori Takeda: Harm? An ominous word. Since the time of our ancestors, the Takeda have never run from a fight.

    Katsuyori Takeda: [Addressing his army] Forward!... Forward!

  • Nobunaga Oda: [Giving battle instructions to his messengers on horseback] Tell the gunners to shoot the horses first. The Takeda cavalry cannot fight without horses.