The first colored samurai legend: From the status of slaves to 'great black gods' in Japanese history

Oda Nobunaga is the infamous lord, has great command of military power but is also extremely frightening and brutal. History notes that he was the first of three great unified Japanese great men, ending the war of chaos.

As a magnet attracting magnificent heroes, under Oda's house, it is not uncommon for monks. Among them, the most prominent about the appearance must be the self-proclaimed Yasuke - a samurai from Africa, whose name is unknown.

Yasuke - a samurai from Africa.

Yasake's childhood: From slavery to two fateful encounters

Some historians say Yasuke is from Mozambique, others claim he was born in Sudan. They also did not make convincing assumptions why Yasuke came to Japan

Thomas Lockley - an author who spent 7 years studying this mysterious historical figure - thinks that Yasuke is a young man. The child was sold into slavery in Saudi Arabia and then "crossed hands" by many slave owners, crossing the Atlantic to India.

In his teens, Yasuke fought in the army in Goa (India), then was hired as a servant for a high-ranking missionary who respected the Portuguese - Alessandro Valignano. Meeting with Valignano could be the first important milestone in Yasuke's life.

Because at that time, Goa was a commercial center, where many military bases were located, and also gathered many Portuguese missionaries in India. At the same time, it is also the largest mall of color slaves in the world.

But luckily for Yasuke, he followed the missionary to the boat to leave the "black spot" Goa to the port of Kuchinotsu in Nagasaki, southern Japan in 1579.

It is no coincidence that Yasignano chose Yasuke to be his servant. His trip to Japan was full of dangers. At the time of war, the country was a place of war among warlords, with ninja forces, soldiers and powerful samurai. Valignano needs someone to protect himself, a tall man, without regreting his life and fighting in the army. It is Yasuke.

The Portuguese black fleet arrived in Japan.One like this carried Yasuke - the latter was a great assistant to the Oda family.

A famous Portuguese missionary has just arrived in Japan, taking a high bodyguard like a dharma guard, shiny black skin like a bronze statue. The scandalous news made it impossible for the great lord Oda Nobunaga to be able to occupy Kyoto.

With a curious nature that likes new things, especially from foreign countries, Oda has given Yasuke a debut. This is the most memorable meeting of Yasuke's life.

Oda lord couldn't believe his eyes, there existed someone like Yasuke in this world, so different from Asians. Even Oda thinks that Yasuke is the embodiment of the "Great Black God" - a bronze prodigy in temples in Japan.

Lord Oda Nobunaga .

. think Yasuke is the embodiment of the "Great Black God" in legend!(photo: Wikipedia)

The lord tried . rubbed Yasuke's skin to see if it was colored. After confirming that this is a real person, Oda immediately treated Yasuke with no regrets and kept it for entertainment. Many anecdotes say, Oda especially loved being able to chat with Yasuke.

But just a month later, the lord realized Yasuke's potential to become a mighty samurai, who supported the unified Japanese business of Oda. However, Yasuke's most glorious life with the owner Oda Nobunaga soon died.

Yasuke's mysterious ending

In 1581, Yasuke joined the Oda army to attack Iga province. Nobunaga directly led the operation in this mountainous area, gathering 40-60,000 soldiers. In the end, the Oda family succeeded. This is the first campaign that Yasuke is serving for Oda. However, he has shown the bravery and advantages of his "giant" physique.

Yasuke's most glamorous life is associated with the hero Oda Nobunaga.

Yasuke's second and final battle was in June 1582, which was also a famous event under the name of the Honnōji Temple .

The important commander of the Oda family was Mitsuhide Akechi who betrayed Lord Nobunaga when he led a few people to stay at Kyoto's Honnōji Temple.

When he knew he could not escape, Oda lord committed suicide to commit suicide so that he would not die under the villain's sword. Many servants beside Oda also committed suicide by their owners to preserve the air.

Yasuke alone is not. Anecdotes say that the last order Oda gave Yasuke - the person he trusted the most at the time - was to pull out his sword to bring Oda's head to the lord's son.

The assassination at Honnōji Temple ended the Oda dream of publicity.

After the turn of Honnōji Temple, no one knows about Yasuke's whereabouts. Will he also die or return to the Portuguese missionary, leave as a sailor or pirate, serve Oda's son or become a derelict samurai?

Yasuke's most glamorous life is associated with the hero Oda Nobunaga. So when the lord died, the mark of Yasuke also slowly disappeared into oblivion.

However, the character Yasuke later appeared in many popular literary works in Japan. Earlier this month, the "Black Panther" Chadwick Boseman star also announced that he will star as Yasuke in a new Hollywood film project.

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