Matsunaga sat close to the tomb of his father. His father died on the battlefield. He was a great warrior and he had brought a lot of honour to their family. Matsunaga was proud of his father. He was close to him and he was also inspired by his wisdom and acts of heroism.
It was a long battle, and it would be recorded in the annals of history, as the Battle of Sekigahara on October 21, 1600. Matsunaga was too young to join the battle, though his training had already started. Master Hayashi was a great teacher; a Samurai warrior and he passed his knowledge to the young student.
Matsunaga held in his hand, the gold ring, with the Kamon symbol of his family. His father called it “Tamashi no yubiwa” or the ring of souls. This ring had been passed down generations and it was now his. This was the tradition of the Samurai. Every Kamon had a meaning and the young Matsunaga, looked at the Kamon, with the symbol of the bamboo, that represented strength and resilience. He would wear this all the days of his life and when he was ready to leave the world, he would pass it on to his son.
After his training as a warrior was completed Matsunaga, joined the King’s army and was immediately, sent out to do battle, with a group of pirates, who had arrived on the coasts of Japan. They were making alliances with local chieftains and claiming land, in the name of the King and Queen of Portugal. While presenting the chiefs with stolen items, like silks, spices, and other commodities.
Matsunaga and his band of warriors crept onto the pirate ship at night. They surprised the pirates who were not expecting such an attack. The samurai warriors imprisoned the pirates on the island. However, they were not aware, that a larger band of pirates were in hiding. Two days later, the savage pirate band attacked the stockade on the island, in an attempt to free the captured pirate, José Joaquim Almeida.
There was a fierce battle. There were casualties on both sides. The pirate Captain José Joaquim Almeida, attacked Matsunaga. Both the men fought, as the clash between pirates, and samurai warriors continued. The pirates were vicious in their attack, but the warriors were trained fighters. Matsunaga was determined to kill this pirate, who had been persecuting several villages along the coasts as well as claiming a number of the tiny islands in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
It all abruptly came to a stop, when the young warrior Matsunaga, was hit and stabbed from behind, by another pirate, while he was fighting with the pirate Captain. Was it all over for the young Matsunaga, before his life had begun?
The mists cleared and Matsunaga, saw his father, with his army of Samurai warriors. The father walked up to his son.
“Son, why have you come here, when you still have so much to achieve in life?”
“I was on the battlefield when I was attacked from behind.”
“Do you remember the ring of souls, that I give you? There is one way to use its power. Simply ask for the warrior souls to help you in every battle and you will not die until it is the right time. All Samurai who have passed into the realm of eternity will hear your call. I will come to your aid, with my loyal warriors.”
The young warrior bowed his head and knelt before his father, Tokugawa, the great warrior, and murmured, “Courageous Samurai souls, please come to my aid, to win this battle.”
At that instant, Matsunaga, was back on the battlefield, fighting the pirate captain. He turned around just in time, to kill the pirate who was coming to stab him in the back. Matsunaga looked around and he could see, his father and the others fighting. The war with the pirates was over and the pirate captain, José Joaquim Almeida, lay dead in the mud, in the blood and his evil deeds.
Since that fateful day and that visit from his father, Matsunaga, won every battle and he was known far and wide for his heroic deeds. The legend of Samurai Matsunaga and his “Tamashī no yubiwa” or the Ring of Souls, is now part of myths and legends, that have been passed down for centuries.