211 五虎退吉光 the 5 tiger Yoshimitsu
上杉家にやってきた明治天皇陛下、おめあては上杉家蔵の刀剣の数々、
五虎退吉光とは永禄２年(1559)に上杉謙信が正親町天皇より拝領した短刀で
室町時代、明に渡った役人が５匹の虎に襲われたがこの短刀で追い払ったという伝説があります。
明治天皇陛下は孝明天皇陛下ゆずりのご自身の粟田口吉光と見比べたとのこと。
Meiji Emperor came to Uesugi family. His purpose was Uesugi ancestral swords.
At Muromachi period(15c),Japanese officer went to Minn(old china).
In forest,5 tiger attacked him.
He shook his short sward and drove 5 tiger away.
The sword was called "Gokotai Yoshimitsu(5 tiger Yoshimitsu)".
Oogimachi Emperor gave this sword to Uesugi Kennshinn on Eiroku 2nd(1559).
Meiji Emperor compered it to his short sword "Awataguchi Yoshimitsu".
Thank you for your reading
2004.01.09