The Spirit of Tengu helping Tamiya Botaro avenge his father’s death, folklore postcard, c. 1930.

The Spirit of Tengu helping Tamiya Botaro avenge his father’s death, folklore, c. 1930. The character of Tamiya Botarō in Japanese folklore has become a symbol of filial piety and the moral complexities of revenge. After his father Tamiya Genpachirô was killed in 1624 by a rival swordsman, the young Tamiya Bôtarô was brought up in Shidô Temple where he was advised by his uncle to behave as if deaf and dumb in order to throw off his enemies until he could exact revenge.

Tamiya Botarō was the son of Tamiya Iemon, a samurai in service to a feudal lord. When Botarō was very young, his father was murdered by another samurai named Kawakami Gensai. Gensai, driven by jealousy and ambition, wanted to rise in rank and saw Tamiya Iemon as an obstacle. After killing Iemon, Gensai framed him for a crime to tarnish his reputation.

Botarō and his mother were left destitute after the tragedy. His mother, harboring deep resentment and a thirst for justice, swore that Botarō would one day avenge his father’s death. She devoted her life to raising Botarō and training him in the way of the sword so that he could fulfill this mission.

Years passed, and Botarō grew into a skilled swordsman. However, he was hesitant to carry out revenge, conflicted by the weight of his mother’s expectations and his own sense of morality. One night, the ghost of his father appeared to him. The spirit revealed the truth about Gensai’s betrayal and urged Botarō to avenge his death.

Haunted by the vision, Botarō finally resolved to seek out Gensai. Confronted Gensai leads to a climactic and deadly duel. Depending on the version of the story, Botarō either successfully avenged his father or perished in the attempt.

The tale is often presented as a cautionary story about the cycle of revenge and the heavy burden it places on individuals and families.