I’m on a quest to discover the origins of the cliches and tropes of Japanese fiction referring to the themes, world, culture, and other things relating to Japanese history.
The first one I have been trying to figure is the Golden Age that ends due to a corrupt or tyrannical leader usurping, overthrowing, or forcefully replacing a emperor, sometimes a weak emperor, sometimes a capable one. I considered Emperor Go-Daigo and the lead up to the Genpei war, but both don’t make sense to me. Go-Daigo was attempting a restoration, and the Genpei War lead up was already pretty alarming. So what inspired that trope in Japanese fiction and worldbuilding? It varies from a Western to a Chinese, Korean, or Japanese type monarchy. But most often, it is heavily Japan influenced.
Related to it is the “restoration of the true good leader” trope, where the only one that I can find predating Japanese fiction was the failed Kenmu restoration. Is it a wish fulfillment, has Go-Daigo been considered a cultural hero and martyr in Japanese popular memory?
Third, is the “hero slays dark tyrant/demon/villain” trope. I have heard it originates from Mitsuhide slaying Nobunaga but I don’t buy that, he’s not considered heroic in most Japanese popular memory, so who specifically inspired it?
Lastly, there is the “hero slays guy, restores peace” trope where I thought it could be influenced by the Sengoku Period, but a few discrepancies jump out at me. Ieyasu vs Mitsunari took place after a period of peace, albeit short one. Ieyasu also seems to have not been popular in Japan even during the time the first Japanese fiction was produced. So idolizing him wouldn’t make sense.
These are tropes that have been consuming my thoughts for weeks.
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by MythoHistoryorTruth