I find it very doubtful. I finally got myself a copy of the 'Koyo
Gunkan' - I have the book 'legends of the Samurai', and I found it in
the bibliography and ordered it off Amazon.co.jp (Koyo Gunkan, Edited
and translated into modern Japanese by Yukata Yoshida). It has both
the original text and the modern japanese 'translation'. I can't
hope to read the original text, but the 'modern' japanese version
says: "Ato de kikeba, kono Musha koso Terutora de atta to iu." That
doesn't sound too convincing to me. Here is a translation I did from
another book, "Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten", Naramoto Tatsuya, 1998:
"This is the same famous scene from books and movies; The warrior in
the white cowl is Kenshin, and Shingen's warfan bore eight sword
cuts. However, there are historical records that have been
discovered that dispute this personal combat. It is the 'Kenshin
Nenpu' (Kenshin Chronological Record), which states Arakawa Izu no
Kami rides at Shingen, shingen cant draw his sword and instead blocks
with his fan, and Hara Oosumi no Kami steps forward with a spear and
strikes at the rider, missing him but hitting the horse, startling
it. The rider fled"
It goes on to say:
"In short, it is thought that the man that Shingen fought at
Kawanakajima was Kenshin's kagemusha, Arakawa Izu no Kami. Also,
according to the "Hokuetsu Gunki", Shingen recieved a visit from a
monk by the name of Tenkai who would later become and advisor to
Ieyasu, and he told him that "the man who crossed swords with Kenshin
was not me, but someone who looks like/resembles me."
So Shingen said that it was his Kagemusha that fought with Kenshin,
not himself. Therefore, there is also the possiblity that they were
BOTH kagemusha. Kenshin and Shingen were both worthy opponents who
had never seen eachother's face. That may have also added to the
confusion as well. Although the personal combat between Kenshin and
Shingen is recorded in the Koyo Gunkan, however in truth, there isn't
any evidence to support this."
Based on the above, you have to wonder if Kenshin and Shingen ever
really DID fight...
--- In
samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "Atisi Kazuari"
wrote:
> I bid you all greetings, I have just arrived but I will just into
the
> present question without delay.
>
> Of the research I have done in the fields of War, politcial,
milatary
> and cultural history of Japan there is very little dispute that it
> was in fact Kenshin, some sources even have him named Kagetoura,
but
> indeed they did meet though, face to face only that once.
>
> I hope that was of some help, though it may not have been as
> discriptive as it could have been
>
> Atsi