As the world undergoes a period of unrest, in Japan, the book “Ounin no Ran,” which depicts a civil war during the middle ages, has become a bestseller.
This war began in 1467, at the last stage of the Muromachi Shogunate regime, and was mainly fought in the then capital, Kyoto.
The war grew from a dispute over who would succeed as the next shogun and also over family feuds among powerful influencers, even daimyo (feudal lords) from every district got involved for their own gain and in this way, a conflict developed between two great powers.
However, as time went by, gradually the original reasons for the war were forgotten.
In this regard, it is said that this war resembles the First World War which ended up involving many nations.
Kyoto was completely destroyed, and the 11-year battle finally came to a close when both powers withdrew.
However, this became the beginning of the Warring States period which lasted for 100 years subsequent to this.
The authority of the Shogunate waned, and aristocracy and priests lost their political influence.
On the other hand, local daimyo became almost like lords of their own independent states.
In other words, this was a turning point from the age of the centralization of power in Kyoto to that of decentralization.
Some people see parallels between Ounin no Ran and the present global situation, and Japanese people are concerned about this.
The proverb “History repeats itself” can also be rephrased as “The history of human folly.”
世界に
sekai ni
(the) world
不穏な空気が
fuonn na kuuki ga
(a) period <air> of unrest
漂っている
tadayotteiru
undergoes
中世
chuusei
(the) middle ages
内戦を
naisenn wo
(a) civil war
描いた
egaita
(which) depicts
「応仁の乱が
ouninn no rann ga
Ounin no Ran
ベストセラーに
besutosera- ni
(a) bestseller
なっています。
natte imasu.
has become
この乱は
kono rann ha
this war
室町幕府
muromachi bakufu
(the) Muromachi Shogunate regime
末期
makki
(at the) last stage
1467年
sennyonnhyaku rokujyuunana nenn
fourteen sixty-seven [year]
都であった
miyako de atta
(the) capital
中心に
chuushinn ni
mainly in
繰り広げられました。
kurihiroge rare mashita.
was fought
次の将軍の
tsugi no shougunn no
the next shogun
後継者
koukeisha
(who) would succeed as
争い、
arasoi,
(a) dispute (over)
実力者
jitsuryokusha
powerful influencers
家督争い
katoku arasoi
(over) family feuds
生じ、
shouji,
(the war) grew
各地の
kakuchi no
from every district
大名が
daimyou ga
feudal lords
利害
rigai
(their) own gain
加わり、
kuwawari,
got involved and (in this way)
二大勢力
nidai seiryoku
two great powers
争いに
arasoi ni
(a) conflict
発展します。
hattenn shimasu.
developed
本質は
honnshitsu ha
(the) original reasons
薄れていきました。
usurete ikimashita.
were forgotten
その点で、
sono tenn de,
in this regard
巻き込んで
makikonnde
involving
終わった
owatta
(which) ended up
第1次世界大戦と
daiichiji sekai taisenn to
the First World War
似ている
niteiru
(this war) resembles
いわれます。
iwaremasu.
(it) is said
焼け野原となり、
yakenohara to nari,
was completely destroyed and
11年間にわたる戦は
jyuuichi nenn kann ni wataru ikusa ha
(the) eleven -year battle
双方が
souhou ga
both powers
引き上げて、
hikiage te,
when withdrew
終わりました。
owari mashita.
came to a close
後に
nochi ni
subsequent to this
100年
hyakunenn
(for) hundred years
続く
tsuzuku
(which) lasted
戦国時代
senngoku jidai
(the) Warring States period
始まりと
hajimari to
(the) beginning
幕府
bakufu
(the) Shogunate
権威は
kenni ha
(the) authority
影響力を
eikyouryoku wo
(their) political influence
失いました。
ushinai mashita.
lost
一方、
ippou,
on the other hand
独立国
dokuritsu koku
(their own) independent states
存在になります。
sonnzai ni narimasu.
became
言い換えれば、
iikaereba,
in other words
中央集権
chuuou shuukenn
(the) centralization of power
地方分権
chihou bunnkenn
(that of) decentralization
変換点と
hennkanntenn to
(a) turning point
応仁の乱
ouninn no rann
Ounin no Ran
世界情勢
sekai jyousei
(the) global situation
似ていたため、
niteita tame,
parallels and
日本人は
nihonnjinn ha
Japanese people
関心を抱いた
kannshinn wo idaita
are concerned about this
あります。
arimasu.
some people
繰り返す」という
kurikaesu toiu
repeats itself
格言は、
kakugenn ha,
(the) proverb
「人間の愚かさ
ninngenn no orokasa
human folly
歴史」
rekishi
(the) history
言い換えること
iikaeru koto
be rephrased