宇治川先陣の碑
Uji River Battleground Monument

 古代より水陸交通の要衝であった宇治は、幾多の合戦の舞台となり、なかでも、寿永3年(1184:イイ橋渡ろう義経:これはMuの年代暗記)の木曽義仲と朝廷から義仲追討の任を受けた源義経の戦いは有名です。
 天下の激流を挟んだ両軍の決戦は、義経軍の名馬「するすみ」に乗った梶原景季(かじわらかげすえ)と名馬「いけづき」に乗った佐々木高綱(ささきたかつな)の「先陣争い」で幕を切って落としました。
 先陣は策にたけた高綱がとり、義経軍が一斉に渡河して義仲軍を打ち破りました。
 この碑は、その故事に因んで、昭和6年(1931)に建立されたものです。


For years Uji was considered a strategic site for land and water transportation, and many battles were fought here. An especially famous battle took place in 1184 between Kiso Yoshinaka and Minamotono Yoshitune, who had orders from the Imperial Court to execute Yoshinaka.
To determine which Yoshitune's vanguards would spearhead the attack against Yoshinaka, his two leading commanders, competed against one another. Kajiwara Kagesue on the renowned steed Surusumi was pitted against Sasaki Takatsuna on the steed Ikezuki.
Takatuna's stragegy proved superior, so the remainder of Yoshitune's troops followed him across the Uji River's swift currents and crushed thier rivals.
This monument was erected in 1931 to mark the site of this ancient battle.

」と、
 案内板にありました。