The Legend and the Butterfly: Power Corrupts

In lieu of visiting Japan, I have been on a Japanese movie kick. I watched documentaries, comedies and was excited to watch a samurai drama tracing the rise of warlord Oda Nobunaga and his marriage to Lady Nohime. For anyone who knows Japanese history, Oda was considered one of the first unifiers of warring states of Japan in the mid-1500s. 

We learn that his marriage to Lady No, who was a brilliant samurai noblewoman, was key to his rise to power. Giving him wise counsel and encouraging him when he was down. She helps channel his ambition. He embarks on his conquest to reunify Japan against the other warlords. 

Yet Oda pays an incredible price. He fights many battles with lots of killing. He becomes ruthless in the accumulation of power, crushing everyone and everything in his way. “At this time, I have no heart. I haven’t been a decent man in a long time.  I am not a man. I am King of the Sixth Heaven Demons.”

We see how this affects him, as the weight of it all drained the joy out of his previously carefree and joyful life. He ages tremendously, becoming demon-like and this is reflected in how scary his face becomes to everyone around him. 

“Look at his face. Can you see how exhausted and miserable he is??”

He eventually realizes how much he has sacrificed on the altar of power. 

“I killed an enemy that challenged me. I built a castle like no other at Azuichi. I achieved so much that even the Emperor admires me. 

What for? What was it for?”

This is the question so many of us ponder or discover the hard way at the end. The quest for power, wealth and fame. Success. It’s so alluring and attractive to us when we are young. But what a price we pay. Such a heavy price.