When Yoshitsune, wanted by his brother MINAMOTO no Yoritomo, was attacked by FUJIWARA no Yasuhira at Koromogawa-no-tachi, Benkei beat the enemy soldiers one after another, but was finally shot to death by an endless number of arrows; he is believed to have died on his feet.
義経が兄源頼朝に追われて、藤原泰衡に衣川館を攻められた際、弁慶は並み居る敵兵を次々倒すが、ついには無数の矢を受けて仁王立ちのまま息絶えたと伝えられている。