According to the epic stories, although desperately outnumbered, Benkei valiantly defended his master in front of the compound swirling his naginata, a long-handled swordlike weapon, and was killed as he stood his ground against a barrage of the enemy's arrows.
多数の敵勢を相手に弁慶は、義経を守って堂の入口に立って薙刀を振るって戦い、雨の様な敵の矢を受けて立ったまま死んだとされている。