Genpei War (Gempei War)
Part of Minamoto–Taira clan disputes of late Heian period
Scene of the Genpei war (17th century screen). was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185.
Date 1180-1185 Location Japan Result Minamoto clan victory; Kamakura shogunate established
Belligerents
Minamoto clan	Taira clan
Commanders
Minamoto no Yoritomo, Minamoto no Yoshitsune	Taira no Munemori, Taira no Shigehira, Taira no Tomomori

The Genpei Wars (源平合戦, Genpei kassen, Genpei gassen^?) (1180–1185) were a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans and in late-Heian period Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not The Kamakura shogunate ( Japanese: 鎌倉幕府 Kamakura bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship in Japan headed by the Shoguns from was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan was the founder and the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. Yoshitsune_with_benkeijpg|thumb|"Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms" by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka]] Minamoto no Yoshitsune (ja 源 義経 (1159 &ndash (1147-1185 was heir to Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira clan's chief commanders in the Genpei War. (1158 &ndash 1185 was one of the sons of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders during the Heian period of the 12th century (1152-1185 was the son of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders in the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. They resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192. The Kamakura shogunate ( Japanese: 鎌倉幕府 Kamakura bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship in Japan headed by the Shoguns from was the founder and the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan.

The name "Genpei" (pronounced and sometimes romanised as Gempei) comes from alternate readings of the kanji 'Minamoto' (源) and 'Taira' (平). are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with Hiragana (ひらがな 平仮名 Katakana The conflict is also known in Japanese as the Jishō-Juei War (治承寿永の乱, Jishō-Juei no ran^?),^[1][2] after the two eras between which it took place. was a after Angen and before Yōwa. This period spanned the years from 1177 through 1181. was a after Yōwa and before Genryaku. This period spanned the years from 1182 through 1184. The Japanese era calendar scheme is a common Calendar scheme used in Japan, which identifies a year by the combination of the and the year number within the era

It began with Minamoto support for a different candidate to take the throne, in conflict with the Taira's nomination. The ensuing Battle of Uji took place just outside Kyoto, starting a five-year long war, concluding with a decisive Minamoto victory in the naval Battle of Dan-no-ura. The first battle of Uji is famous and important for having opened the Genpei War. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. The was a major sea battle of the Genpei War, occurring at Dan-no-ura, in the Shimonoseki Strait off the southern tip of Honshū.

Contents 1 Background 2 Beginnings of the war 3 The turning of the tide 4 Internal Minamoto clan hostilities 5 Final stages of the conflict 6 Consequences of the Genpei War 7 Battles 8 Major figures in the Genpei War 8.1 Minamoto Clan 8.2 Taira Clan 9 The Genpei War in literature 10 References 10.1 See also 11 External links

Background

The Genpei Wars were the culmination of a decades-long conflict between the two afore-mentioned clans over dominance of the Imperial court, and by extension, control of Japan. In the Hōgen Rebellion^[3] and in the Heiji Rebellion^[4] of earlier decades, the Minamoto attempted to regain control from the Taira and failed. The Hōgen Rebellion (保元の乱 was a Japanese Civil war fought in 1156 over Japanese imperial succession and control of the Fujiwara The was fought between rival subjects of the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan in 1159. The Taira then began a series of executions, intended to eliminate their rivals.

In 1177, relations between the Taira clan and the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa became highly strained, and the latter attempted a coup d'État to oust the Daijō Daijin (prime minister), Taira no Kiyomori. Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇 Go-Shirakawa-tennō) ( October 18, 1127 &ndash April 26, 1192 The or Chancellor of the Realm was the head of the Daijō-kan, or Department of State in Heian Japan and briefly under the This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first Samurai -dominated administrative government in the history of Japan. Kiyomori defeated the former emperor and abolished the Insei system. The Insei system (院政 or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan, in which the Emperor abdicated but kept exerting power and influence This provoked strong anti-Taira sentiment.

On March 21, 1180, Taira no Kiyomori put his grandson, Antoku (then only two years of age), on the throne, after the abdication of Emperor Takakura. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Emperor Antoku (安徳天皇 Antoku-tennō) ( December 22, 1178 &ndash April 24, 1185) was the 81st emperor Emperor Takakura (高倉天皇 Takakura-tennō) ( September 23, 1161 &ndash January 30, 1181) was the 80th emperor Go-Shirakawa's son, Prince Mochihito, felt that he was being denied his rightful place on the throne and, with the help of Minamoto no Yorimasa, sent out a call to arms to the various samurai families and Buddhist monasteries on May 5. (d July 1180 also known as the Takakura Prince, and as Minamoto Mochimitsu, was a son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1106 &ndash 1180 was a prominent Japanese poet whose works appeared in various anthologies is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John

In June, Kiyomori moved the seat of imperial power to Fukuhara (modern day Kobe), in the hope of promoting trade with Song Dynasty China, and on the fifteenth of that month, Prince Mochihito fled Kyoto to take refuge in Mii-dera. is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1 The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. formally called, is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, in the city of Ōtsu, in Shiga Prefecture.

Beginnings of the war

The actions of Taira no Kiyomori having deepened Minamoto hatred for the Taira clan, a call for arms was sent up by Minamoto no Yorimasa and Prince Mochihito. (1106 &ndash 1180 was a prominent Japanese poet whose works appeared in various anthologies Not knowing who was behind this rally, Kiyomori called for the arrest of Mochihito, who sought protection at the temple of Mii-dera. formally called, is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, in the city of Ōtsu, in Shiga Prefecture. The Mii-dera monks were unable to ensure him sufficient protection, so he was forced to move along. He was then chased by Taira forces to the Byōdō-in, just outside Kyoto. For the Arena in Debrecen Hungary see Fonix Hall. For the replica temple in Hawaii see Byodo-In Temple. The war began thus, with a dramatic encounter on and around the bridge over the River Uji. The first battle of Uji is famous and important for having opened the Genpei War. This battle ended in Yorimasa's ritual suicide inside the Byōdō-in and Mochihito's capture and execution shortly afterwards.

It was at this point that Minamoto no Yoritomo took over leadership of the Minamoto clan and began traveling the country seeking to rendezvous with allies. was the founder and the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. Leaving Izu Province, heading for the Hakone Pass, he was defeated by the Taira in the battle of Ishibashiyama. Izu (伊豆国 -no kuni was a province of Japan including the Izu Peninsula that is today part of Shizuoka prefecture and the Izu Islands is a town in Japan, in Kanagawa Prefecture, in Ashigarashimo District, located on the eastern foot of Hakone Pass. The was the first in which Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was to become Shogun less than a decade later was commander of the Minamoto forces However he successfully made it to the provinces of Kai and Kozuke, where the Takeda and other friendly families helped repel the Taira army. was an old province located in the Tōsandō of Japan which today comprises Gunma prefecture. The was a famous clan of Daimyō (feudal lords in Japan's late Heian Period to Sengoku period. Meanwhile, Taira no Kiyomori, seeking vengeance against the Mii-dera monks and others, besieged Nara and burnt much of the city to the ground. Following the 1180 Battle of the Uji, in which Minamoto no Yorimasa fought a small Taira army with the help of monks from the Mii-dera and

Fighting continued the following year. Minamoto no Yukiie launched an unsuccessful sneak attack attempt against the army of Taira no Tomomori at the Battle of Sunomatagawa. (d 1186 was the brother of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and one of the commanders of the Minamoto forces in the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period (1152-1185 was the son of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders in the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period The took place in Japan in 1181, in the present-day town of Sunomata, Gifu Prefecture. He was pursued by them to the Yahahigawa, destroying the bridge over the river in order to slow the Taira progress. The took place in 1181. Retreating from the Battle of Sunomatagawa, Minamoto no Yukiie attempted to make a stand by destroying the bridge over the Yahagi He was defeated and forced to withdraw once again, but Taira no Tomomori fell ill and called off his pursuit of Yukiie's forces.

Taira no Kiyomori died from illness in the spring of 1181, and around the same time Japan began to suffer from a famine which would last through the following year. The Taira moved to attack Minamoto no Yoshinaka, a cousin of Yoritomo, who had raised forces in the north but were unsuccessful. (1154 &ndash 1184 was a general of the late Heian Period of Japanese history. For nearly two years, the war ceased, only to resume in the spring of 1183.

The turning of the tide

Minamoto no Yoritomo, suspicious of the strength of his cousin, launched a series of attacks against Yoshinaka. Yoshinaka had sought to take for himself lands controlled by Yoritomo, which had earlier belonged to Yoshinaka's father. Though the two reconciled with one another and agreed to focus on their common enemy, the Taira, this rivalry would remain strong throughout the war. Forced to recognize Yoritomo as the head of the clan and to send his son Yoshitaka to Kamakura as a hostage, Yoshinaka would not truly fight alongside his cousin for much of the war. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, about 50 km south-south-west of Tokyo. He sought to defeat the Taira himself and to reach Kyoto before Yoritomo, claiming victory and the according honor and power.

Placating Yoritomo's suspicions of treachery or betrayal, Yoshinaka survived an assault on his fortress at Hiuchiyama by Taira no Koremori and engaged Koremori again at the battle of Kurikara. Hiuchiyama (火打ち山 was one of Minamoto no Yoshinaka's fortresses in Echizen Province, Japan. (1160 &ndash 1184? was one of the Taira clan's commanders in the Genpei War of the late Heian period of Japanese history. The battle of Kurikara, also known as the battle of Tonamiyama (砺波山 was a crucial battle of Japan's Genpei War; in this battle the tide of the war turned Yoshinaka's victory for the Minamoto at Kurikara, also known as the battle of Tonamiyama, would prove to be the turning point in the war. Through creative tactics, skillful division of his forces and a series of bluffs and diversions, Yoshinaka inflicted heavy losses on the Taira, who fled, confused and demoralized.

The Taira loss at Kurikara was so severe that they found themselves, several months later, under siege in Kyoto, with Yoshinaka approaching the city from the northeast and Yukiie from the east. Both Minamoto leaders had seen little or no opposition in marching to the capital and now forced the Taira to flee the city. Taira no Munemori, head of the clan since his father Kiyomori's death, led his army, along with the young Emperor Antoku and the Imperial regalia, to his clan's fortresses in western Honshū and Shikoku. (1147-1185 was heir to Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira clan's chief commanders in the Genpei War. Emperor Antoku (安徳天皇 Antoku-tennō) ( December 22, 1178 &ndash April 24, 1185) was the 81st emperor The, also known as the Three Sacred Treasures, consist of the Sword, Kusanagi (草薙劍 the jewel or necklace of jewels

Internal Minamoto clan hostilities

The Taira clan set fire to their Rokuhara palace and the surrounding district, leaving Minamoto no Yoshinaka with the only force of any significant power in the Home Provinces surrounding the capital. The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan 's main island Honshū. Empowered with a mandate by Emperor Go-Shirakawa to pursue the Taira and destroy them, Yoshinaka once again sought to gain control of the Minamoto clan and regain his ancestral lands from his cousins Yoritomo and Yoshitsune. Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇 Go-Shirakawa-tennō) ( October 18, 1127 &ndash April 26, 1192 Yoshitsune_with_benkeijpg|thumb|"Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms" by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka]] Minamoto no Yoshitsune (ja 源 義経 (1159 &ndash

Meanwhile, the fleeing Taira set up a temporary Court at Dazaifu in Kyūshū, the southernmost of Japan's main islands. is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. Nearby cities include Onojo and Chikushino. or Kyushu is the third-largest Island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. They were forced out soon afterwards by local revolts, spurred by Emperor Go-Shirakawa and sought refuge at Yashima, a small island in the Inland Sea. An inland sea is a shallow Sea that covers central areas of continents during high stands of Sea level that result in marine transgressions In modern days

Yoshinaka sent a force to pursue the Taira, while he led a second force back to Kamakura to delay his cousins' actions. While his men lost to the Taira at Mizushima, Yoshinaka conspired with Yukiie to seize the capital and the Emperor, possibly even establishing a new Court in the north. The naval battle of Mizushima took place on 17 November 1183. However, Yukiie revealed these plans to the Emperor, who communicated them to Yoritomo.

Betrayed by Yukiie, Yoshinaka took command of Kyoto and, at the beginning of 1184, set fire to the Hōjūjidono, taking the Emperor into custody. The was a Buddhist temple in Kyoto which was for a time the home of the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Minamoto no Yoshitsune arrived soon afterwards with his brother Noriyori and a considerable force, driving Yoshinaka from the city. (1156 &ndash 1193 was a late Heian period general who fought alongside his brothers Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune at a number of battles After fighting his cousins at the bridge over the Uji, where the war began, Yoshinaka made his final stand at Awazu, in Ōmi province. Minamoto no Yoshinaka tried to wrest power from his cousins Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, seeking to take command of the Clan Minamoto no Yoshinaka made his final stand at Awazu, after fleeing from his cousins' armies which confronted him after he attacked Kyoto, burning the For other meanings of Omi see Omi (disambiguation. is an old province of Japan which today comprises Shiga Prefecture.

Final stages of the conflict

As the united Minamoto forces left Kyoto, the Taira began consolidating their position at a number of sites in and around the Inland Sea, which was their ancestral home territory. They received a number of missives from the Emperor offering that if they surrendered by the seventh day of the second month, the Minamoto could be convinced to agree to a truce. This was a farce, as neither the Minamoto nor the Emperor had any intentions of waiting until the eight day to attack. Nevertheless, this tactic offered the Emperor a chance to regain the Regalia and to distract the Taira leadership.

The Minamoto army, led by Yoshitsune and Noriyori, made their first major assault at Ichi-no-Tani, one of the primary Taira fortresses on Honshū. was a Taira fortress at Suma, to the west of present-day Kobe. The fortress was surrounded, and the Taira retreated to Shikoku. However, the Minamoto were not prepared to assault Shikoku; a six-month pause thus ensued during which the Minamoto took the proper steps. Though on the retreat, the Taira enjoyed the distinct advantages of being in friendly, home territories, and of being far more adept at naval combat than their rivals.

It was not until nearly a year after Ichi-no-Tani that the main Taira fortress at Yashima came under assault. The naval Battle of Yashima took place on 22 March 1185. Following a long string of defeats the Taira clan retreated to Yashima today's Takamatsu Seeing bonfires on the mainland of Shikoku, the Taira expected a land-based attack and took to their ships. This was a deceptive play on the part of the Minamoto, however, who lay in wait with their own navy. The Yashima fortress fell, along with the improvised imperial palace built there by the Taira, many of whom however escaped along with the Imperial regalia and the Emperor Antoku.

The Genpei War came to an end one month later, following the battle of Dan-no-ura, one of the most famous and important battles in Japanese history. The was a major sea battle of the Genpei War, occurring at Dan-no-ura, in the Shimonoseki Strait off the southern tip of Honshū. The Minamoto engaged the Taira fleet in the Straits of Shimonoseki, a tiny body of water separating the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū. The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō or the Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japan 's four main islands After a series of archery duels, hand-to-hand fighting broke out. The tides played a powerful role in the development of the battle, granting the advantage first to the Taira, who were more experienced and abler sailors and later to the Minamoto. The Minamoto advantage was considerably enhanced by the defection of Taguchi Shigeyoshi, a Taira general who revealed the location of Emperor Antoku and the regalia. The Minamoto redirected their attention on the Emperor's ship, and the battle quickly swung in their favor.

Many of the Taira samurai, along with Emperor Antoku and his grandmother Taira no Tokiko, widow of Taira no Kiyomori, threw themselves into the waves rather than live to see their clan's ultimate defeat at the hands of the Minamoto.

Consequences of the Genpei War

The Taira clan was destroyed, and the Minamoto victory was followed by the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate. Though Minamoto no Yoritomo was not the first to ever hold the title of Shogun, he was the first to wield it in a role of nationwide scope. was the founder and the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. is a military rank and historical title in Japan. The Japanese word for "general" it is made up of two Kanji words sho, meaning "commander" The end of the Genpei War and beginning of the Kamakura shogunate marked the rise of military (samurai) power and the suppression of the power of the emperor, who was compelled to preside without effective political or military power, until the Meiji Restoration over 650 years later. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure

In addition, this war and its aftermath established red and white, the colors of the Taira and Minamoto standards, respectively, as Japan's national colors. Today, these colors can be seen on the flag of Japan, and also in banners and flags in sumo and other traditional activities. The national flag of Japan is a white Flag with a large red circle (representing the rising sun) in the center is a competitive Contact sport where two Wrestlers ( rikishi) attempt to force one another out of a circular ring ( Dohyo) or to touch the ground

Battles

• 1180 First Battle of Uji - regarded as the first battle in the Genpei Wars, the monks of the Byodoin fight alongside Minamoto no Yorimasa. The first battle of Uji is famous and important for having opened the Genpei War. For the Arena in Debrecen Hungary see Fonix Hall. For the replica temple in Hawaii see Byodo-In Temple. (1106 &ndash 1180 was a prominent Japanese poet whose works appeared in various anthologies
• 1180 Siege of Nara - the Taira set fire to temples and monasteries, to cut supplies to their rivals. Following the 1180 Battle of the Uji, in which Minamoto no Yorimasa fought a small Taira army with the help of monks from the Mii-dera and For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan
• 1180 Battle of Ishibashiyama - Minamoto no Yoritomo's first battle against the Taira. The was the first in which Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was to become Shogun less than a decade later was commander of the Minamoto forces was the founder and the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan Minamoto Yoritomo loses the battle.
• 1180 Battle of Fujigawa - the Taira mistake a flock of waterfowl for a sneak attack by the Minamoto in the night, and retreat before any fighting occurs. The was a battle of the Genpei War of the Heian period of Japanese history. For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not
• 1181 Battle of Sunomatagawa - the Taira thwart a sneak attack in the night but retreat. The took place in Japan in 1181, in the present-day town of Sunomata, Gifu Prefecture. For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan
• 1181 Battle of Yahagigawa - the Minamoto, retreating from Sunomata, attempt to make a stand. The took place in 1181. Retreating from the Battle of Sunomatagawa, Minamoto no Yukiie attempted to make a stand by destroying the bridge over the Yahagi was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not was a town located in Anpachi District, Gifu, Japan. On March 27, 2006, Sunomata merged into the city of Ōgaki.
• 1183 Siege of Hiuchi - the Taira attack a Minamoto fortress. Hiuchiyama (火打ち山 was one of Minamoto no Yoshinaka's fortresses in Echizen Province, Japan. For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not
• 1183 Battle of Kurikara - the tide of the war turns, in the Minamoto's favor. The battle of Kurikara, also known as the battle of Tonamiyama (砺波山 was a crucial battle of Japan's Genpei War; in this battle the tide of the war turned was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not
• 1183 Battle of Shinohara - Yoshinaka pursues the Taira force from Kurikara
• 1183 Battle of Mizushima - the Taira intercept a Minamoto force, heading for Yashima. Following the Battle of Kurikara, Minamoto no Yoshinaka caught up with the retreating Taira no Munemori. The naval battle of Mizushima took place on 17 November 1183. For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not is located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan, and is the seat of the prefectural government
• 1183 Siege of Fukuryuji - the Minamoto attack a Taira fortress. The siege of the Fukuryūji took place in 1183, and was a battle of the Genpei War, the great 12th century Japanese civil war between the Taira clan was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan
• 1183 Battle of Muroyama - Minamoto no Yukiie tries and fails to recoup the loss of the battle of Mizushima. The battle of Muroyama was one of many battles of the 12th century Japanese civil war known as the Genpei War.
• 1184 Siege of Hojujidono - Yoshinaka sets fire to the Hojuji-dono and kidnaps Emperor Go-Shirakawa. The 1184 siege of the Hōjūjidono was part of Japan's Genpei War, and was a key element of the conflict between Minamoto no Yoshinaka and his cousins
• 1184 Second Battle of Uji - Yoshinaka is pursued out of the capital by Yoshitsune and Noriyori. Minamoto no Yoshinaka tried to wrest power from his cousins Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, seeking to take command of the Clan
• 1184 Battle of Awazu - Minamoto no Yoshinaka is defeated and killed by Yoshitsune and Noriyori. Minamoto no Yoshinaka made his final stand at Awazu, after fleeing from his cousins' armies which confronted him after he attacked Kyoto, burning the (1154 &ndash 1184 was a general of the late Heian Period of Japanese history. Yoshitsune_with_benkeijpg|thumb|"Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms" by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka]] Minamoto no Yoshitsune (ja 源 義経 (1159 &ndash (1156 &ndash 1193 was a late Heian period general who fought alongside his brothers Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune at a number of battles
• 1184 Battle of Ichi-no-Tani - the Minamoto attack one of the Taira's primary fortresses. was a Taira fortress at Suma, to the west of present-day Kobe. was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan
• 1184 Battle of Kojima - Taira fleeing Ichi-no-Tani are attacked by Minamoto no Noriyori. The Batte of Kojima was a battle of the Genpei War of the Heian period of Japanese history, taking place in 1184
• 1185 Battle of Yashima - the Minamoto assault their enemies' fortress, just off of Shikoku. The naval Battle of Yashima took place on 22 March 1185. Following a long string of defeats the Taira clan retreated to Yashima today's Takamatsu was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not is the smallest (225 km long and between 50 and 150 km wide and least populous (4141955 as of 2005 of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū
• 1185 Battle of Dan-no-ura - the decisive naval battle ending the war. The was a major sea battle of the Genpei War, occurring at Dan-no-ura, in the Shimonoseki Strait off the southern tip of Honshū.

Major figures in the Genpei War

Minamoto Clan

The Minamoto were one of the four great clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period (794-1185). They were, however, decimated by the Taira in the Heiji Rebellion of 1160. The was fought between rival subjects of the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan in 1159. Minamoto no Yoshitomo had been the head of the clan at this time; upon his defeat at the hands of Taira no Kiyomori, two of his sons were killed and the third, Minamoto no Yoritomo, was banished. Following the call to arms of Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa in 1180, the clan would gather together and rise to power again. The Genpei war would see the Minamoto clan defeat the Taira and take command of the entire country.

• Minamoto no Noriyori (源範頼), general, younger brother of Yoritomo. (1156 &ndash 1193 was a late Heian period general who fought alongside his brothers Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune at a number of battles
• Minamoto no Yorimasa (源頼政), head of the clan at the beginning of the war. (1106 &ndash 1180 was a prominent Japanese poet whose works appeared in various anthologies
• Minamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝), head of the clan upon Yorimasa's death. was the founder and the first Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan.
• Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経), younger brother of Yoritomo, chief general of the clan. Yoshitsune_with_benkeijpg|thumb|"Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms" by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka]] Minamoto no Yoshitsune (ja 源 義経 (1159 &ndash
• Minamoto no Yukiie (源行家), general, uncle to Yoritomo. (d 1186 was the brother of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and one of the commanders of the Minamoto forces in the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period
• Allies and vassals:
  • Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河), cloistered (retired) emperor. Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇 Go-Shirakawa-tennō) ( October 18, 1127 &ndash April 26, 1192 The Insei system (院政 or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan, in which the Emperor abdicated but kept exerting power and influence
  • Prince Mochihito (以仁王), Imperial Prince. (d July 1180 also known as the Takakura Prince, and as Minamoto Mochimitsu, was a son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa
  • Benkei (弁慶), sōhei (warrior monk), ally of Yoshitsune. popularly called Benkei, was a Sohei (warrior monk who served Minamoto no Yoshitsune. were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate
  • Hōjō Tokimasa (時政 北条), head of the Hōjō clan (北条), father-in-law of Yoritomo. was the first Hōjō Shikken (regent of the Kamakura bakufu and head of the Hōjō clan. See the Late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of the Sengoku Period.
  • Kajiwara Kagetoki (景時 梶原), officially an ally of Yoshitsune, in fact a spy for Yoritomo. (c 1162-1200 was a spy for Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Genpei War, and a warrior against the Taira.
  • Kumagai Naozane (直実 熊谷), samurai vassal of Yoritomo. ( March 24, 1141 - December 4, 1208) was a famous soldier who served the Genji ( Minamoto) Clan during the Heian period of Japanese
  • Sasaki Moritsuna (盛綱 佐々木), vassal of Noriyori who commanded the assault at the battle of Kojima.
  • Taguchi Shigeyoshi (重能 田口), Taira general who turned to the Minamoto camp upon seeing the tide turn at the battle of Dan no Ura, thus ensuring Minamoto victory.
  • Nasu no Yoichi (那須与一), celebrated archer and Minamoto ally. (c 1169 -c 1232) was a Samurai who fought alongside the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War.
  • Yada Yoshiyasu (矢田 義康), vassal of Yoshinaka and commander of Minamoto forces at the battle of Mizushima.
  • The sōhei (warrior-monks) of Mii-dera and other temples. were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate formally called, is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, in the city of Ōtsu, in Shiga Prefecture. Three in particular are mentioned in the Heike Monogatari for their part in the first battle of Uji:
    • Ichirai Hoshi (一来 法師), who is famous for having jumped ahead of Jomyo Meishu and led the Mii-dera monks to battle. Ichirai Hōshi (一来法師 d 1180 was a Japanese warrior monk who supported the Minamoto clan of samurai against their rivals the Taira clan
    • Gochin no Tajima (ごちん忽), called Tajima the arrow-cutter, and famous for deflecting the arrows of the Taira with his naginata, upon the bridge over the Uji. Gochi-in Tajima (五智院但馬 called Tajima the arrow-cutter, was a warrior monk from Miidera who fought alongside the Minamoto Clan
    • Tsutsui Jomyo Meishu (筒井 浄妙 めいしゅ), who fought to his last on the bridge over the Uji, taking over sixty arrows and still fighting. Tsutsui Jōmyō Meishu (筒井浄妙めいしゅ was a warrior monk or Sōhei, from Miidera, who fought alongside Minamoto no Yorimasa and
• Partisans of Minamoto no Yoshinaka (源義仲), cousin of Yoritomo, who supported his rebellion:
  • Imai Kanehira (兼平 今井), who joined Yoshinaka in his escape to Seta.

Taira Clan

The Taira clan was one of the four great clans which dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period (794-1185). Kikuchi Yōsai (菊池容斎 1781-1878 also known as Kikuchi Takeyasu and Kawahara Ryōhei was a Japanese painter most famous for his monochrome As a result of the near-total destruction of their rival clan, the Minamoto, in the Heiji Rebellion of 1160, Taira no Kiyomori, head of the clan, initiated the Genpei War at the height of his power. The end of the war, however, brought destruction to the Taira clan.

• Taira no Atsumori (平敦盛), young samurai killed by Kumagai Naozane who, because of his youth and innocence, became quite famous in death. (1169 &ndash 1184 was a Samurai famous for his early death in single combat
• Taira no Kiyomori (平清盛), head of the clan at the beginning of the war. was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first Samurai -dominated administrative government in the history of Japan.
• Taira no Koremori (平維盛), grandson of Kiyomori. (1160 &ndash 1184? was one of the Taira clan's commanders in the Genpei War of the late Heian period of Japanese history.
• Taira no Munemori (平宗盛), son and heir of Kiyomori; head of the clan for much of the war. (1147-1185 was heir to Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira clan's chief commanders in the Genpei War.
• Taira no Noritsune (平教経), a Taira clan samurai
• Taira no Shigehira (平重衡), general, son of Kiyomori. (1160 &ndash 1185 fought in the Genpei War battles of Mizushima, Ichi-no-Tani, and Dan-no-ura alongside his brethren in clan Taira (1158 &ndash 1185 was one of the sons of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders during the Heian period of the 12th century
• Taira no Tadanori (平忠度), general, brother of Kiyomori. (1144 &ndash 1184 was the brother of clan head Taira no Kiyomori, and one of his generals in the Genpei War against the Minamoto.
• Taira no Tokiko (平時子), wife of Kiyomori who committed suicide at the battle of Dan-no-ura.
• Taira no Tomomori (平知盛), general, son of Kiyomori. (1152-1185 was the son of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders in the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period
• Taira no Yukimori (平行盛), general, commander of the Taira forces at the battle of Kojima.
• Allies and vassals:
  • Emperor Antoku (安徳), Emperor of Japan and grandson of Taira no Kiyomori
  • Ōba Kagechika (景親 大庭), vassal of the Taira. Emperor Antoku (安徳天皇 Antoku-tennō) ( December 22, 1178 &ndash April 24, 1185) was the 81st emperor (d 1180 also known as Ōba Saburō Kagechika, was a samurai of Japan 's Heian period.
  • Saitō Sanemori (実盛 斎藤), former vassal of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, switched sides and became a vassal of Taira no Munenori.
  • Seno Kaneyasu (兼康 妹尾), vassal of the Taira who commanded at the Fukuryūji fortress.
  • Taguchi Shigeyoshi (重能 田口), Taira general who turned to the Minamoto camp upon seeing the tide turn at the battle of Dan no Ura, thus ensuring Minamoto victory.
  • The sōhei (warrior-monks) of Enryaku-ji (延暦寺), at least in theory, on account of their rivalry with the Mii-dera, which was allied with the Minamoto. were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate Not to be confused with Engaku-ji in Kamakura., a Monastery on Mount Hiei overlooking Kyoto, was founded

The Genpei War in literature

Many stories and works of art depict this conflict. The Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari, 平家物語) is one of the most famous, though many Kabuki and bunraku plays reproduce events of the war as well. The Tale of the Heike ( Heike monogatari, 平家物語 is an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto Clans is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate Make-up worn by some of its performers also known as Ningyō jōruri (ja 人形浄瑠璃 is a form of traditional Japanese Puppet theater founded in Osaka in 1684 Ichinotani futaba gunki (Chronicle of the battle of Ichi-no-Tani) by Namiki Sōsuke may be one of the more famous of these. Namiki Sōsuke (並木宗輔( 1695 -c 1751) also known as Namiki Senryū, was a prominent Japanese playwright who wrote for both Kabuki

"Shike" by Robert Shea features a somewhat fictionalised account of the wars, as seen from the perspectives of his two main characters, the Zinja Monk Jebu, and the Noblewoman Lady Shima Taniko. Shike is a two-volume novel published in 1981 by Robert Shea. Robert Joseph Shea ( February 14, 1933 - March 10, 1994) was a magazine editor columnist and novelist The names of the two rival clans have been changed, "Minamoto" to "Muratomo" and "Taira" to "Takashi".

Another fictionalized account of the conflict forms the central plot of Civil War (also known as Turbulent Times), the ninth volume of Osamu Tezuka's celebrated Phoenix series. was a Japanese manga artist, Animator, producer and Medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine is a Manga series by Osamu Tezuka. Tezuka considered Phoenix his "life's work" it consists of 12 books each of which tells a separate self-contained

References

• Sansom, George. (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. The Stanford University Press is the Publishing house of Stanford University.
• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Arms & Armour Press. ISBN 1-8540-9371-1 [reprinted by Cassell & Co. , London, 2000. ISBN 1-8540-9523-4 ]

• This article also derives significantly from the content and style of the "Guerre de Gempei" article on the French Wikipedia.

See also

• List of wars
• Military history of Japan
• Kuroshima and Taijima, a set of islands off the coast of Wakayama used as a naval base during the war

External links

• Genpei War Map

This is a listing of lists of Wars, sorted by country date region and type of conflict The military history of Japan is characterised by a long period of Feudal Wars, followed by domestic stability and then foreign conquest are a set of Islands about one Kilometer off the coast of Honshū in Japan by the mouth of the Koza River, a five minute ride by ferry from Koza

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