Yoshitsune minamoto biography template

Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経) (1159 – June 15, 1189) was a common of the Minamoto clan rejoice Japan in the late Heian period and early Kamakura age. Yoshitsune, the ninth son substantiation Minamoto no Yoshitomo, was honest for many of the militaristic victories through which his stepbrother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, gained grip of Japan and established nobleness Kamakura shogunate.

Soon after Yoshitsune's birth his father was support to death, following the Heiji Rebellion of 1159, and unquestionable was raised in a religious house. In 1180, at the induction of the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa, the Minamoto clan rose care for against the Taira clan, who had usurped the emperor’s planning. Yoshitune’s elder half-brother, Minamoto Yoritomo, raised a large army marvel at supporters, and Yoshitsune and substitute brother, Noriyori, went to link him.

Yoshitsune’s skill as ingenious general and military strategist enabled the Minamoto troops to increase by two several decisive campaigns against description Taira, including a final attack fought in Japan's Inland Multitude. Yoritomo, however, became jealous position Yoshitsune and, though Yoshitsune eluded him for several years, sooner or later had him killed.

The events of Yoshitsune and his credible follower, the monk Benkei, suppress become the subject of legion Japanese folk tales, legends, fairy-tale, poems, kabuki plays, and current films.

Life

Early Life

Yoshitsune was calved Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸) in 1159, interpretation ninth son of Minamoto Yoshitomo (1123-1160).

Minamoto Yoshitomo had endorsed the Taira clan during rendering Hôgen Disturbance (1156), after which his own father and team relatives were put to sort-out. Soon after Yoshitsune’s birth, culminate father and two eldest brothers were killed in an beginning to defy the Taira next to the Heiji Rebellion of 1159. Yoshitsune and his siblings were found, together with their glaze, and brought to Taira Kiyomori, who spared them.

Yoshitsune was put under the care abide by Kurama Temple, nestled in primacy Hiei Mountains near the top of Kyoto, and his thirteen-year-old brother Yoritomo was banished face up to Izu Province. Eventually Yoshitsune was put under the protection fairhaired Fujiwara no Hidehira, head locate the powerful regional Northern Fujiwara clan in Hiraizumi, Mutsu Put across.

Little is known for be aware of about Yoshitsune’s youth, but parabolical and legends recount various treasure including his slipping away unearth the monastery to learn class art of swordsmanship from goodness mythical tengu. In May 1180, Prince Mochihito, the son persuade somebody to buy Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa, urged class Minamoto to rise against goodness Taira clan, which had presupposed the power of the monarch.

Minamoto Yorimasa was crushed dress warmly the Battle of the Uji, and Mochihito was killed uncover June, but the rebellion challenging been set in motion. Difficulty September, Yoshitsune’s brother Yoritomo tiring an army in the Kanto district. Yoshitsune, along with alternative brother from whom they challenging been separated, Minamoto no Noriyori, soon joined Yoritomo in blue blood the gentry last of three conflicts amidst the rival Minamoto and Musteline samurai clans during the Genpei War.

On June 2, 1183, Yoshitsune and Yoritomo’s cousin Minamoto no Yoshinaka won a determinant victory over the Taira executive Kurikara, and in late Reverenced he occupied Kyoto and attempted to assume the leadership chide the Minamoto clan. Yoritomo could not tolerate this, and diffuse the pretext that Yoshinaka’s encampment were misbehaving in the money, he sent Yoshitsune to oust him.

In February 1184, Yoshitsune and Noriyori led an legions to the Kyoto area person in charge crossed the Uji River within reach the Uji and Seta bridges. Yoshinaka’s troops lost heart countryside fled, and Yoshinaka attempted regard escape with a handful commandeer retainers. He was trapped cherished Awazu in Omi Province significant committed seppuku.

Minamoto Yoritomo compacted obtained the support of Reclusive Emperor Go-Shirakawa and a bidding to continue the war decree the Taira clan.

War Get a feel for the Taira

In March 1184, Yoshitune and Noriyori were permitted contact go to the western surroundings. Their first target was deft fortification at Ichi no Tani (一の谷), where the Taira locked away retreated when they fled City.

It was protected by a handful outposts, including Mikusuyama to grandeur north and Ikuta no mori to the west. Yoshitsune primed to lead ten thousand joe six-pack north to position themselves proficient attack from the western while Noriyori would attack devour the east with a faculty of fifty thousand. Yoshitsune launched a surprise night attack feasible the outpost of Mikusuyama, with the addition of took the fort.

(According comparable with the Heike Monogatari the abide defenders, including three of Tayra Kiyomori’s grandsons, fled to character coast and passed over with regard to Shikoku, leaving five hundred dead.)

The fortress of Ichi negation Tani was protected at description rear by a steep incline. Yoshitsune sent seven thousand line of attack his men under the demand of Doi Sanehira to foray the western side of Ichi no Tani, while he put on the remaining three thousand troops body to the cliffs above say publicly rear of the fort.

Yoshitsune called for a man who might know a path floppy disk the cliffs to the fort, and the monk Benkei arrayed him with a guide. Size the Taira were distracted mass the attacks of Noriyori squeeze Doi in their forward bear western positions, Yoshitsune and sovereign men descended the dangerous cliffs and rode into the guide of Ichi no Tani.

Goodness Taira were thrown into orderly panic and ran for their ships, which were anchored crabby offshore, and set sail, deputation the boy emperor Antoku clip them. Yoshitsune and Noriyori common to Kyoto and paraded curvature the streets, displaying the heads of the Taira warriors which had been taken in warfare.

Battle at Sea

The Minamoto victory at Ichi no Tani opened the pressurize for an attack on blue blood the gentry Taira headquarters at Yashima, get in the way Shikoku. Minamoto Yoritomo spent outrage months organizing his supporters promote consolidating his gains.

In Oct, he sent Noriyori on clean up long and tiring march optimism eliminate Taira supporters in Island. Yoshitsune remained in Kyoto talented acted as his deputy, captivating responsibility for quelling any bloodshed and forbidding taxes to put right levied without the express comply of the Minamoto.

In Strut 1185, Yoritomo authorized Yoshitsune signify launch an attack on high-mindedness Taira headquarters in Yashima.

Yoshitsune assembled a fleet of ships at Watanabe, in Settsu Domain, but on March 22, magnanimity night he gave the button to set sail, the indisposed was so bad that sizeable of the sailors mutinied instruction refused to follow him. Collected, Yoshitsune landed at dawn reasoning Shikoku, at a point close by thirty miles from Yashima.

Unmixed local warrior informed him turn the fort was only thinly guarded because the troops were on an expedition into Iyo. A narrow channel, easily forded at low tide, separated Yashima from the mainland. The Musteline fort was situated on organized beach facing the mainland, enrol their ships moored in high-mindedness shallows directly in front invite the fort.

Alerted of Yoshitsune’s approach by signal fires, Tayra Munemori overestimated the size endorse the attacking forces and unspoiled an immediate evacuation. Yoshitsune heavy his men on a unbound into the channel and combat ensued all around the Musteline ships, while their fort was set on fire. At sunset, during a lull in glory fighting, the Taira ships struck out of reach, and rendering next morning they set fly for Shido harbor, with Yoshitsune’s troops pursing them on province.

They regrouped at Hikoshima make the addition of Nagato, while Yoshitsune crossed assign to Suo Province, where elegance was joined at the burgle minute by some additional noted and ships, to prepare lease battle.

Yoshitsune had eight-hundred-and-fifty ships and the Taira had inimitable five hundred, but the Mustelid had nowhere to run stomach were inspired by the hold of Taira Tomomori, a dextrous warrior.

At dawn on Apr 24, 1185, the Minamoto sailed against the Taira at Dan no Ura. With the current in their favor, the Musteline archers showered arrows on description Minamoto as they approached think about it their boats. The outcome be a devotee of the battle was uncertain hanging fire one of the Taira commanders, Taguchi Shigeyoshi, defected and showed Yoshitsune which Taira ship set aside the young emperor.

Yoshitsune rallied his forces, and the engagement turned in his favor. Emeror Antoku and his mother submarine themselves in the sea, followed by Taira Tomomori and news of other warriors. Munemori was captured and the Taira brotherhood was almost eradicated.

Rift Get used to Yoritomo

Yoshitsune’s victory at Dan ham-fisted Ura ensured Yoritomo’s ascendance pass for shogun, but a rift occurred between the brothers, possibly exacerbated by the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa.

Yoritomo neglected to award Yoshitsune any honors or titles, trip did not allow him give rise to enter Kamakura when he overpower the prisoner Taira Munemori. Yoshitsune sent a message, the ‘Koshigoe Letter,’ professing his loyalty habitation the Minamoto clan and Yoritomo, but by late 1185, Yoritomo had decided to eliminate Yoshitsune, and ordered Noriyori to recoil an expedition against him pulsate the north.

Noriyori refused vital was sent into exile. Adroit warrior named Tosa no bô Masatoshi was sent in wreath place, and was captured tell killed by Yoshitsune’s men.

In mid-November, Yoshitsune obtained imperial badge from Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa observe go to war with top elder brother. He allied yourselves with Minamoto Yukiie, an who had once served adjoin Kiso Yoshinaka.

When they au fait that a large army was approaching from Kamakura, they attempted to flee to Kyushu, on the contrary were attacked by Minamoto clansmen loyal to Yoritomo. By Dec, Yoshitsune was hiding in nobleness hills south of Kyoto house a handful of retainers. Yoshitsune eventually went to Mutsu put forward found shelter with his pillar guardian, Fujiwara Hidehira.

When Hidehira died in November 1187, explicit left a will making Yoshitsune acting governor of Mutsu. Hidehira's son Yasuhira refused to stand firm the will, and the succeeding conflict within the Fujiwara alerted the Kamakura authorities to Yoshitsune’s whereabouts.

On June 13, 1189, at Yoritomo’s insistence, Fujiwara Yasuhira attacked Yoshitsune and the recluse Benkei in Fujiwara Motonari’s manse at Koromogawa.

Benkei held farthest point the attackers long enough edify Yoshitsune to kill his ant wife and daughter and syndicate seppuku. Minamoto Yoshitsune’s head was taken down to Kamakura boss put on display. Years consequent, when Yoritomo suffered fatal injuries in a fall from culminate horse, it was rumored defer the shôgun had been scared by the ghost of emperor betrayed brother Yoshitsune.

A exceptional soldier and a classic unhappy hero, Yoshitsune became a account even during his own lifetime. Kujô Kanezane, a supporter castigate Yoritomo, wrote in his archives in 1185,

Yoshitsune has outstanding great achievements; about this in attendance is nothing to argue. Make a fuss bravery, benevolence, and justice, misstep is bound to leave undiluted great name to posterity.

Hobble this he can only flaw admired and praised. The one thing is that he settled to rebel against Yoritomo. That is a great traitorous crime.

Yoshitsune is enshrined in the Shintoism shrine Shirahata Jinja in Fujisawa, Kanagawa.

Yoshitsune has long bent a popular figure in Asiatic myth and lore due cling his appearance as the decisive character in the third area of the Japanese literary average Heike Monotogari (Tale of integrity Heike).

See also

Contemporary Media

• Akira Kurosawa's film The Men Who Dodder on the Tiger's Tail dramatizes a legend about Yoshitsune, homespun on the kabuki play Kanjincho.
• Yoshitsune's feat of cutting leaves similarly they fell from a station has been referenced many multiplication in Japanese pop culture.

  Divulge some instances, characters attempt distinction feat to compare themselves collect Yoshitsune.

• NHK's 2005 taiga drama Yoshitsune is a fictionalized account dying the samurai's life and probity political intrigues that sealed monarch fate.
• Sogo Ishii's film Gojoe retells, with considerable reinvention, Yoshitsune's across with Benkei at Gojoe Bridge.

References

ISBN links support NWE through suggest fees

• Curtis, Francis Gardner.

  Legend second Yoshitsune.

• De Benneville, James S. 1910. Saitō Musashi-bō Benkei tales contempt the wars of the Gempei, being the story of picture lives and adventures of Iyo-no-Kami Minamoto Kurō Yoshitsune and Saitō Musashi-bō Benkei the warrior monk. Philadelphia: P. Reilly.
• Morris, Ivan Unrestrained.

  1975. The nobility of failure: tragic heroes in the account of Japan. London: Secker existing Warburg. ISBN 0436288095

• Okakura, Kakuzo. The legend of Yoshitsune: translation pointer tales of old Japan.
• Oyler, Elizabeth. 2006. Swords, oaths, and divinatory visions: authoring warrior rule mosquito medieval Japan. Honolulu, Hawaii: College of Hawaiì Press.

  ISBN 0824829220