Jōkyū War (承久の乱,jōkyū no ran), also known as theJōkyū Disturbance or theJōkyū Rebellion,^[1] was fought inJapan between the forces ofRetired Emperor Go-Toba and those of theHōjō clan,regents of theKamakura shogunate, whom theretired emperor was trying to overthrow.

The decisive battle of the conflict was fought atUji in 1221, the third year of theJōkyū era, just outside the imperial capital ofKyōto. It was thethird battle to be fought there in less than half a century.

In the beginning of the 13th century, Emperor Go-Toba found his attempts at political maneuvers blocked by theKamakura shogunate. Seeking independence, and the power he considered rightfully his asthe ruler of Japan, Go-Toba gathered allies in 1221, and planned to effect an overthrow of theshogunate. These allies consisted primarily of members of theTaira clan, and other enemies of theMinamoto, the victors in theGenpei War, and clan of theshōguns.^[2]

Accounts of the first Imperial banner appear in this period, and the very first is said to have been one that Go-Toba gave to a general during this war. Sun and moon images were embroidered or painted with gold or silver on a red brocade.^[3]

In the fifth lunar month of 1221, the Retired Emperor Go-Toba decided on lines of succession, without consulting the shogunate and powerful Hojo clan. He then invited a great number of potential allies from amongst the eastern warriors of Kyoto to a great festival, thus revealing the loyalties of those who rejected the invitation. One important officer revealed his loyalty to theshogunate by doing so, and was killed. Several days later, the Imperial Court declaredHōjō Yoshitoki, the regent and representative of the shogunate, to be an outlaw, and three days later the entirety of eastern Japan had officially risen in rebellion.^[2]

Hōjō Yoshitoki decided to launch an offensive against Go-Toba's forces in Kyoto, using much the same three-pronged strategy as was employed a few decades earlier. One came from the mountains, one from the north, and the third, commanded by Yoshitoki's sonYasutoki, approached via theTōkaidō road.^[2]

These forces faced meager opposition and resistance on their way to the capital; the Imperial commanders were simply outfought. When Go-Toba heard of this string of defeats, he left the city forMount Hiei, where he asked for aid from thesōhei, the warrior monks of Mount Hiei. They declined, citing weakness, and Go-Toba returned to Kyoto. The remnants of the Imperial army foughttheir final stand at the bridge over the river Uji, where the opening battle of theGenpei War had been fought 41 years earlier. Yasutoki's cavalry pushed through, scattering the Imperial forces, and pressed on to Kyoto.^[2]

The capital was taken by the Shogun's forces, and Go-Toba's rebellion was put to an end. Go-Toba was banished to theOki Islands, from where he never returned. His sons were also banished, includingRetired Emperor Tsuchimikado (toTosa) andRetired Emperor Juntoku (toSado), and the recently enthronedEmperor Chūkyō, the first son of Juntoku, was replaced withEmperor Go-Horikawa, a nephew of Go-Toba.

• Military history of Japan
• Kenmu Restoration

• Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1962).Sovereign and Subject. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.OCLC 1014075

• 1220s in Japan
• 1221 in Asia
• 13th-century rebellions
• Civil wars in Japan
• Conflicts in 1221
• Emperor Go-Toba
• Japanese imperial history
• Rebellions in Japan
• Wars involving Japan

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