Minamoto no Yoshinaka 源 義仲 | |
|---|---|
 Yoshinaka | |
| Born | 1154 |
| Died | 21 February 1184(1184-02-21) (aged 29–30) |
| Occupation | Samurai lord |
| Father | Minamoto no Yoshikata |
| Family | Minamoto clan |
Minamoto no Yoshinaka (源 義仲;Japanese pronunciation:[mʲi.na.mo.tono(|)jo.ɕiꜜ.na.ka],[1] 1154 – February 21, 1184), also known asKiso Yoshinaka (木曾 義仲), was a Japanesesamurai lord mentioned in the epic poemThe Tale of the Heike. A member of theMinamoto clan, he was a cousin and later rival ofshogunMinamoto no Yoritomo during theGenpei War between the Minamoto and theTaira clans in the lateHeian period.
Yoshinaka was born inMusashi Province. His father, Minamoto no Yoshikata, was killed byMinamoto no Yoshihira in 1155. Yoshihira also sought to kill Yoshinaka who escaped toShinano Province.[2][3]: 11 He was raised by Nakahara no Kanetō, the father of Imai Kanehira, together with hismilk-brotherImai Kanehira, who would later become his best friend and most loyal retainer. Yoshinaka later changed his name from Minamoto to Kiso (木曾), to reflect theKiso Mountains where he was raised.[4]
Yoshinaka acceptedPrince Mochihito's call to theMinamoto clan to rise against theTaira in 1181. He entered theGenpei War by raising an army and invadingEchigo Province. He then defeated a Taira force sent to pacify the area.[5]
The Taira army captured the fortress ofHiuchi in 1183.[6] Yoshinaka later that year was confronted by his cousin,Minamoto no Yoritomo, whose army had entered Shinano. They reconciled and resolved to unite against the Taira. Yoshinaka to seal the agreement senthis son Yoshitaka (or Yoshimoto) toKamakura as a hostage.[3] However, having been shamed by the process, Yoshinaka was now determined to beat Yoritomo toKyoto, defeat the Taira on his own, and take control of the Minamoto clan.
Yoshinaka defeated the army ofTaira no Koremori at theBattle of Kurikara Pass and marched to Kyoto. The Taira retreated out of the capital, taking the childEmperor Antoku with them. Yoshinaka's army entered the capital with the cloisteredEmperor Go-Shirakawa who issued a mandate for Yoshinaka to join withYukiiye in "destroying Munemori and his army".[5]: 293–294 The emperor also bestowed upon Yoshinaka the title ofAsahiShōgun (旭将軍).
Yoshinaka plotted with Yukiie in "setting up a government in their own northern province". Learning Go-Shirakawa had sought help from his cousin Yoritomo, Yoshinaka seized the cloistered emperor and burned his palace. Yoritomo ordered his brothersYoshitsune andNoriyori to destroy Yoshinaka.[5]: 296
He was subsequently driven out of Kyoto and killed by his cousins at theBattle of Awazu inŌmi Province (present-dayShiga Prefecture) along with Kanehira.[5]: 296–297 With night coming and with many enemy soldiers chasing him, he attempted to find an isolated spot to kill himself. However, the story says that his horse became trapped in a field of partly frozen mud and his enemies were able to approach him and kill him.[4]: 66
Yoshinaka was buried inŌtsu, in Ōmi; a temple was built in his honor during the laterMuromachi period. Its name, Gichū-ji, has the same twokanji as his given name. Kanehira's grave is also in Otsu, but it is not close to Yoshinaka's. TheEdo period poetMatsuo Bashō, pursuant to his last wishes, was buried next to Minamoto no Yoshinaka in Gichū-ji.
Minamoto no Yoshinaka is one of many main characters in theKamakura periodepic, theTale of Heike. The story of Yoshinaka and Kanehira is fairly well known in Japan; it is also the subject of theNoh playKanehira, in which Kanehira's tormented ghost describes his and Yoshinaka's death, and his wish to go to the other side.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
