How did the Gempei war change the lifestyle of the samurai? The war also had lasting implications for the samurai and fostered many of the codes of excellence by which these warriors led their lives, including selfless heroism, high personal standards of conduct, and martial prowess.
What was the result of the Gempei War?
Gempei War. Gempei War, (1180–85), final struggle in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans that resulted in the Minamoto’s establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, a military dictatorship that dominated Japan from 1192 to 1333. The Taira clan had dominated the Imperial government from 1160 to 1185.
What was the outcome of the Genpei War?
Namco 's 1986 Arcade horror/fantasy Genpei Toumaden imagines the outcome of the Genpei War bringing an age of darkness to Japan, with a resurrected Taira no Kagekiyo tasked to defeat a demonic rendition of Minamoto no Yoritomo. ^ "...the Gempei conflict was a national civil war" Warrior Rule in Japan, page 2. Cambridge University Press.
Why did the Minamoto and Taira fight in the Genpei War?
White was the clan color of the Minamoto, like the House of York, while the Taira used red like the Lancasters. However, the Genpei War predated the Wars of the Roses by three hundred years. In addition, the Minamoto and Taira were not fighting to take the throne of Japan; instead, each wanted to control the imperial succession. Lead-up to the War
How did the samurai become so powerful?
The term eventually gained strong aristocratic overtones and brought great prestige to the samurai's lineage—so much so that warriors would recite their ancestry on the battlefield. By the 11th century, powerful military clans had begun vying for power.
How did the samurai change?
During the Tokugawa shogunate, samurai increasingly became courtiers, bureaucrats, and administrators rather than warriors. With no warfare since the early 17th century, samurai gradually lost their military function during the Tokugawa era (also called the Edo period).
How did the lives of the samurai change during the Edo period?
Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period. As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868, and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards.
How did the Genpei War affect Japan?
Gempei War, (1180–85), final struggle in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans that resulted in the Minamoto's establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, a military dictatorship that dominated Japan from 1192 to 1333. The Taira clan had dominated the Imperial government from 1160 to 1185.
What was the aftermath of the Genpei War?
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 authority until the Meiji Restoration more than 650 years later.
What was the lifestyle of a samurai?
Samurai were expected to live according to Bushido ("The Way of the Warrior"), a strict ethical code influenced by Confucianism that stressed loyalty to one's master, respect for one's superior, ethical behavior in all aspects of life and complete self-discipline. Girls also received martial arts training.
What caused the fall of the samurai?
The role of the samurai in peacetime declined gradually over this period, but two factors led to the end of samurai: the urbanization of Japan and the end of isolationism. As more and more Japanese moved to the cities, fewer farmers produced the rice needed to feed the growing population.
How did the Shoguns rule change at the end of the Genpei War?
The end of the Gempei 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.
Who won the Gempei war?
The Minamoto clan won the Gempei War, battle between the Taira and Minamoto clans of Japan between 1180 and 1185.
Who won the genpei wars?
The Minamoto clan won the Gempei War, battle between the Taira and Minamoto clans of Japan between 1180 and 1185.
Do you know who the Gempei war was fought between?
More than 800 years ago, the decisive battle in the Genpei War took place in Yashima. It was a battle between the Taira clan led by TAIRA no Munemori, which was at the height of its prosperity, and the Minamoto clan led by MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune, a genius in battle.
What clans fought in the Genpei War and which one was victorious?
Here we summarize the major events of the conflict. The Genpei War was a twelfth-century conflict in which the Minamoto clan overthrew the ruling Taira clan before establishing Japan's first shogunate at Kamakura.
What is bushido and why was it important to the samurai?
Bushido is the way of warrior, the codex of Samurai during feudal Japan which promoted the importance of loyalty, honor and martial arts. The Bushido philosophy refers to not fearing death and dying for valor. It is sometimes criticized for disrespecting human life.
What was life like for a samurai during the Edo period?
Edo-period samurai Edo-period samurai During the Edo period only samurai were allowed to carry weapons, life was ordered according to strict Confucian principals of duty and family loyalty, and people were restricted to their villages and only allowed to leave on special holidays or to visit special shrines.
What changed in the Edo period?
The Edo period: 1603-1867 Ieyasu established a new government in Edo and became the first shogun of the Edo Bakufu in 1603. Edo, a sleepy little town until then, was transformed into a huge political city by aggressive public works including land reclamation, new canals and clean water supply systems.
How has the role of the samurai changed throughout the history of Japan?
As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). The samurai would dominate Japanese government and society until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of the feudal system.
How did the Edo period affect Japan?
Japan's Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1867, would be the final era of traditional Japanese government, culture and society. Tokugawa Ieyasu's dynasty of shoguns presided over 250 years of peace and prosperity in Japan, including the rise of a new merchant class and increasing urbanization.
What was the Genpei War?
The Genpei War (源平合戦, Genpei kassen, Genpei gassen) (1180–1185) was a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late- Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, who appointed himself as Shōgun in 1192, ...
What was the beginning of the Genpei War?
Beginnings of the war. Scene of the Genpei war (1180-1185), Kanō Motonobu (1476-1569), Muromachi period (1336 and 1573). 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.
How did Yoshinaka gain control of the Minamoto clan?
In 1183, Yoshinaka once again sought to gain control of the Minamoto clan by planning an attack on Yoritomo, while simultaneously pursuing the Taira westward. The Taira set up a temporary Court at Dazaifu in Kyūshū, the southernmost of Japan's main islands. They were forced out soon afterwards by local revolts instigated by Go-Shirakawa, and moved their Court to Yashima. The Taira were successful in beating off an attack by Yoshinaka's pursuing forces at the Battle of Mizushima. : 295–296
What happened to the Taira in 1183?
In 1183, the Taira loss at the Battle of Kurikara was so severe that they found themselves, several months later, under siege in Kyoto, with Yoshinaka approaching the city from the north 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 the west. The cloistered emperor Go-Shirakawa defected to Yoshinaka. Go-Shirakawa then issued a mandate for Yoshinaka to "join with Yukiie in destroying Munemori and his army".
How did Taira no Kiyomori die?
Taira no Kiyomori died from illness in the spring of 1181, and around the same time Japan began to suffer from a famine which was to 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. For nearly two years, the war ceased, only to resume in the spring of 1183. : 287, 293
What battles did Minamoto fight?
1181 Battle of Yahagigawa – the Minamoto, retreating from Sunomata, attempt to make a stand. 1183 Siege of Hiuchi – the Taira attack a Minamoto fortress. 1183 Battle of Kurikara – the tide of the war turns, in the Minamoto's favor. 1183 Battle of Shinohara – Yoshinaka pursues the Taira force from Kurikara.
What was the Taira no Kiyomori?
Taira no Kiyomori, by Kikuchi Y ōsai. The Taira clan was one of the four great clans which dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period (794–1185). 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 ...
What was the Genpei War?
The Genpei War (also romanized as "Gempei War") in Japan was the first conflict between large samurai factions. Although it happened nearly 1,000 years ago, people today still remember the names and accomplishments of some of the great warriors who fought in this civil war. Sometimes compared with England's " War of the Roses ," ...
Why did the Taira samurai jump into the sea?
When the tides of battle turned against them, so to speak, many of the Taira samurai jumped into the sea to drown rather than being killed by the Minamoto. The seven-year-old Emperor Antoku and his grandmother also jumped in and perished. Local people believe that small crabs that live in the Shimonoseki Strait are possessed by the ghosts of the Taira samurai; the crabs have a pattern on their shells that looks like a samurai's face .
What happened in 1180?
On November 9, 1180, at the so-called Battle of the Fujigawa (Fuji River), the Minamoto and allies faced an over-extended Taira army. With poor leadership and long supply lines, the Taira decided to withdraw back to Kyoto without offering a fight.
How many forces did the Taira have?
As they entered Minamoto territory, the Taira divided their army into two forces. Minamoto Yoshinaka managed to lure the larger section into a narrow valley; at the Battle of Kurikara, according to the epics, "Seventy thousand horsemen of the Taira perish [ed], buried in this one deep valley; the mountain streams ran with their blood..."
What happened to Yoritomo in the Battle of Ishibashiyama?
Yoritomo soon learned that there was a bounty on his head. He organized some local Minamoto allies, and escaped from the Taira, but lost most of his small army in the Battle of Ishibashiyama on September 14. Yoritomo escaped with his life, fleeing into the woods with Taira pursuers close behind.
What color was the Minamoto's clan?
Sometimes compared with England's " War of the Roses ," the Genpei War featured two families fighting for power. White was the clan color of the Minamoto, like the House of York, while the Taira used red like the Lancasters. However, the Genpei War predated the Wars of the Roses by three hundred years. In addition, the Minamoto and Taira were not fighting to take the throne of Japan; instead, each wanted to control the imperial succession.
What was the cause of the Taira retreat?
Whatever the true cause of the Taira retreat, there followed a two-year lull in the fighting. Japan faced a series of droughts and floods that destroyed the rice and barley crops in 1180 and 1181. Famine and disease ravaged the countryside; an estimated 100,000 died.
How did the Gempei war affect Japan?
Traditions and values established in medieval times were to resurface in the modern age. To an extraordinary extent, they still informed the military mind-set of 20th-century Japan, as became evident in the war with Russia, the Sino-Japanese War, and in the Pacific theatre of World War II .
What was the Genpei War?
Varies. Varies. The Genpei War was a series of conflicts between the Minamoto and Taira families. With its feuding families, and its epic scale, the story of the Gempei Wars had the ring of heroic myth. Yet the conflict convulsed Japan for five terrible years, leaving a lasting historical and cultural legacy.
What was the conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans?
Conflict, raging for generations between the powerful Minamoto and Taira clans, finally flared up into a full-blown civil war. The Hogen Rebellion of 1156 saw the Fujiwara themselves reduced to figureheads as the Minamoto and Taira fought over who should have power behind the scenes.
What is the Heike Monogatari?
What strikes the reader of the Heike Monogatari, the great 13th-century epic account of the Genpei War, is how up-close and intimate the fighting was. Like the heroes of Homer's Trojan War, warriors made stirring speeches before battle and trade insults as they engage in single combat. This is all part of the literary convention, affording an opportunity for building suspense. But it also reflects the realities of the time. There was no more noble calling than that of the soldier; samurai were schooled in their vocation as small boys. Horsemanship was held in high regard - memorable descriptions abound in the Heike Monogatari - even though the samurai fought mainly on foot. Accomplishment in archery was essential; not just with the full-length daikyu but also with the shorter hankyu - both bows could be used on horseback. The cult of the katana, or "samurai sword", was yet to be established, but the warrior still took great pride in his skill with the long, curved, tachi sword and with the dagger.
When did Minamoto draw the Taira?
In the Heike Monogatari, the Minamoto drew the Taira into an engagement of this kind at Kurikara in 1183 - but only as a deoy - and the bulk of Minamoto Yoshinaka 's army crept around to attack from the rear. Yoshinaka tied torches to the horns of frightened cattle, which were sent stampeding into the Taira.
Where did Yoritomo take the Taira?
All at sea. In 1185 Yoritomo set out to take the Taira's main fortress at Yashima, off Shikoku. He had a party of men build fires in the hills inland to persuade the Taira that his army was approaching from that direction.
Who was the Taira that put Mochihito to death?
Taira no Kiyomori issued orders for Mochihito's arrest. Minamoto Yorimasa and his samurai set off to spirit him to safety. The Taira caught up with them: Prince Mochihito was put to death, but Minamoto Yorimasa avoided capture by disemboweling himself in the first known act of seppuku.
What was the Gempei War?
The Gempei War, the great civil war of Japan , was named after the two rival samurai clans called the Minamoto and the Taira. When their names are pronounced in the Chinese style of Japanese orthography as ‘Genji’ and ‘Heike’ respectively and the first characters are combined, it produces the compound ‘Gempei’, although modern written Japanese tends to use a form of romanisation that leads to the compound ‘Gem-pei’ becoming ‘Gen-pei’. It is as the Gempei War that the great conflict is best known, so the traditional form will be retained here. For the further convenience of readers the lunar dates used in the primary sources have been converted to the Western calendar, and following conventional Japanese usage all names are given with the surname first. I have written about the Gempei War many times, but for this book I have ignored all my previous work and gone back to the original Japanese source materials combined with data drawn from observational visits to each of the main battlefields involved. The reader may therefore be confident that this is the most authoritative account of the Gempei War currently available. All the pictures are my own except a few which are gratefully acknowledged in the captions.
What war did the Samurai take over?
The Gempei War was the conflict whereby the warrior aristocracy known as the samurai took over the governance of Japan. In this detail from a painted scroll we see the grinning face of a samurai warrior clutching his bow. His head is bent down so that his helmet acts as a shield against the arrows loosed at him.
Why did the Taira army leave Kyoto?
The Taira army leaves Kyoto to challenge Yoritomo.
What is the scroll of the Eastern Warriors?
The eastern warriors This painted scroll depicts a mounted samurai wearing a horo, the curious ‘arrow catcher’ made from a cloth spread over a bamboo framework that indicated an elite warrior. Judging by the fact that he is tightening the girth on his saddle, he is probably Kajiwara Kagesue at the second battle of Uji in 1184.
Who was defeated in the first battle of Uji?
Minamoto Yorimasa is defeated at the first battle of Uji.
Who crushed the revolts in mi and Mino provinces?
Revolts in Ōmi and Mino provinces are crushed by Taira Tomomori.
Where is Giuseppe Rava?
He lives and works in Italy. For more on Giuseppe, please visit his website: www.g-rava.it
What were the implications of the Gempei War?
The war also had lasting implications for the samurai and fostered many of the codes of excellence by which these warriors led their lives, including selfless heroism, high personal standards of conduct, and martial prowess. Even the samurai's understanding of art and poetry can be traced to stories of the Gempei War.
Who was the next samurai to change the course of Japanese history?
Continuing strife. 16th century. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the next samurai to change the course of Japanese (and warrior) history. Through a series of successful political and military campaigns, he asserted control over all of Japan by 1591.
What happened to Masashige in 1336?
Masashige was a brilliant strategist, but in 1336, Go-Daigo refused to accept the warrior's counsel, and the samurai knowingly undertook what would become a suicide mission. When death at the hands of the opposition became imminent, Masashige and 600 of his troops committed seppuku (ritual suicide) on the battleground.
How long have samurai been around?
For more than 800 years, the samurai helped to lay the foundations of Japan's culture. Their reverence for honor, duty, and service remains ingrained in Japanese society even today. Together with their renowned martial capabilities, these characteristics made the samurai what historian Stephen Turnbull calls "the knights of old Japan." In this interactive time line, familiarize yourself with the samurai and their challenges, and learn how the warrior class evolved.— Rima Chaddha
What war spawned many myths?
Left: The Gempei War spawned many myths. Here, a samurai battles a great beast.
What was the Hogen Rebellion?
Each took part in the Hogen Rebellion of 1156, a civil war fought over the disputed imperial line of succession following the death of the emperor Toba. The conflict resulted in the Taira rising to power to form the first samurai-led government in the history of Japan. Left: Taira no Shigemori, eldest son of the Taira patriarch during ...
Why did the Samurai believe in divine shields?
The warriors believed they were largely safeguarded from death but needed to prepare for the possibility in order to perform their best in battle.
Overview
Aftermath
The end of the Genpei War and beginning of the Kamakura shogunate marked the rise to power of the warrior class (samurai) and the gradual suppression of the power of the emperor, who was compelled to govern without effective political or military power, being effectively reduced to a purely symbolical and ceremonial head of state, until the Meiji Restoration over 650 years later, though there was a short-lived attempt to restore imperial rule in the 1330s, the Kenmu Restorati…
Background
The Genpei War was the culmination of a decades-long conflict between the two aforementioned clans over dominance of the Imperial court and, by extension, control of Japan. In the Hōgen Rebellion and in the Heiji Rebellion of earlier decades, the Minamoto attempted to regain control from the Taira and failed.
In 1180, Taira no Kiyomori put his grandson Antoku (then only 2 years of age) o…
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. Not knowing who was behind this rally, Kiyomori called for the arrest of Mochihito, who sought protection at the temple of Mii-dera. The Mii-dera monks were unable to ensure him sufficient protection, so he was forced to m…
Turning of the tide
In 1183, the Taira loss at the Battle of Kurikara was so severe that they found themselves, several months later, under siege in Kyoto, with Yoshinaka approaching the city from the north 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 t…
Final stages
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 persuaded to agree to a truce. This was a farce, as neither …
Consequences of the Genpei War
The defeat of the Taira armies meant the end of Taira "dominance at the capital". In December 1185, Go-Shirakawa granted to Yoritomo the power to collect taxes, and "appoint stewards and constables in all provinces". Finally, in 1192, after Go-Shirakawa's death, Yoritomo was granted the imperial commission Sei-i Tai Shōgun. This was the beginning of a feudal state in Japan, with real power now in Kamakura. However, Kyoto remained the "seat of national ceremony and ritual."
Definition
It has been pointed out that the Battle of Ōshū fought between the Kamakura government and the Northern Fujiwara in 1189 was in fact the last battle during this period of civil war, as it completed Yoritomo's nationwide domination through the annexation of Dewa and Mutsu Province, and that its end marked the establishment of the first military government, the Kamakura shogunate.
The terms Genpei kassen (源平合戦), Genpei sōran (源平争乱) and Genpei no tatakai (源平の戦 …
Lead-Up to The War
War Breaks Out
- On May 5, 1180, Minamoto Yoritomo and his favored candidate for the throne, Prince Mochihito, sent out a call to war. They rallied samurai families related to or allied with the Minamoto, as well as warrior monks from various Buddhist monasteries. By June 15, Minister Kiyomori had issued a warrant for his arrest, so Prince Mochihito was forced to f...
Yoritomo Takes Over
- The leadership of the Minamoto clan passed to the 33-year-old Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was living as a hostage in the home of a Taira-allied family. Yoritomo soon learned that there was a bounty on his head. He organized some local Minamoto allies, and escaped from the Taira, but lost most of his small army in the Battle of Ishibashiyama on September 14. Yoritomo escaped …
Minamoto In-Fighting
- Kyoto erupted in panic at the news of the Taira defeat in Kurikara. On August 14, 1183, the Taira fled the capital. They took along most of the imperial family, including the child emperor, and the crown jewels. Three days later, Yoshinaka's branch of the Minamoto army marched into Kyoto, accompanied by the former Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Yoritomo was nearly as panicked as the Tai…
End of The War and Aftermath
- What remained of the Taira loyalist army retreated into their heartland. It took the Minamoto some time to mop them up. Almost a year after Yoshitsune ousted his cousin from Kyoto, in February of 1185, the Minamoto seized the Taira fortress and make-shift capital at Yashima. On March 24, 1185, the final major battle of the Genpei War took place. It was a naval battle in the Shimonose…
Sources
- Arnn, Barbara L. "Local Legends of the Genpei War: Reflections of Medieval Japanese History," Asian Folklore Studies, 38:2 (1979), pp. 1-10. Conlan, Thomas. "The Nature of Warfare in Fourteenth-Century Japan: The Record of Nomoto Tomoyuki," Journal for Japanese Studies, 25:2 (1999), pp. 299-330. Hall, John W. The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 3, Cambridge: Cambrid…