Background and Beginnings of the War
– The Heiji rebellion and the rise of the Taira clan led to the Genpei War.
– The war was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan.
– Taira no Kiyomori put his grandson Antoku on the throne, leading to a call to arms by Minamoto no Yorimasa.
– Taira no Kiyomori’s actions deepened Minamoto hatred for the Taira clan.
– Minamoto no Yorimasa and Prince Mochihito called for arms against the Taira.
– Taira forces chased Mochihito to the Byōdō-in, leading to a battle and Yorimasa’s suicide.
– Minamoto no Yoritomo took over leadership of the Minamoto clan.
– Yoritomo was defeated in the battle of Ishibashiyama but found allies in Kai and Kōzuke.
Turning of the Tide and Final Stages
– The Taira suffered a severe loss at the Battle of Kurikara and fled Kyoto.
– Taira no Munemori led his army, along with Emperor Antoku, to the west.
– Yoshinaka planned to attack Yoritomo and pursued the Taira westward.
– The Taira set up a temporary Court at Dazaifu and later moved to Yashima.
– Yoshinaka was defeated by Yoshitsune at Awazu and killed while trying to flee.
– The Minamoto assaulted the Taira camp at Ichi-no-Tani.
– A six-month pause followed before the main Taira force at Yashima was attacked.
– The Taira escaped to their ships, but the Minamoto captured the imperial regalia and Emperor Antoku.
– The Genpei War ended with the battle of Dan-no-ura in the Straits of Shimonoseki.
– The Taira nobles, Emperor Antoku, and Kiyomori’s widow perished.
Consequences of the Genpei War
– The defeat of the Taira meant the end of their dominance at the capital.
– Yoritomo was granted power by Go-Shirakawa to collect taxes and appoint stewards and constables.
– Yoritomo was later granted the imperial commission as Sei-i Tai Shōgun.
– The Genpei War marked the beginning of feudal rule in Japan.
– The war had a significant impact on Japanese history and the balance of power.
Aftermath
– Rise of the warrior class (samurai)
– Suppression of the emperor’s power
– Emperor reduced to a symbolic and ceremonial role
– Meiji Restoration marked the restoration of imperial rule
– Red and white colors of the Taira and Minamoto became Japan’s national colors
Miscellaneous
– Definition: Genpei Kassen, Genpei Sōran, and Genpei no Tatakai are terms used in Japan.
– Extent: Battle of Ōshū was the last battle of the civil war period.
– Name: Genpei, Genpei Kassen, Genpei Sōran, and Genpei no Tatakai are sometimes used.
– Battles: First Battle of Uji, Siege of Nara, Battle of Ishibashiyama, Battle of Fujikawa, Battle of Sunomatagawa.
– Major figures: Minamoto Clan (Genji), Taira Clan (Heike).
– Allies and vassals: Emperor Antoku, Ōba Kagechika, Saitō Sanemori, Senoo Kaneyasu, Taguchi Shigeyoshi.
– In literature: The Tale of the Heike, kabuki and bunraku plays, Ichinotani Futaba Gunki, Shike, Phoenix series.
– In popular culture: The 13 Lords of the Shogun, Lords of the Rising Sun, Total War: Shogun 2, Age of Empires II: HD Edition, Genji: Dawn of the Samurai.
– See also: Kuroshima and Taijima, Military history of Japan, Outline of war, Sanemori, Sukiyaki Western Django. Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genpei_War
