Minamoto no Yorimasa
Minamoto no Yorimasa ( Japanese 源 頼 政 ; * 1106 ; † 1180 ) was a leader of the Minamoto armies at the beginning of the Genpei War . While there had been clashes between the Minamoto and Taira for decades , Yorimasa, a poet, tried to stay out of politics and not take a stand for either side. He was even friends with Taira no Kiyomori for a while . During the Heiji Rebellion of 1160, he leaned just enough in favor of the Taira that they could defeat the Minamoto.
In 1179, however, he officially withdrew from service in Kiyomori's army, as he no longer wanted to fight his own clan. In May 1180, he sent an appeal to other Minamoto leaders and temples that Kiyomori had turned against him. The Genpei War officially began with the First Battle of Uji in 1180. Yorimasa led the forces of the Minamoto and warrior monks of Mii-dera in the defense of the temple. Although the monks had destroyed the bridge, they managed to break through the defenses and take the temple.
Minamoto no Yorimasa's seppuku is the earliest recorded example of a samurai's suicide in the face of defeat.
See also
swell
- Sansom, George, " A History of Japan to 1334. ", Stanford, California: Stanford University Press., 1958, pp. 278, 279.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Minamoto no Yorimasa |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | 源 頼 政 (Japanese) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Japanese samurai and leader of the Minamoto armies |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1106 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1180 |