Battle of Yashima
Encyclopedia
The naval Battle of Yashima took place on 22 March 1185. Following a long string of defeats, the Taira clan retreated to Yashima, today's Takamatsu
, just off the coast of Shikoku
. Here they had a fortress, and an improvised palace for Emperor Antoku
and the imperial regalia, which they had taken earlier in the war.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
, setting out from Kyoto
after a lull of several months in the war, found his way to Shikoku
with a small force, no more than about a hundred men. Most of his ships were destroyed or lost in a storm only days before; but he was re-supplied by an ally, Kajiwara Kagetoki
.
The Taira were expecting a naval attack, and so Yoshitsune
lit bonfires on Shikoku
, essentially in their rear, fooling the Taira into believing that a large force was approaching on land. They abandoned the fortress/palace, and took to their ships, along with Emperor Antoku and the imperial regalia. The Taira even placed a fan atop the mast of one of their ships, and dared the Minamoto to knock it off. In one of the most famous archery feats in all of Japanese history, Nasu no Yoichi
rode out into the sea on horseback, and did just that. The Minamoto were victorious, but the majority of the Taira fleet escaped to Dan-no-ura
, where they were defeated one month later in the Battle of Dan-no-ura
.
Takamatsu, Kagawa
is a city located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan, and is the seat of the prefectural government. It is designated a core city by the Japanese Government. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku island...
, just off the coast of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
. Here they had a fortress, and an improvised palace for Emperor Antoku
Emperor Antoku
Emperor Antoku was the 81st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1180 through 1185. During this time, the imperial family was involved in a bitter struggle between warring clans...
and the imperial regalia, which they had taken earlier in the war.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...
, setting out from Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
after a lull of several months in the war, found his way to Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
with a small force, no more than about a hundred men. Most of his ships were destroyed or lost in a storm only days before; but he was re-supplied by an ally, Kajiwara Kagetoki
Kajiwara Kagetoki
was a spy for Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Genpei War, and a warrior against the Taira. He came to be known for his greed and treachery.Originally from Suruga province, Kajiwara entered the Genpei War fighting under Oba Kagechika, against the Minamoto. After the Taira victory at Ishibashiyama in...
.
The Taira were expecting a naval attack, and so Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...
lit bonfires on Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
, essentially in their rear, fooling the Taira into believing that a large force was approaching on land. They abandoned the fortress/palace, and took to their ships, along with Emperor Antoku and the imperial regalia. The Taira even placed a fan atop the mast of one of their ships, and dared the Minamoto to knock it off. In one of the most famous archery feats in all of Japanese history, Nasu no Yoichi
Nasu no Yoichi
' was a samurai who fought alongside the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War. He is particularly famous for his actions at the Battle of Yashima in 1184. According to the Heike Monogatari, the enemy Taira placed a fan atop the mast of one of their ships, claiming it protected the ship from arrows, and...
rode out into the sea on horseback, and did just that. The Minamoto were victorious, but the majority of the Taira fleet escaped to Dan-no-ura
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits....
, where they were defeated one month later in the Battle of Dan-no-ura
Battle of Dan-no-ura
The ' was a major sea battle of the Genpei War, occurring at Dan-no-ura, in the Shimonoseki Strait off the southern tip of Honshū. On March 24, 1185, the Genji clan fleet, led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, defeated the Heike clan fleet, during a half-day engagement.The Taira were outnumbered, but...
.