Ko no Moroyasu
Encyclopedia
, along with his brother Moronao
and his cousin Morofuyu
, was one of the leading generals of Shogun
Ashikaga Takauji
during the Nanbokucho War
.
In 1335 he was sent west from Kamakura
, the capital, at the head of a large army. The goal was to secure the shogun's control over the region, and prepare for an attack to the west, expanding the Shogun's power. However, the Imperial Court sent its army, bolstered by warriors from across the country, against the shogunate and against Moroyasu and Moronao in particular. This army, led by Nitta Yoshisada
, met Moroyasu's force on December 10, and they fought again ten days later.
After a number of skirmishes, Moroyasu's army, despite being reinforced by men under Ashikaga Tadayoshi
, was defeated, and withdrew into the Hakone Mountains. Here, another set of skirmishes took place, eventually resulting in the destruction of Nitta's Imperial force when the shogun arrived with further reinforcements.
The Taiheiki
, an epic dedicated to the events of this period, describes the Kō brothers as avid villains. That description is very probably accurate. Both brothers during their careers were extremely useful to Takauji, but because of their violent characters they also made him many powerful enemies. Most importantly, Moronao was bitterly opposed to Takauji's younger brother Tadayoshi
and his policies. This enmity would be the main trigger of the Kannō Disturbance
, an extremely divisive and damaging civil war between Takauji and Tadayoshi with very serious repercussions for the whole country.
Although he ultimately won, Takauji was initially defeated in March 1351 by Tadayoshi and a truce was agreed upon with the help of Zen
master Musō Soseki
, who was close to both sides. One of the conditions posed by Tadayoshi was that the Kō brothers
would retire from politics forever and become monks, which they did. Moronao became a Zen monk and Moroyasu a member of the Nembutsu fraternity. They later left Hyōgo for Kyoto accompanied by Takauji, but they would never arrive. The Kō were captured and then executed with many dozens of their family at the Mokugawa river
by forces led by Uesugi Akiyoshi on March 25, 1351 (Kannō
2, 27th day of the 2nd month) in revenge for their killing of Akiyoshi's father Shigeyoshi. Takauji, powerless, had to deliver them to Akiyoshi.
Ko no Moronao
was a Japanese samurai of the Nanboku-chō period who was the first to hold the position of Shitsuji . He was appointed by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. As Deputy, he served not only an administrative governmental function, but also as general of the Shogun's armies...
and his cousin Morofuyu
Kō no Morofuyu
was, together with his cousins Moronao and Moroyasu, one of shogun Ashikaga Takauji's most important generals during the Nanboku-chō period. He was adopted as a son by Moronao. He was of Mikawa province, shugo of Musashi province and Kantō kanrei...
, was one of the leading generals of Shogun
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
during the Nanbokucho War
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
.
In 1335 he was sent west from Kamakura
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
, the capital, at the head of a large army. The goal was to secure the shogun's control over the region, and prepare for an attack to the west, expanding the Shogun's power. However, the Imperial Court sent its army, bolstered by warriors from across the country, against the shogunate and against Moroyasu and Moronao in particular. This army, led by Nitta Yoshisada
Nitta Yoshisada
was the head of the Nitta family in the early fourteenth century, and supported the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in the Nanboku-chō period, capturing Kamakura from the Hōjō clan in 1333....
, met Moroyasu's force on December 10, and they fought again ten days later.
After a number of skirmishes, Moroyasu's army, despite being reinforced by men under Ashikaga Tadayoshi
Ashikaga Tadayoshi
was a general of the Northern and Southern Courts period of Japanese history and a close associate of his elder brother Takauji, the first Muromachi shogun. Son of Ashikaga Sadauji and of a daughter of Uesugi Yorishige, the same mother as Takauji, he was a pivotal figure of the chaotic transition...
, was defeated, and withdrew into the Hakone Mountains. Here, another set of skirmishes took place, eventually resulting in the destruction of Nitta's Imperial force when the shogun arrived with further reinforcements.
The Taiheiki
Taiheiki
The is a Japanese historical epic , written in the late 14th century. It deals primarily with the Nanboku-chō, the period of war between the Northern Court of Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in Yoshino....
, an epic dedicated to the events of this period, describes the Kō brothers as avid villains. That description is very probably accurate. Both brothers during their careers were extremely useful to Takauji, but because of their violent characters they also made him many powerful enemies. Most importantly, Moronao was bitterly opposed to Takauji's younger brother Tadayoshi
Ashikaga Tadayoshi
was a general of the Northern and Southern Courts period of Japanese history and a close associate of his elder brother Takauji, the first Muromachi shogun. Son of Ashikaga Sadauji and of a daughter of Uesugi Yorishige, the same mother as Takauji, he was a pivotal figure of the chaotic transition...
and his policies. This enmity would be the main trigger of the Kannō Disturbance
Kannō disturbance
The , also called Kannō no juran, was a civil war which developed from antagonisms between Shogun Ashikaga Takauji and his brother, Ashikaga Tadayoshi, thus dividing and weakening the early Ashikaga shogunate...
, an extremely divisive and damaging civil war between Takauji and Tadayoshi with very serious repercussions for the whole country.
Although he ultimately won, Takauji was initially defeated in March 1351 by Tadayoshi and a truce was agreed upon with the help of Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
master Musō Soseki
Muso Soseki
was a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk and teacher, and a calligraphist, poet and garden designer. The most famous monk of his time, he is also known as , a posthumous name given him by Emperor Go-Daigo...
, who was close to both sides. One of the conditions posed by Tadayoshi was that the Kō brothers
Kō brothers
Kō brothers may refer to:* Kō no Moronao* Kō no Moroyasu...
would retire from politics forever and become monks, which they did. Moronao became a Zen monk and Moroyasu a member of the Nembutsu fraternity. They later left Hyōgo for Kyoto accompanied by Takauji, but they would never arrive. The Kō were captured and then executed with many dozens of their family at the Mokugawa river
Mukogawa River
thumb|250px|A Source of Mukogawa RiverThe is a river in the south-eastern part of Hyōgo Prefecture. This river was selected as the second most important river in the region by the prefecture governor. Its total length is 66 kilometers, and the drainage area is 496 square...
by forces led by Uesugi Akiyoshi on March 25, 1351 (Kannō
Kanno
-People:* Aya Kanno, manga artist* Naoe Kanno, a fictional character from the anime/manga Strike Witches* Takeshi Kanno, Japanese writer* Yoko Kanno, composer and musicianKannō may refer to:, Japanese era from 1350 to 1352...
2, 27th day of the 2nd month) in revenge for their killing of Akiyoshi's father Shigeyoshi. Takauji, powerless, had to deliver them to Akiyoshi.