Minamoto no Yoshiie
Encyclopedia
Minamoto no Yoshiie also known as Hachimantarō, was a Minamoto clan
samurai
of the late Heian period
, and Chinjufu shogun
(Commander-in-chief of the defense of the North). The first son of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi
, he proved himself in battle with the Abe clan
in the Zenkunen War
(Early Nine Years' War) and the Kiyowara clan in the Gosannen War
(Later Three Years' War). Subsequently, he became something of a paragon
of samurai skill and bravery.
The Zenkunen War
In 1050, Abe no Yoritoki
held the post of Chinjufu shogun, as the Abe clan
had for many generations; he was the chief commander of the defense of northern Honshū against the native Ezo (Ainu
) people. Effectively, however, Yoritoki commanded the entire region, denying the official Governor any true power. As a result, Yoshiie's father was appointed both chinjufu shogun and governor, and Yoshiie traveled north with him to resolve the situation.
The campaign against the Abe clan lasted twelve years (nine, with three years truce). Yoshiie fought alongside his father in most if not every battle. Abe no Yoritoki died in 1057, but his son Abe no Sadato
took up command of his father's forces.
The fighting culminated in 1062, in a series of actions that further enhanced Yoshiie's reputation. Abe no Sadato had attacked the Minamoto forces but, suffering a reversal, retreated into a fort near the Kuriya River. Yoriyoshi ordered a spirited assault on the fort, and set it aflame, forcing Sadato to flee. During the chaotic retreat, Yoshiie was supposed to have chased Sadato and had an impromptu renga
(linked verse) session with his enemy from horseback, afterwards allowing him to escape, as related in the Mutsu Waki (The Story of Mutsu):
Yoshiie returned to Kyoto in early 1063 with the heads of Abe no Sadato and a number of others. As a result of his dramatic prowess in battle, he earned the name Hachiman
tarō, referring to him as the son of Hachiman, the god of war. The following year, Yoshiie took several followers of the Abe, who he had taken as captives, as attendants.
The Gosannen War
Over twenty years later, Yoshiie was the chief commander in another important conflict of the Heian period. Beginning in 1083, he battled the Kiyowara family, who had fought alongside him and his father against the Abe, but who had since proven themselves poor rulers of the northern provinces.
Named Governor of Mutsu province
in 1083, Yoshiie took it upon himself, without orders from the Imperial Court, to bring some peace and order to the region. A series of disputes between Kiyowara no Masahira, Narihira, and Iehira over leadership of the clan had turned to violence.
There emerged a series of battles and skirmishes between Yoshiie's forces and those of the various Kiyowara sub-factions. Everything came to a head in 1087, at the Kanazawa stockade. Yoshiie, along with his younger brother Minamoto no Yoshimitsu
and Fujiwara Kiyohira, assaulted the position held by Kiyowara no Iehira and his uncle Kiyowara no Takahira. After many months of failed starts and skirmishes, the stockade was set aflame, and the Kiyowara defeated; Takahira and Iehira were killed. The Minamoto forces suffered great losses as well, and it is said that Yoshiie was an especially skilled leader, keeping morale up and preserving a degree of discipline among the warriors.
Minamoto clan
was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian Period , although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku Era. The Taira were another such offshoot of...
samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
of the late Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
, and Chinjufu shogun
Chinjufu Shogun
Chinjufu shōgun , often translated as "Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the North," was a military post in classical and feudal Japan...
(Commander-in-chief of the defense of the North). The first son of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi
Minamoto no Yoriyoshi
was a head of Japan's Minamoto clan who is perhaps most notable for having led, along with his son Minamoto no Yoshiie, the Imperial forces against rebellious forces in the north...
, he proved himself in battle with the Abe clan
Abe clan
The was one of the oldest of the major Japanese clans ; and the clan retained its prominence during the Sengoku period and the Edo period. The clan's origin is said to be one of the original clans of the Yamato people; they truly gained prominence during the Heian period , and experienced a...
in the Zenkunen War
Zenkunen War
The Zenkunen War , also known by the English translation Early Nine-Years War, was fought from 1051 to 1063, in Japan's Mutsu province, at the far north of the main island of Honshū...
(Early Nine Years' War) and the Kiyowara clan in the Gosannen War
Gosannen War
The Gosannen War , also known by the English translation Later Three-Year War, was fought during Japan's Heian period in the province of Mutsu at the far north of Japan's main island of Honshū. Though some scholars date the war to the period of 1086 to 1089, others place it a few years earlier,...
(Later Three Years' War). Subsequently, he became something of a paragon
Paragon
A paragon is a large, flawless diamond. The title is now used figuratively to denote a model of excellence or perfection of any kind; one having no equal; a perfect embodiment of a concept.Paragon may also refer to:-Places:...
of samurai skill and bravery.
The Zenkunen WarZenkunen WarThe Zenkunen War , also known by the English translation Early Nine-Years War, was fought from 1051 to 1063, in Japan's Mutsu province, at the far north of the main island of Honshū...
In 1050, Abe no YoritokiAbe no Yoritoki
was the head of the Abe clan of Emishi who were allowed to rule the six Emishi districts in the Kitakami Basin from Morioka to Hiraizumi in what is now Iwate Prefecture. The clan emerged from the Appi River basin in what is now Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, early in the 9th century...
held the post of Chinjufu shogun, as the Abe clan
Abe clan
The was one of the oldest of the major Japanese clans ; and the clan retained its prominence during the Sengoku period and the Edo period. The clan's origin is said to be one of the original clans of the Yamato people; they truly gained prominence during the Heian period , and experienced a...
had for many generations; he was the chief commander of the defense of northern Honshū against the native Ezo (Ainu
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
) people. Effectively, however, Yoritoki commanded the entire region, denying the official Governor any true power. As a result, Yoshiie's father was appointed both chinjufu shogun and governor, and Yoshiie traveled north with him to resolve the situation.
The campaign against the Abe clan lasted twelve years (nine, with three years truce). Yoshiie fought alongside his father in most if not every battle. Abe no Yoritoki died in 1057, but his son Abe no Sadato
Abe no Sadato
was a samurai of the Abe during the Heian period of Japan. Sadato was the son of Abe no Yoritoki, the chinjufu shogun...
took up command of his father's forces.
The fighting culminated in 1062, in a series of actions that further enhanced Yoshiie's reputation. Abe no Sadato had attacked the Minamoto forces but, suffering a reversal, retreated into a fort near the Kuriya River. Yoriyoshi ordered a spirited assault on the fort, and set it aflame, forcing Sadato to flee. During the chaotic retreat, Yoshiie was supposed to have chased Sadato and had an impromptu renga
Renga
' is a genre of Japanese collaborative poetry. A renga consists of at least two or stanzas, usually many more. The opening stanza of the renga, called the , became the basis for the modern haiku form of poetry....
(linked verse) session with his enemy from horseback, afterwards allowing him to escape, as related in the Mutsu Waki (The Story of Mutsu):
Yoriyoshi's first son, Hachimantarō, gave hot pursuit along the Koromo River and called out, 'Sir, you show your back to your enemy! Aren't you ashamed? Turn around a minute, I have something to tell you.' When Sadato turned around, Yoshiie said:
Koromo no tate wa hokorobinikeri
("Koromo Castle has been destroyed." or, alternatively, "The warps in your robe have come undone.")
Sadato relaxed his reins somewhat and, turning his helmeted head, followed that with:
toshi o heishi ito no midare no kurushisa ni
("Over the years its threads became tangled, and this pains me.")
Hearing this, Yoshiie put away the arrow he had readied to shoot, and returned to his camp. In the midst of such a savage battle, that was a gentlemanly thing to do.
Yoshiie returned to Kyoto in early 1063 with the heads of Abe no Sadato and a number of others. As a result of his dramatic prowess in battle, he earned the name Hachiman
Hachiman
In Japanese mythology, is the Japanese syncretic god of archery and war, incorporating elements from both Shinto and Buddhism. Although often called the god of war, he is more correctly defined as the tutelary god of warriors. He is also divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people...
tarō, referring to him as the son of Hachiman, the god of war. The following year, Yoshiie took several followers of the Abe, who he had taken as captives, as attendants.
The Gosannen WarGosannen WarThe Gosannen War , also known by the English translation Later Three-Year War, was fought during Japan's Heian period in the province of Mutsu at the far north of Japan's main island of Honshū. Though some scholars date the war to the period of 1086 to 1089, others place it a few years earlier,...
Over twenty years later, Yoshiie was the chief commander in another important conflict of the Heian period. Beginning in 1083, he battled the Kiyowara family, who had fought alongside him and his father against the Abe, but who had since proven themselves poor rulers of the northern provinces.Named Governor of Mutsu province
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
in 1083, Yoshiie took it upon himself, without orders from the Imperial Court, to bring some peace and order to the region. A series of disputes between Kiyowara no Masahira, Narihira, and Iehira over leadership of the clan had turned to violence.
There emerged a series of battles and skirmishes between Yoshiie's forces and those of the various Kiyowara sub-factions. Everything came to a head in 1087, at the Kanazawa stockade. Yoshiie, along with his younger brother Minamoto no Yoshimitsu
Minamoto no Yoshimitsu
, son of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, was a Minamoto clan samurai during Japan's Heian Period. His brother was the famous Minamoto no Yoshiie. Minamoto no Yoshimitsu is credited as the ancient progenitor of the Japanese martial art, Daitō-ryū aiki-jūjutsu...
and Fujiwara Kiyohira, assaulted the position held by Kiyowara no Iehira and his uncle Kiyowara no Takahira. After many months of failed starts and skirmishes, the stockade was set aflame, and the Kiyowara defeated; Takahira and Iehira were killed. The Minamoto forces suffered great losses as well, and it is said that Yoshiie was an especially skilled leader, keeping morale up and preserving a degree of discipline among the warriors.