Murakuni Oyori
Encyclopedia
Murakuni Oyori (died 676) was a military commander of ancient Japan, who fought in the Jinshin War
as a servant of Prince Ō-ama. His kabane
, or family title, is muraji
. He was given the rank of Shōshi after death.
The Murakuni clan was influential in Mino Province
. Oyori was a servant of Prince Ō-ama. When Emperor Tenji
became ill in 671, his brother Ō-ama decided to retire from political life in order to evade successor rivalry with Prince Ōtomo, the emperor's son. But the retirement was a fake. He later plotted a revolt called the Jinshin War.
Six months after the death of Tenji, on June 22, 672, Prince Ō-ama sent three messengers to Ō Honji, the administrator of the prince's domain of Ahachima (later Anpachi District
) in Mino Province. This was the first action of the revolt. The messengers Murakuni Oyori, Wanibe Kimite, and Mugetsu Hiro incited the province to rebellion against the government of Prince Ōtomo (Emperor Kōbun
). Then Oyori returned to report. Ō-ama started Yoshino
to Mino on June 24 and met with Oyori on June 26 near the district office of Asaake District in Ise Province
. Oyori informed that 3,000 soldiers of Mino occupied Fuwa (today's Sekigahara
), a narrow point between the eastern provinces and Ōtsu, the capital of Japan at the time. Content with the success of the first critical action, Ō-ama praised Oyori.
Ō-ama collected more soldiers from the eastern provinces and sent two armies on July 2. One was a reinforcement to Yamato Province
. The other main force marched to Ōmi Province
and Ōtsu. Oyori was one of four commanders of this army and probably the most prominent one.
The army of "Oyori and others" fought their first battle at Yokokawa of Okinaga on July 7. They cut down the enemy general, Sakaibe Kusuri. On July 9 they defeated the enemy at Tokome and killed Hata Tomotari. On the 13th they won a victory at the riverside of Yasukawa, catching Kosohe Ōkuchi and Haji Chishima. On the 17th they swept the enemy from the capital of Ōmi province. Finally, on July 22, Prince Ōtomo himself led a large army at Seto of the Uji River near Ōtsu. Ōtomo lost the battle and committed suicide the next day.
Emperor Tenmu, former Prince Ō-ama, gave Oyori a fiefdom (in reality, tax revenue) composed of 120 families. This was the prize of highest merit given to warriors. Murakuni Oyori died in July 676. He was given the rank of Shōshi posthumously. On March 8, 716, his son Shigamaro was granted rice fields based on Oyori's meritorious service.
Jinshin War
The was a succession dispute in Japan which broke out in 672 following the death of Emperor Tenji. The name refers to the jinshin or ninth year of the sixty-year Jikkan Jūnishi calendrical cycle, corresponding to the Western year 673....
as a servant of Prince Ō-ama. His kabane
Kabane
were hereditary titles used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing. There were more than thirty. Some of the more common kabane were omi, muraji, , , , , , and ....
, or family title, is muraji
Muraji
Muraji . Muraji was an ancient Japanese hereditary title denoting rank and political standing that was reserved for the most powerful among the Tomo no Miyatsuko clans, which were clans associated with particular occupations...
. He was given the rank of Shōshi after death.
The Murakuni clan was influential in Mino Province
Mino Province
, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
. Oyori was a servant of Prince Ō-ama. When Emperor Tenji
Emperor Tenji
, also known as Emperor Tenchi, was the 38th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Tenji's reign spanned the years from 661 through 671.-Traditional narrative:...
became ill in 671, his brother Ō-ama decided to retire from political life in order to evade successor rivalry with Prince Ōtomo, the emperor's son. But the retirement was a fake. He later plotted a revolt called the Jinshin War.
Six months after the death of Tenji, on June 22, 672, Prince Ō-ama sent three messengers to Ō Honji, the administrator of the prince's domain of Ahachima (later Anpachi District
Anpachi District, Gifu
is a district located in Gifu, Japan.As of July 2011, the district has an estimated population of 45,152. The total area is 62.71 km².-Merger:...
) in Mino Province. This was the first action of the revolt. The messengers Murakuni Oyori, Wanibe Kimite, and Mugetsu Hiro incited the province to rebellion against the government of Prince Ōtomo (Emperor Kōbun
Emperor Kobun
was the 39th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōbun's reign lasted only a few months in 671–672.-Traditional narrative:...
). Then Oyori returned to report. Ō-ama started Yoshino
Yoshino
Yoshino may refer to:* Somei Yoshino, a flowering cherry tree Prunus × yedoensis* Japanese cruiser Yoshino- Places :* Yoshino, Nara, a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan...
to Mino on June 24 and met with Oyori on June 26 near the district office of Asaake District in Ise Province
Ise Province
or was a province of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was at Suzuka...
. Oyori informed that 3,000 soldiers of Mino occupied Fuwa (today's Sekigahara
Sekigahara, Gifu
is a town located in Fuwa District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.As of July 2011, the town has an estimated population of 7,965. The total area is 49.29 km².In 1600, the Battle of Sekigahara took place here.-History:...
), a narrow point between the eastern provinces and Ōtsu, the capital of Japan at the time. Content with the success of the first critical action, Ō-ama praised Oyori.
Ō-ama collected more soldiers from the eastern provinces and sent two armies on July 2. One was a reinforcement to Yamato Province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
. The other main force marched to Ōmi Province
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
and Ōtsu. Oyori was one of four commanders of this army and probably the most prominent one.
The army of "Oyori and others" fought their first battle at Yokokawa of Okinaga on July 7. They cut down the enemy general, Sakaibe Kusuri. On July 9 they defeated the enemy at Tokome and killed Hata Tomotari. On the 13th they won a victory at the riverside of Yasukawa, catching Kosohe Ōkuchi and Haji Chishima. On the 17th they swept the enemy from the capital of Ōmi province. Finally, on July 22, Prince Ōtomo himself led a large army at Seto of the Uji River near Ōtsu. Ōtomo lost the battle and committed suicide the next day.
Emperor Tenmu, former Prince Ō-ama, gave Oyori a fiefdom (in reality, tax revenue) composed of 120 families. This was the prize of highest merit given to warriors. Murakuni Oyori died in July 676. He was given the rank of Shōshi posthumously. On March 8, 716, his son Shigamaro was granted rice fields based on Oyori's meritorious service.