The Hogen and Heiji Rebellions (1156 and 1159) and the Sword: Warriors and Blade Culture on the Eve of the Genpei War

Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions—Two Internal Conflicts That Opened the Era of the Samurai

The Hōgen Rebellion (1156) and the Heiji Rebellion (1159) were two coups that occurred consecutively over three years in the late Heian period. Both originated from power struggles within the imperial court, and samurai emerged on history's main stage as "bearers of military power."

These two rebellions mark an important turning point in the history of the Japanese sword. During this era when samurai began acquiring independent political status separate from aristocratic society, both the practical demands and cultural significance of swords underwent transformation.

Hōgen Rebellion (1156)—When Swords Decided the Fate of Imperial and Aristocratic Conflict

Background and Course of Events

In 1156 (Hōgen 1), the death of Emperor Toba triggered intensifying conflict over imperial succession. It was a complex power struggle involving conflict between Emperor Go-Shirakawa (pro-insei faction) and Emperor Sutoku (anti-insei faction), complicated by internal strife within the Fujiwara regent family (Fujiwara no Tadamichi vs. Fujiwara no Yorinaga).

Both camps mobilized samurai as military force. Minamoto no Yoshitomo and Taira no Kiyomori joined the Go-Shirakawa side, while Minamoto no Tameyoshi, Minamoto no Tametomo, and Taira no Tadamasa joined the Sutoku side.

Minamoto no Tametomo's Bow and Sword—The Emergence of a Heroic Warrior

One warrior especially remembered in records of the Hōgen Rebellion is Minamoto no Tametomo. He was a warrior of legendary strength, reportedly over two meters tall, and was known as a master archer.

While Tametomo's weapon of note was the "powerful bow" (gōkyū), as a late Heian samurai he naturally carried a tachi. The tachi of that period featured the "waist curve" (koshi-zori) shape established in the mid-Heian period—a blade length of approximately 2 to 3 shaku, with strong curvature at the waist, a form suited for mounted combat.

Tametomo later received exile, raised a rebellion on Izu Ōshima, and took his own life. His formidable bearing as a warrior was repeatedly depicted in later military chronicles and Kabuki plays.

Impact of the Rebellion's Outcome on Samurai Society

The samurai on the victorious side of Emperor Go-Shirakawa—Minamoto no Yoshitomo and Taira no Kiyomori—enhanced their authority as the court's military power. Taira no Kiyomori especially rose rapidly as head of the Taira clan, and the path was opened for samurai to hold high court offices such as "Daijō Daijin" (Prime Minister), the highest aristocratic position.

Meanwhile, samurai on the defeated side (Minamoto no Tameyoshi, Taira no Tadamasa, and others) were executed. Samurai fought against each other, and even relatives found themselves on opposite sides; the defeated were mercilessly executed—this marked the beginning of "warring states logic," entirely different from the aristocratic armed conflicts of the early Heian period.

Heiji Rebellion (1159)—Samurai Power Struggles Come of Age

Course of Events—Minamoto no Yoshitomo's Defeat

Just three years after the Hōgen Rebellion, in 1159 (Heiji 1), another internal conflict erupted in Kyoto. The hero of the Hōgen Rebellion, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, allied with Fujiwara no Nobutoki and raised an army, taking advantage of Taira no Kiyomori's absence.

But Kiyomori hastily returned to the capital, and Minamoto's forces were defeated. Yoshitomo was betrayed and killed by his own retainers in Owari, while his heir, Minamoto no Yoritomo (later the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate), was exiled to Izu.

Swords Depicted in the "Heiji Monogatari Emaki"

The "Heiji Monogatari Emaki" (Picture Scroll of the Tale of Heiji), created in the late 13th to early 14th century and depicting the Heiji Rebellion, is a valuable visual document detailing the armor, weapons, and horses of samurai of that era.

The tachi depicted in the scroll possess the following characteristics.

Formal Characteristics

• The blade has a pronounced waist curve (characteristic form of the late Heian period)
• The blade extends below the waist (approximately 2.5 to 3 shaku in length)
• A slender and graceful form (somewhat different from the robust tachi of the Kamakura period)
• Many tachi with ashi-kanagu (foot fittings) and wrapped handles are depicted

In actual combat during the late Heian period, the tachi was primarily worn at the waist by mounted samurai and used while on horseback. Infantry (samurai on foot) often carried a naginata in addition to this.

The Rise of Eastern Samurai and Sword Culture

As a result of the Heiji Rebellion, the Taira clan led by Taira no Kiyomori monopolized power in the central government. However, Minamoto no Yoritomo, exiled to Izu, later raised an army, beginning the Minamoto-Taira War (Jishō-Juei Rebellion, 1180–1185).

What is noteworthy in this process is the rise of eastern samurai (Kantō warrior clans). The foundation for sword-producing regions that would develop during the Kamakura period (areas where many Sōshū and Bizen tradition smiths migrated) was being established in the Kantō region.

Swords of the Hōgen and Heiji Rebellion Period—Form and Technique

Characteristics of Late Heian Tachi

Swords of the Hōgen and Heiji Rebellion period (mid-12th century) possessed the following characteristics.

Establishment of Waist Curve: The "waist curve" (koshi-zori) that developed in the mid-Heian period (9th–10th centuries) became completely established. The blade has pronounced curvature at the waist (closer to the handle than the middle), a form suited for drawing and striking from horseback.

Slender and Graceful Appearance: Late Heian tachi were slender throughout, with relatively narrow blade width creating a graceful impression. This contrasts with the robust forms of the later Kamakura period (especially after the Mongol invasions).

Koto Production Centers: The main production centers were Yamashiro (Kyoto), Yamato (Nara), and Bizen (Okayama). In particular, smiths of the Sanjō and Awata-guchi schools of Yamashiro supplied high-quality tachi for the imperial court.

What Actual Combat Demanded of Swords

The Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions were primarily conflicts between mounted samurai. In actual combat, the bow and arrow were the primary weapon, while swords (tachi) were used in melee combat and individual combat.

Noteworthy among the demands that actual combat placed on sword-making is the requirement for sword durability. This era saw a shift from the ceremonial and decorative swords of the early Heian period to an emphasis on performance—swords that would not break or chip in actual combat and cut well.

Long-Term Impact of the Rebellions on Samurai Sword Culture

Changes in Samurai Philosophy Toward Swords

After the Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions, the meaning of the sword for samurai underwent transformation. Its significance shifted from being merely a "weapon" to becoming "the soul of the samurai and a tool of commitment," with spiritual dimensions strengthened.

The sword was also used as an instrument when defeated samurai chose to take their own lives, linking the blade with a culture of "the samurai's way of death."

Continuity into the Minamoto-Taira War

The progression from the Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions to the Minamoto-Taira War (Jishō-Juei Rebellion) corresponds to the "maturation period of koto" in Japanese sword history. With the arrival of the Kamakura period, the Japanese sword evolved into a new phase both technically and culturally—"the sword of military government."

Conclusion—The Turning Point in Japanese Sword History Marked by Two Rebellions

The Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions did not directly bring technological innovation to the Japanese sword. However, these two internal conflicts marked the decisive turning point when samurai transformed from "hired military forces of aristocratic society" to "bearers of their own political power."

For samurai to hold power meant that the sword—the samurai's tool—also came to occupy a central social and cultural position. The Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions represent an important chapter in the long history of the Japanese sword's recognition as "the soul of the samurai."