Minamoto no Yoshinaka (Kiso Yoshinaka)

源義仲（木曽義仲）

The "Rising Sun Shōgun" Who Drove the Taira from the Capital — Cousin and Rival of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Slain at Awazu

Era

Late Heian period

Lifespan

1154-1184

Description

Life

Minamoto no Yoshinaka, also known as Kiso Yoshinaka, was born in 1154 as the son of Minamoto no Yoshikata. When he was two years old, his father was killed by his cousin Minamoto no Yoshihira (son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo) at the Ōkura residence in Musashi Province. Yoshinaka is said to have been sheltered by his foster father Nakahara no Kanetō and raised in the Kiso valley of Shinano Province. For this reason he is also called "Kiso Jirō" and "Kiso Yoshinaka."

Uprising and Major Campaigns

In 1180, he raised troops in Shinano in response to Prince Mochihito's order to attack the Taira clan. In 1183, at the Kurikara Pass on Mount Tonami, he defeated a large Taira army in a night attack (Battle of Kurikara Pass), and he followed this with a victory at the Battle of Shinohara. In the same year he drove the Taira out of the capital and entered Kyoto himself. For this achievement he is said to have been called the "Asahi Shōgun" (Rising Sun Shōgun).

Conflict in the Capital and Downfall

After entering the capital, the lawlessness of Yoshinaka's troops and their requisitioning of provisions alienated the people, and his relationship with the retired emperor Go-Shirakawa also deteriorated. He defeated the retired emperor's forces at the Battle of Hōjūji and briefly seized real power. However, he was defeated at the Battle of the Uji River by the armies of Minamoto no Noriyori and Minamoto no Yoshitsune, sent by his cousin Minamoto no Yoritomo, and was driven into a corner.

Death

On the 20th day of the first month of 1184 (March 4, 1184), Yoshinaka fled to Awazu in Ōmi Province together with his foster brother and trusted retainer Imai Kanehira. His horse was caught in a deep paddy field, and he was pursued and killed at the age of 31. The Tale of the Heike describes this final scene in detail as "The Death of Kiso," and it is widely known for the scene in which Kanehira, after witnessing his lord's death, takes his sword in his mouth and throws himself from his horse to die.

Later Reputation

Yoshinaka is regarded as a commander who led the opening campaigns against the Taira clan. He is also remembered as a tragic general who fell swiftly because of his failure to govern the capital. Through the Tale of the Heike, he had a profound influence on later Japanese literature and performing arts.