Changes

* ''Born: [[1159]]''

* ''Born: [[1159]]''

* ''Died: [[1189]]''

* ''Died: [[1189]]''

[[Image:Minamoto_yoshitsune.jpg|thumb|left|Minamoto Yoshitsune.]]

[[Image:Minamoto_yoshitsune.jpg|thumb|left|Minamoto Yoshitsune.]]

Yoshitsune was a son of [[Minamoto Yoshitomo]] ([[1123]]-[[1160]]), who had supported the Taira during the [[Hogen Disturbance|Hôgen Disturbance]] ([[1156]]). Yoshitomo’s own father was put to death as a result of the incident, as well as eleven other of his relatives. In [[1159]] Yoshitomo himself attempted to defy the Taira but failed. The following year he was assassinated; his wife and children were later found and brought to [[Taira Kiyomori]], who spared them. Yoritomo, the second eldest, was sent off to [[Izu Province|Izu]] while Yoshitsune was sent to a temple on Kuramayama, north of Kyoto. He was later either transferred or fled to [[Mutsu Province|Mutsu]], where he was given shelter by the governor of that province, [[Fujiwara Hidehira]] (? –[[1187]]). Precious little else is know for certain about Yoshitsune's youth, although later storytellers filled in the gaps with a series of adventures, one of which had Yoshtisune slipping away from the monastery to be trained in the arts of swordsmanship by the mythical Tengu.  

Yoshitsune was a son of [[Minamoto Yoshitomo]] ([[1123]]-[[1160]]), who had supported the Taira during the [[Hogen Disturbance|Hôgen Disturbance]] ([[1156]]). Yoshitomo’s own father was put to death as a result of the incident, as well as eleven other of his relatives. In [[1159]] Yoshitomo himself attempted to defy the Taira but failed. The following year he was assassinated; his wife and children were later found and brought to [[Taira Kiyomori]], who spared them. Yoritomo, the second eldest, was sent off to [[Izu Province|Izu]] while Yoshitsune was sent to a temple on Kuramayama, north of Kyoto. He was later either transferred or fled to [[Mutsu Province|Mutsu]], where he was given shelter by the governor of that province, [[Fujiwara Hidehira]] (? –[[1187]]). Precious little else is know for certain about Yoshitsune's youth, although later storytellers filled in the gaps with a series of adventures, one of which had Yoshtisune slipping away from the monastery to be trained in the arts of swordsmanship by the mythical Tengu.  

In May [[1180]] [[Prince Mochihito]], the son of retired emperor [[Go-Shirakawa]], issued a statement urging the [[Minamoto Clan|Minamoto]] to rise against the Taira. While Mochihito would be killed in June and [[Minamoto Yorimasa]] crushed at the [[Battle of the Uji]], a fire had been set and in September Yoritomo raised an army in the Kanto. At some point in [[1180]] Yoritomo and Yoshitsune were reunited, probably for the first time since their separation in [[1160]]. His exact activities drift into the unknown again until [[1184]], at which time he led an army against [[Minamoto Yoshinaka|Minamoto (Kiso) Yoshinaka]]. On 2 June [[1183]] Yoshinaka had won a great victory over the Taira at Kurikara and in late August occupied Kyoto. With the Taira on the defensive, Yoshinaka moved to assume overall control of the Minamoto, an aspiration Yoritomo could not abide by. Using the poor behavior of Yoshinaka’s troops in the capital as a pretext, Yoritomo sent Yoshitsune to oust him from the capital. In February 1184 Yoshitsune, who by now had been given the rank Sô-daisho (general of the army), led an army that included his brother [[Minamoto Noriyori|Noriyori]] ([[1156]]-[[1193]]) and [[Kajiwara Kagetoki]] (? –[[1200]]) into the Kyoto area. Yoshinaka sent an army to take up position on the Uji River and cover the two main crossing sites - Uji and Seta bridges. The attacking army split into two parts, with Yoshitsune heading for the Uji Bridge while Noriyori made a crossing upriver at the Seta Bridge. Crossings were successful at both points and Yoshinaka’s men lost heart and fled. When Yoshinaka heard of the defeat he abandoned Kyoto and attempted to escape the area with a handful of retainers, including Japan’s only example of a true female samurai warrior – [[Tomoe Gozen]]. He was soon cornered at Awazu and committed suicide.

In May [[1180]] [[Prince Mochihito]], the son of retired emperor [[Go-Shirakawa]], issued a statement urging the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] to rise against the Taira. While Mochihito would be killed in June and [[Minamoto Yorimasa]] crushed at the [[Battle of Uji]], a fire had been set and in September Yoritomo raised an army in the Kanto. At some point in [[1180]] Yoritomo and Yoshitsune were reunited, probably for the first time since their separation in [[1160]]. His exact activities drift into the unknown again until [[1184]], at which time he led an army against [[Minamoto Yoshinaka|Minamoto (Kiso) Yoshinaka]]. On 2 June [[1183]] Yoshinaka had won a great victory over the Taira at Kurikara and in late August occupied Kyoto. With the Taira on the defensive, Yoshinaka moved to assume overall control of the Minamoto, an aspiration Yoritomo could not abide by. Using the poor behavior of Yoshinaka’s troops in the capital as a pretext, Yoritomo sent Yoshitsune to oust him from the capital. In February 1184 Yoshitsune, who by now had been given the rank Sô-daisho (general of the army), led an army that included his brother [[Minamoto Noriyori|Noriyori]] ([[1156]]-[[1193]]) and [[Kajiwara Kagetoki]] (? –[[1200]]) into the Kyoto area. Yoshinaka sent an army to take up position on the Uji River and cover the two main crossing sites - Uji and Seta bridges. The attacking army split into two parts, with Yoshitsune heading for the Uji Bridge while Noriyori made a crossing upriver at the Seta Bridge. Crossings were successful at both points and Yoshinaka’s men lost heart and fled. When Yoshinaka heard of the defeat he abandoned Kyoto and attempted to escape the area with a handful of retainers, including Japan’s only example of a true female samurai warrior – [[Tomoe Gozen]]. He was soon cornered at Awazu and committed suicide.

With Yoshinaka out of the way, Yoritomo secured the support of Go-Shirakawa and a mandate to press the war with the Taira. On 13 March Yoshitsune and Noriyori were given permission to set out for the Western provinces and moved into [[Settsu Province|Settsu]], the eastern doorway to the Setô Inland Sea. Yoshitsune’s first objective was the Taira outpost at Ichi no Tani, a well-positioned fortification that was covered from the rear by a steep incline. This was where the Taira had fled following their retreat from Kyoto and could be used as a staging area for any future attempts to return to the capital.

With Yoshinaka out of the way, Yoritomo secured the support of Go-Shirakawa and a mandate to press the war with the Taira. On 13 March Yoshitsune and Noriyori were given permission to set out for the Western provinces and moved into [[Settsu Province|Settsu]], the eastern doorway to the Setô Inland Sea. Yoshitsune’s first objective was the Taira outpost at Ichi no Tani, a well-positioned fortification that was covered from the rear by a steep incline. This was where the Taira had fled following their retreat from Kyoto and could be used as a staging area for any future attempts to return to the capital.

On 13 June [[1189]] Yoshitsune and his old companion [[Benkei]] were holed up in Fujiwara Motonari’s mansion at Koromogawa when Fujiwara Yasuhira attacked at Yoritomo’s insistence. Benkei managed to hold off their assailants long enough for Yoshitsune to kill his young wife and commit suicide. The head of Minamoto Yoshitsune was transported down to Kamakura, where it provoked an emotional response from those who viewed it. Years later, when Yoritomo was thrown from his horse (and suffered ultimately fatal injuries), the story circulated that the shôgun had been startled by the ghost of the betrayed Yoshitsune.

On 13 June [[1189]] Yoshitsune and his old companion [[Benkei]] were holed up in Fujiwara Motonari’s mansion at Koromogawa when Fujiwara Yasuhira attacked at Yoritomo’s insistence. Benkei managed to hold off their assailants long enough for Yoshitsune to kill his young wife and commit suicide. The head of Minamoto Yoshitsune was transported down to Kamakura, where it provoked an emotional response from those who viewed it. Years later, when Yoritomo was thrown from his horse (and suffered ultimately fatal injuries), the story circulated that the shôgun had been startled by the ghost of the betrayed Yoshitsune.

A remarkable soldier and a classically tragic figure, Yoshitsune was a legend even before his passing. [[Kuro Kanezane|Kujô Kanezane]], a supporter of Yoritomo, wrote in his diary in 1185:

A remarkable soldier and a classically tragic figure, Yoshitsune was a legend even before his passing. [[Kujo Kanezane|Kujô Kanezane]], a supporter of Yoritomo, wrote in his diary in 1185:

''Yoshitsune has left great achievements; about this there is nothing to argue. In bravery, benevolence, and justice, he is bound to leave a great name to posterity. In this he can only be admired and praised. The only thing is that he decided to rebel against Yoritomo. This is a great traitorous crime.''

''Yoshitsune has left great achievements; about this there is nothing to argue. In bravery, benevolence, and justice, he is bound to leave a great name to posterity. In this he can only be admired and praised. The only thing is that he decided to rebel against Yoritomo. This is a great traitorous crime.''

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Heian Period]]

[[Category:Heian Period]]