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Motonari was the second son of [[Mori Hiromoto|Môri Hiromoto]], a daimyo in Aki Province who struggled against the local [[Takeda clan]] and the encroaching [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Fukubara Hirotoshi]] [福原広俊].  In [[1499]], Hiromoto found himself in the path of a looming Amako invasion from Izumo, and allied with Oûchi. At the time, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] was becoming involved in the gunboat politics of Kyoto and while he was away, the Amako grew stronger. In [[1506]] Hiromoto died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Okimoto, who ended up assisting Yoshioki in Kyoto for a short period. Motonari, meanwhile, was given his manhood ceremony in 1511.  It happened that Okimoto died in [[1516]], and Motonari was named to act as guardian to the late lord's young son, [[Môri Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]] (武田元繁, d.1517), took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri domain and capture [[Arita Castle]] [有田城].  Motonari led an army out the following year to retake Arita and was joined in his efforts by the [[Kobayakawa]] and [[Kikkawa]] clans.  The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] was defeated and killed and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川).  This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い] was a pivotal moment for the Môri and increased their influence in Aki Province greatly.  However, some time after this, the Amako, as part of their ongoing conflict with the Ôuchi, compelled the Môri to ally with them.  In 1522, Motonari married the daughter of [[Kikkawa Kunitsune]], known today as [[Myoukyuu]] [妙玖].  This match secured the friendship of the Kikkawa and would in time produce three fine sons.

Motonari was the second son of [[Mori Hiromoto|Môri Hiromoto]], a daimyo in Aki Province who struggled against the local [[Takeda clan]] and the encroaching [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Fukubara Hirotoshi]] [福原広俊].  In [[1499]], Hiromoto found himself in the path of a looming Amako invasion from Izumo, and allied with Oûchi. At the time, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] was becoming involved in the gunboat politics of Kyoto and while he was away, the Amako grew stronger. In [[1506]] Hiromoto died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Okimoto, who ended up assisting Yoshioki in Kyoto for a short period. Motonari, meanwhile, was given his manhood ceremony in 1511.  It happened that Okimoto died in [[1516]], and Motonari was named to act as guardian to the late lord's young son, [[Môri Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]] (武田元繁, d.1517), took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri domain and capture [[Arita Castle]] [有田城].  Motonari led an army out the following year to retake Arita and was joined in his efforts by the [[Kobayakawa]] and [[Kikkawa]] clans.  The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] was defeated and killed and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川).  This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い] was a pivotal moment for the Môri and increased their influence in Aki Province greatly.  However, some time after this, the Amako, as part of their ongoing conflict with the Ôuchi, compelled the Môri to ally with them.  In 1522, Motonari married the daughter of [[Kikkawa Kunitsune]], known today as [[Myoukyuu]] [妙玖].  This match secured the friendship of the Kikkawa and would in time produce three fine sons.

In 1523 the Amako launced an attack against Ôuchi holdings in Aki and Motonari led the Môri in service in Amako Tsunehisa's army.  The Amako were initally repulsed in their attempts to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle]], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] (蔵田房信).  Motonari suggested a trick that resulted in Fusanobu's murder.  The castle fell and Motonari himself gained further prestige.  Later that same year, Komatsumaru died. Motonari was nominated by the family's retainers to become the official head of the clan.  His younger brother, [[Aiau Motostuna]] (相合元綱, d.1524), resented the decision and plotted against Motonari, only to be discovered and at length forced to commit suicide.  His supporter [[Katsura Hirozumi]] and other were also killed or committed suicide.

In 1523 the Amako launced an attack against Ôuchi holdings in Aki and Motonari led the Môri in service in Amako Tsunehisa's army.  The Amako were initally repulsed in their attempts to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle]], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] (蔵田房信).  Motonari suggested a trick that resulted in Fusanobu's murder.  The castle fell and Motonari himself gained further prestige.  Later that same year, Komatsumaru died. Motonari was nominated by the family's retainers to become the official head of the clan.  His younger brother, [[Aiau Motostuna]] (相合元綱, d.1524), resented the decision and plotted against Motonari, only to be discovered and at length forced to commit suicide.  His supporter [[Katsura Hirozumi]] and other were also killed or committed suicide.  Relations between the Môri and the Amako declined over the next few years and Motonari decided to cut his ties with the Amako and allied his clan with the Ôuchi.

In [[1528]], Ôuchi Yoshioki passed away and was succeeded by his son Yoshitaka. The Amako made an effort to capitalize on this turn of events, but with only minimal success. Yoshitaka proved, at least initially, to be a competent enough leader, and held the Amako's ambitions in check while extending Oûchi authority in [[Buzen province]]. For his part, Môri drifted back into the Oûchi's camp, and set about consolidating the Môri's holdings in Aki, and gathering local allies, chief among these being the [[Shisido clan|Shisido]], [[Kumagai clan|Kumagai]], and [[Amano clan|Amano]]. Efforts by the Amako to bring the Môri back under their sway failed, and in [[1540]] [[Amako Akihisa]] (Haruhisa) sent a sizable army into Aki. Motonari was heavily outnumbered and shut himself up in Koriyama. Akihisa made little impression against the hill-top fortifications and settled for burning Koriyama's accompanying town - Yoshida - to the ground. Still unable to convince Motonari to submit, Akihisa sat down for a siege-a decisive mistake, as it turned out. Ôuchi Yoshitaka dispatched his general [[Sue Takafusa]] (Harukata) to relieve Koriyama, and in early October Sue arrived. Caught between two forces, Akihisa's army fell back, and in a desperate rear-guard action his trusted general [[Uyama Hisakane]] was killed.  

In [[1528]], Ôuchi Yoshioki passed away and was succeeded by his son Yoshitaka. The Amako made an effort to capitalize on this turn of events, but with only minimal success. Meanwhile, Motonari set about consolidating the Môri's holdings in Aki, and gathering local allies, chief among these being the [[Shisido clan|Shisido]], [[Kumagai clan|Kumagai]], and [[Amano clan|Amano]]. Efforts by the Amako to bring the Môri back under their sway failed, and in [[1540]] (Tenbun 9/8/10) [[Amako Akihisa]] (Haruhisa) dispatched a sizable army drawn from all his holdings into Aki with the intention of bringing down Koriyama Castle. Motonari was heavily outnumbered and shut himself up in Koriyama, sending out raids to harrass the Amako troops under cover of darkness and fog and calling for aid from the Ôuchi. The Amako destroyed a number of Koriyama's outlying forts and burned Koriyama's accompanying town, Yoshida, to the ground. Still unable to convince Motonari to submit, the Amako attempted to besiege Koriyama. Ôuchi Yoshitaka dispatched his general [[Sue Takafusa]] (Harukata) to relieve Koriyama, and in early October Sue arrived and combined forces with Motonari and a number of hard-fought battles ensued. The [[Battle of Yoshida-Koriyama Castle]] [吉田郡山城の戦い], a term generally applied to the overall campaign but consisting of a number of stages and engagements that lasted for the rest of the year, ended in defeat for the Amako with the withdrawal of their battered army out of Aki at the beginning of 1541.

The following year, old [[Amako Tsunehisa]] died. Sensing a great opportunity in both this and Haruhisa's earlier defeat, Oûchi Yoshitaka and Môri invaded Izumo in [[1542]]. Initially, the campaign went well enough, but at length it bogged down and dragged into [[1543]]. By the time the allies reached [[Gassan-Toda castle]], their troops were weary and at the absolute limits of there supply lines. At this critical point, while the Ôuchi and Môri were preparing for a siege, the Amako lashed out, routing the invaders and driving them all the way back to Nagato and Aki. Motonari returned to Koriyama to lick his wounds while Yoshitaka, his confidence shattered, retreated into the finery and luxury of Yamaguchi. In fact, the failed expedition could be seen as benefiting Môri in the long run. With Yoshitaka's lapse into inactivity, Motonari had more room to expand throughout Aki, and play kingmaker with various local lords. In the meantime, the Amako took advantage of their recent victory to push their influence into the lands to their east - Hôki, Mimasaka, and Bitchû.  

[[Amako Tsunehisa]] died in November 1541. Sensing a great opportunity in both this and Haruhisa's earlier defeat, Oûchi Yoshitaka and Môri planned a campaign to bring down Gassan-Toda Castle.  The combined forces mobilized in January of 1542 (Tenbun 11/1). The Oûchi brought down [[Akana Castle]] [赤穴城] on the Iwami-Izumo border after a three month siege and eventually the allies approached Gassan-Toda, well into the year. By this time their troops were weary and at the absolute limits of their supply lines and numerically not powerful enough to storm the castle. After some fighting after the new year, the allies conceded defeat and withdrew, harried as they went by the Amako. Motonari returned to Koriyama to lick his wounds while Yoshitaka, his confidence said to have been forever shattered by the fiasco, withdrew into Yamaguchi and increasingly relied on his senior retainers to manage the Oûchi domain. In fact, the failed expedition could be seen as benefiting the Môri in the long run. With Yoshitaka's lapse into inactivity, Motonari had more room to expand throughout Aki and consolidate his power. In the meantime, the Amako took advantage of their recent victory to push their influence into the lands to their east, [[Hôki Province|Hôki Province]], [[Mimasaka Province|Mimasaka Province]], and [[Bitchû Province|Bitchû Province]].  

Over the next few years, Motonari managed to put a son into the top positions of two powerful Aki clans-the [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]] and [[Kobayakawa clan|Kobayakawa]]. His second son Motoharu went to the Kikkawa, and his third son, Takakage, went to the Kobayakawa.  

Over the next few years, Motonari managed to arrange for his sons to assume the leadership of two powerful Aki clans-the [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]] and [[Kobayakawa clan|Kobayakawa]]. His second son [[Kikkawa Motoharu|Motoharu]] went to the Kikkawa, and his third son, [[Kobayakawa Takakage|Takakage]], went to the Kobayakawa.  

Motonari's eldest son and heir, a onetime goodwill hostage of the Oûchi, was Takamoto, the father of the future [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]]. By [[1550]], both Motoharu and Takakage had become the lords of their respective clans, and not a moment too soon, for turmoil erupted in [[Suo province|Suo]]. As mentioned, Oûchi Yoshitaka had retreated from affairs of state following the Izumo debacle in 1543. During the next seven years, he handed over most military matters to his retainers, notably the Naito and Sue Takafusa, contenting him self with court intrigue and the China trade. It would seem that Sue had attempted again and again to warn his lord against neglecting military affairs, going so far towards the end as to insinuate that someone close to the Ôuchi might rebel. In 1550, that someone turned out to be Sue himself. When Takafusa revolted, Yoshikata was forced to flee Yamaguchi and, finding that none of his major retainers were willing to help him, committed suicide. Sue quickly made a thin attempt to legitimize his actions by placing a ready-made Oûchi puppet (a member of the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo clan]]) in Yamaguchi.

Motonari's eldest son and heir, a onetime goodwill hostage of the Oûchi, was [[Takamoto]], the father of the future [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]]. By [[1550]], both Motoharu and Takakage had become the lords of their respective clans, and not a moment too soon, for turmoil erupted in [[Suo province|Suo]]. As mentioned, Oûchi Yoshitaka had retreated from affairs of state following the Izumo debacle in 1543. During the next seven years, he handed over most military matters to his retainers, notably the Naito and Sue Takafusa, contenting him self with court intrigue and the China trade. It would seem that Sue had attempted again and again to warn his lord against neglecting military affairs, going so far towards the end as to insinuate that someone close to the Ôuchi might rebel. In 1550, that someone turned out to be Sue himself. When Takafusa revolted, Yoshikata was forced to flee Yamaguchi and, finding that none of his major retainers were willing to help him, committed suicide. Sue quickly made a thin attempt to legitimize his actions by placing a ready-made Oûchi puppet (a member of the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo clan]]) in Yamaguchi.

Môri's immediate reaction to Sue's rebellion is unknown, but for the next few years he paid the new lord of the Ôuchi lip service. Neither warrior seems to have trusted the other, and conflict between the two was perhaps inevitable. Motonari, however, bided his time. He expanded the Môri presence in Bingo province (taking Takiyama in 1552) and strengthened his ties with the Murakami, a family (of three branches) that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come.

Môri's immediate reaction to Sue's rebellion is unknown, but for the next few years he paid the new lord of the Ôuchi lip service. Neither warrior seems to have trusted the other, and conflict between the two was perhaps inevitable. Motonari, however, bided his time. He expanded the Môri presence in Bingo province (taking Takiyama in 1552) and strengthened his ties with the Murakami, a family (of three branches) that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come.