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The Heiji Disturbance was a conflict between the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] and [[Taira clan]]s, led by [[Minamoto no Yoshitomo]] and [[Taira no Kiyomori]] respectively. Along with the [[Hogen Disturbance|Hôgen Disturbance]] of [[1156]], it marks the rise of Taira power, the beginning of the decline of direct Imperial power, and the early stages of the rise of the samurai class.
The Heiji Disturbance was a conflict between the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] and [[Taira clan]]s, led by [[Minamoto no Yoshitomo]] and [[Taira no Kiyomori]] respectively. Along with the [[Hogen Disturbance|Hôgen Disturbance]] of [[1156]], it marks the rise of Taira power, the beginning of the decline of direct Imperial power, and the early stages of the rise of the samurai class.
The attack on the [[Sanjo Palace|Sanjô Palace]] on 1159/12/9 was the chief action of the conflict. Minamoto no Yoshitomo attacked the Imperial residence with roughly 500 warriors, kidnapping the Retired [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]] and setting the building aflame. The events are dramatically depicted in a famous, later, handscroll composition now in the collection of the [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], and entitled "Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace."
The conflict arose out of the resolution of the Hôgen Rebellion which came several years prior. At that time, Minamoto no Yoshitomo and Taira no Kiyomori had been allies, supporting [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]] against the forces of his brother Retired [[Emperor Sutoku]]. However, while Yoshitomo felt he was more responsible for their victory, it was Kiyomori who received the greater rewards. Thus, Yoshitomo allied with court minister [[Fujiwara no Nobuyori]] to make a move against Kiyomori's authority.
Following the Taira victory, Minamoto no Yoshitomo was executed along with his eldest son, [[Minamoto no Yoshihira]]. His wife, [[Tokiwa Gozen]], was spared along with their two younger sons, [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] and [[Minamoto no Yoshitsune|Yoshitsune]], who merely fled into exile, or into hiding. Yoritomo and Yoshitsune would later grow up to lead the Minamoto in destroying the Taira clan in the [[Genpei War]] of [[1180]]-[[1185]].
The attack on the [[Sanjo Palace|Sanjô Palace]] on 1159/12/9 was the chief action of the conflict. Yoshitomo and Nobuyori waited until Kiyomori was away from [[Kyoto]] on a religious pilgrimage, and then attacked the Imperial residence with roughly 500 warriors, kidnapping the Retired [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]] and setting the building aflame; Go-Shirakawa and his sister [[Joseimon-in|Jôseimon-in]] were taken to the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]]. The events are dramatically depicted in a famous, later, handscroll composition now in the collection of the [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], and entitled "Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace."
Kiyomori returned soon afterwards from his pilgrimage, taking [[Emperor Nijo|Emperor Nijô]] to [[Rokuhara]], declaring himself a defender of the court, and Yoshitomo an enemy of the court. Taira and Minamoto forces clashed again at one of the gates of the Imperial Palace, resulting in a decisive Taira victory.<ref>William de Bary, ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', vol 1, Columbia University Press (2001), 274.</ref>
Following the Taira victory, Minamoto no Yoshitomo was executed along with his eldest son, [[Minamoto no Yoshihira]].<ref>De Bary indicates that Yoshitomo escaped and fled, and was killed by a treacherous vassal; however, most other sources relate that he was executed. de Bary, 274.</ref> His wife, [[Tokiwa Gozen]], was spared along with their two younger sons, [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]] and [[Minamoto no Yoshitsune|Yoshitsune]], who merely fled into exile, or into hiding. Yoritomo and Yoshitsune would later grow up to lead the Minamoto in destroying the Taira clan in the [[Genpei War]] of [[1180]]-[[1185]].
[[Image:Heiji 1.jpg|center|thumb|962px|The [[Siege of the Sanjo Palace|Night Attack on the Sanjô Palace]] Handscroll Painting (Detail). [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]]. [http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/night-attack-on-the-sanj-palace-from-the-illustrated-scrolls-of-the-events-of-the-heiji-era-heiji-monogatari-emaki-24523 11.4000].]]
[[Image:Heiji 1.jpg|center|thumb|962px|The [[Siege of the Sanjo Palace|Night Attack on the Sanjô Palace]] Handscroll Painting (Detail). [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]]. [http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/night-attack-on-the-sanj-palace-from-the-illustrated-scrolls-of-the-events-of-the-heiji-era-heiji-monogatari-emaki-24523 11.4000].]]
==References==
==References==
*Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 71.
*Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 71.
<references/>
[[Category:Heian Period]]
[[Category:Heian Period]]
[[Category:Events and Incidents]]
[[Category:Events and Incidents]]
