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==The Lord of Koriyama==

==The Lord of Koriyama==

[[Image:Mori_motonari.jpg|thumb|right|Mori Motonari.]]

[[Image:Mori_motonari.jpg|thumb|right|Mori Motonari.]]

Motonari inherited a clan that claimed direct descent from [[Oie Hiromoto|Ôie Hiromoto]] (大江広元, 1148-1225), an advisor to [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] who served the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] well after Yoritomo's death. Hiromoto's son assumed the name Môri, and in [[1336]] Aki province became the clan's homeland when [[Mori Tokichika|Môri Tokichika]] was appointed Jito there. The clan experienced a power struggle in the 1470's that saw the main [[Mori clan|Môri]] line absorb both its branch families.  

Motonari inherited a clan that claimed direct descent from [[Oe Hiromoto|Ôe Hiromoto]] (大江広元, 1148-1225), an advisor to [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] who served the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] well after Yoritomo's death. Hiromoto's son assumed the name Môri, and in [[1336]] Aki province became the clan's homeland when [[Mori Tokichika|Môri Tokichika]] was appointed Jito there. The clan experienced a power struggle in the 1470's that saw the main [[Mori clan|Môri]] line absorb both its branch families.  

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, [[Mori Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]], took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri and Kikkawa domains, bringing 5,000 men to attack [[Arita Castle]] [有田城].  Motonari led an allied army of some 1,000 out to contest the Takeda.  The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] killed in the first action and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was himself killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川).  This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い], possibly Motonari's first action, 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, [[Mori Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]], took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri and Kikkawa domains, bringing 5,000 men to attack [[Arita Castle]] [有田城].  Motonari led an allied army of some 1,000 out to contest the Takeda.  The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] killed in the first action and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was himself killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川).  This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い], possibly Motonari's first action, 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 [[Myokyu|Myôkyû]] [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, [[Sogo Motostuna|Sôgô Mototsuna]] (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 others 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 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, [[Sogo Motostuna|Sôgô Mototsuna]] (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 others 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 the early summer of [[1555]], Sue was again threatening, and Motonari was hard-pressed. Harukata was by no means a poor fighter, and the danger of his retainers and allies deserting the Môri led Motonari to adopt a bold and unorthodox scheme. His plan involved Miyajima, home to the [[Itskushima Shrine]] and a place combatants had traditionally avoided on religious grounds. The suggestion to occupy this place, which was strategically located just off the Aki coast in the Inland Sea, actually came from Môri's generals. Initially, Motonari refused the idea on tactical grounds. For Miyajima to be a viable base of operations, [[Sakurao castle]] [桜尾城], the nearest fort on the mainland to Miyajima, would also have to be held. Should Sakurao fall, any army on Miyajima risked being isolated. Yet Môri's own doubts led him to attempt to lure Sue into just such a tactical dilemma. Naturally, for the plan to work Sue would have to act accordingly, and for inducement, Motonari immediately gave orders that Miyajima was to be occupied, and a fort thrown up quite near the Itskushima shrine. In September, Sue fell into the trap. He landed with the bulk of his army on Miyajima and attacked [[Miyao Castle]] [宮尾城]. When the island had been secured, Sue threw up a few fortifications on To-no-oka (Pagoda Hill) and sat down to plot strategy. From his point of view, it should be noted, the capture of Miyajima was a strategic boon. From this secure springboard he could embark to almost any point along the Aki coast, as well as Bingo. Since the following autumn, Môri had assumed a largely defensive posture, and Sue had some reason to feel comfortable in his new forward headquarters. Sue grew complacent.  

In the early summer of [[1555]], Sue was again threatening, and Motonari was hard-pressed. Harukata was by no means a poor fighter, and the danger of his retainers and allies deserting the Môri led Motonari to adopt a bold and unorthodox scheme. His plan involved Miyajima, home to the [[Itskushima Shrine]] and a place combatants had traditionally avoided on religious grounds. The suggestion to occupy this place, which was strategically located just off the Aki coast in the Inland Sea, actually came from Môri's generals. Initially, Motonari refused the idea on tactical grounds. For Miyajima to be a viable base of operations, [[Sakurao castle]] [桜尾城], the nearest fort on the mainland to Miyajima, would also have to be held. Should Sakurao fall, any army on Miyajima risked being isolated. Yet Môri's own doubts led him to attempt to lure Sue into just such a tactical dilemma. Naturally, for the plan to work Sue would have to act accordingly, and for inducement, Motonari immediately gave orders that Miyajima was to be occupied, and a fort thrown up quite near the Itskushima shrine. In September, Sue fell into the trap. He landed with the bulk of his army on Miyajima and attacked [[Miyao Castle]] [宮尾城]. When the island had been secured, Sue threw up a few fortifications on To-no-oka (Pagoda Hill) and sat down to plot strategy. From his point of view, it should be noted, the capture of Miyajima was a strategic boon. From this secure springboard he could embark to almost any point along the Aki coast, as well as Bingo. Since the following autumn, Môri had assumed a largely defensive posture, and Sue had some reason to feel comfortable in his new forward headquarters. Sue grew complacent.  

Môri retook Sakurao and called on the support of his naval ally, Murakami Torayoshi.  Gathering the pirate's naval strength, he set out to surprise Sue on Miyajima, and picked a perfect night on which to do so. On the night of 16 October (Tenbun 24 10/1), in a driving thunderstorm, Motonari and his sons put to sea. As a diversion, Takakage sailed straight past the Sue positions on To-no-oka while Motonari, Takamoto, and Motoharu landed just to the east and out of sight. Takakage doubled back around and landed at dawn, attacking the Sue forces practically in the shadow of Miyajima's great Torii Gate. Motonari then assaulted the confused Sue troops from behind, and the result was a rout for Harukata, who committed suicide at Oe Bay (Oe no ura, 大江浦), a small island inlet. Many of his troops followed suit, and for Motonari, the [[Battle of Miyajima|Battle of Itsukushima]] [厳島の戦い] was utterly decisive. While it would take the Môri until [[1557]] to force [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Oûchi Yoshinaga]] to commit suicide and years longer to completely bring Suo and Nagato under their control, Motonari was now the most powerful lord in western Japan.  

Môri retook Sakurao and called on the support of his naval ally, Murakami Torayoshi.  Gathering the pirate's naval strength, he set out to surprise Sue on Miyajima, and picked a perfect night on which to do so. On the night of 16 October (Tenbun 24 10/1), in a driving thunderstorm, Motonari and his sons put to sea. As a diversion, Takakage sailed straight past the Sue positions on To-no-oka while Motonari, Takamoto, and Motoharu landed just to the east and out of sight. Takakage doubled back around and landed at dawn, attacking the Sue forces practically in the shadow of Miyajima's great Torii Gate. Motonari then assaulted the confused Sue troops from behind, and the result was a rout for Harukata, who committed suicide at Oe Bay (Oe no ura, 大江浦), a small island inlet. Many of his troops followed suit, and for Motonari, the [[Battle of Miyajima|Battle of Itsukushima]] [厳島の戦い] was utterly decisive. While it would take the Môri until [[1557]] to force [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Oûchi Yoshinaga]] to commit suicide and years longer to completely bring Suo and Nagato under their control, Motonari was now the most powerful lord in western Japan.  He officially retired in favor of Takamoto in 1557 although he retained substainal authority over most clan affairs.  

In addition to being a gifted general Motonari was also a noted poet and patron of the arts. Surviving letters written by his grandson [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]] describe Motonari as a strict and demanding man with a sharp eye. He was succeeded by Terumoto, who was the son of the late Takamoto.  

In addition to being a gifted general Motonari was also a noted poet and patron of the arts. Surviving letters written by his grandson [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]] describe Motonari as a strict and demanding man with a sharp eye. He was succeeded by Terumoto, who was the son of the late Takamoto.  

==Motonari in Fiction==

==Motonari in Fiction==

* Hall, John Whitney, Nagahara Keiji and Kozo Yamamura, eds. ''Japan Before Tokugawa'' Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey 1981

* Hall, John Whitney, Nagahara Keiji and Kozo Yamamura, eds. ''Japan Before Tokugawa'' Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey 1981

* Rekishi Gunzô Shirizu #49, ''Môri Senki'' Gakken, Japan, 1997

* Rekishi Gunzô Shirizu #49, ''Môri Senki'' Gakken, Japan, 1997

* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]

* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]

 

 

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]