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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.  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, [[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 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 [[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 defeat of the Amako had the benefit of isolating the Môri's enemies, the Takeda, who had come to rely on the Amako for aid.  Motonari threatened [[Aki Kanayama Castle|Kanayama Castle]] [銀山城] and [[Takeda Nobusane]] [武田信実] fled to Izumo and the castle was afterwards surrendered.  This marked the end of the Aki Takeda's power.

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 defeat of the Amako had the benefit of isolating the Môri's enemies, the Takeda, who had come to rely on the Amako for aid.  Motonari threatened [[Aki Kanayama Castle|Kanayama Castle]] [銀山城] and [[Takeda Nobusane]] [武田信実] fled to Izumo and the castle was afterwards surrendered.  This marked the end of the Aki Takeda's power.

[[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.  The [[1st Battle of Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城の戦い] marked a turning point in the fortunes of the western provinces.  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]].  

[[Amako Tsunehisa]] died in November 1541. Sensing a great opportunity in the passing of this formidable and considering Haruhisa's damaging defeat at Koriyama, 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.  The [[1st Battle of Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城の戦い] marked a turning point in the fortunes of the western provinces.  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 concluded alliances with such powers as the Kumagai and [Western Murakami clan|Murakami], the latter a family consisting of three branches that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come. In 1550 Motonari arranged 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 [[Môri Takamoto|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]].  

Over the next few years, Motonari concluded alliances with such powers as the Kumagai and [Western Murakami clan|Murakami], the latter a family consisting of three branches that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come. In 1550 Motonari arranged 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 [[Môri Takamoto|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]].  

The next five years were occupied with reorganizing the newly acquired Oûchi territories. In addition, a string of battles with the powerful [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] of Kyushu began over [[Moji castle]], a vital stronghold in the extreme northern tip of Buzen province. Moji would change hands a number of times until finally being secured by Takamoto in [[1561]].

The next five years were occupied with reorganizing the newly acquired Oûchi territories. In addition, a string of battles with the powerful [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] of Kyushu began over [[Moji castle]], a vital stronghold in the extreme northern tip of Buzen province. Moji would change hands a number of times until finally being secured by Takamoto in [[1561]].

As might be expected, the Amako were less then willing to give up their own dreams of dominance in the Chugoku region and continued to defy the Môri. Yet in 1562, [[Amako Haruhisa]] died, leaving his less then gifted son Yoshihisa to carry on the struggle. Haruhisa had not done much to prepare Yoshihisa for his struggle. Years before, Haruhisa had ordered the death (for reasons unknown) of his uncle, Kunihisa, and since that point until his death done little beyond harassing the Môri in Iwami and Bingo and making an ultimately fruitless pact with the Ôtomo.  

As might be expected, the Amako were not willing to give up their own dreams of dominance in the Chugoku region and continued to defy the Môri. Yet in 1562, [[Amako Haruhisa]] died, leaving his weaker son Yoshihisa to carry on the struggle. Haruhisa had not done much to prepare Yoshihisa for his struggle. Years before, Haruhisa had ordered the death (for reasons unknown) of his uncle Kunihisa and afterwards had done little beyond harassing the Môri in Iwami and Bingo and making an ultimately fruitless pact with the Ôtomo.  

Motonari wasted little time in taking advantage of Haruhisa's death. In [[1562]] Iwami was finally taken, and a campaign directed to cut Gassan-Toda off from its supply lines was initiated. Then, in [[1563]], Takamoto was dead. His passing was sudden, and the Amako were suspected as having a hand in it. Had that been the case, it was a useless gesture, for while the loss stung the Môri clan, it bought the Amako precious little time. In the fall of that year the Môri invested [[Shiraga Castle]], a vital 'satellite' of Gassan-Toda in Izumo. An Amako effort to relieve the garrison failed, and the castle surrendered in October after 70 days. Shiraga's fall all but isolated Gassan - Toda, and Môri led his 25,000 on to the Amako stronghold in the spring of 1564. Heavily outnumbered and facing starvation, Yoshihisa nonetheless managed to resist one Môri assault in April that cost Motonari some moderate losses and forced him to withdraw to reorganize. In the September of [[1565]], Motonari returned, and this time resolved to starve Gassan - Toda into submission. To assist in this policy, Motonari let it be known that the Môri would accept no deserters from the castle, content to keep all of the besieged within the walls and eating up the Amako's dwindling supplies. For a final touch, he made a move to undermine the leadership of the defenders. A certain [[Uyama Hisanobu]], the son of the late [[Uyama Hisakane]] (the skilled warrior killed in Haruhisa's failed attack on Koriyama), had shown himself to be a man of both wise judgment and unshakable dedication to the Amako. Motonari therefore had rumors spread within the castle walls about Uyama's loyalty, prompting Yoshihisa to have the unfortunate fellow killed. This, not surprisingly, did not go over so well with the other retainers, and when Motonari lifted his ban on deserters, thousands of half-starved men fled the doomed castle. Finally, in January of [[1566]], Yoshihisa surrendered. Perhaps to the surprise of everyone involved (including Yoshihisa himself), Môri spared the defeated man's life, allowing him to take up a monk's habit.  

Motonari wasted little time in taking advantage of Haruhisa's death. In [[1562]] Iwami was finally taken, and a campaign directed to cut Gassan-Toda off from its supply lines was initiated. Then, in [[1563]], Takamoto died. His passing was sudden, and the Amako were suspected as having a hand in it. Had that been the case, it was a useless gesture, for while the loss stung the Môri clan, it bought the Amako precious little time. In the fall of that year the Môri invested [[Shiraga Castle]], a vital 'satellite' of Gassan-Toda in Izumo. An Amako effort to relieve the garrison failed, and the castle surrendered in October after 70 days. Shiraga's fall all but isolated Gassan - Toda, and Môri led his 25,000 on to the Amako stronghold in the spring of 1564. Heavily outnumbered and facing starvation, Yoshihisa nonetheless managed to resist one Môri assault in April that cost Motonari some moderate losses and forced him to withdraw to reorganize. In the September of [[1565]], Motonari returned, and this time resolved to starve Gassan - Toda into submission. To assist in this policy, Motonari let it be known that the Môri would accept no deserters from the castle, content to keep all of the besieged within the walls and eating up the Amako's dwindling supplies. For a final touch, he made a move to undermine the leadership of the defenders. A certain [[Uyama Hisanobu]], the son of the late [[Uyama Hisakane]] (the skilled warrior killed in Haruhisa's failed attack on Koriyama), had shown himself to be a man of both wise judgment and unshakable dedication to the Amako. Motonari therefore had rumors spread within the castle walls about Uyama's loyalty, prompting Yoshihisa to have the unfortunate fellow killed. This, not surprisingly, did not go over so well with the other retainers, and when Motonari lifted his ban on deserters, thousands of half-starved men fled the doomed castle. Finally, in January of [[1566]], Yoshihisa surrendered. Perhaps to the surprise of everyone involved (including Yoshihisa himself), Môri spared the defeated man's life, allowing him to take up a monk's habit.  

Motonari lived for five more years, passing away at the age of 74, one of the greatest warlords of the mid-16th Century. Under his leadership the Môri had expanded from a few districts in Aki to rule over ten of the Chugoku's eleven provinces, and Motonari was known even in his day as a master of wiles and trickery, a warlord whose schemes won as many battles as his soldiers. Interestingly, he is best remembered for an event that probably never took place-the 'lesson of the three arrows'. In this parable, Motonari gives each of his sons an arrow to break. He then gives them three arrows bundled, and points out that while one may be broken easily, not so three united as one. The three sons were of course [[Mori Takamoto|Takamoto]], [[Mori Motoharu|Motoharu]], and [[Mori Takakage|Takakage]], and the lesson is one that Japanese children still learn in school today. He in fact had a total of six other sons, two of which appear to have died in childhood. The others included [[Mori Motoaki|Motoaki]], [[Mori Motokiyo|Motokiyo]], [[Mori Motomasa|Motomasa]] and [[Mori Hidekane|(Kobayakawa) Hidekane]].  

Motonari lived for five more years, passing away at the age of 74, one of the greatest warlords of the mid-16th Century. Under his leadership the Môri had expanded from a few districts in Aki to rule over ten of the Chugoku's eleven provinces, and Motonari was known even in his day as a master of wiles and trickery, a warlord whose schemes won as many battles as his soldiers. Interestingly, he is best remembered for an event that probably never took place-the 'lesson of the three arrows'. In this parable, Motonari gives each of his sons an arrow to break. He then gives them three arrows bundled, and points out that while one may be broken easily, not so three united as one. The three sons were of course [[Mori Takamoto|Takamoto]], [[Mori Motoharu|Motoharu]], and [[Mori Takakage|Takakage]], and the lesson is one that Japanese children still learn in school today. He in fact had a total of six other sons, two of which appear to have died in childhood. The others included [[Mori Motoaki|Motoaki]], [[Mori Motokiyo|Motokiyo]], [[Mori Motomasa|Motomasa]] and [[Mori Hidekane|(Kobayakawa) Hidekane]].