| Minamoto no Tametomo was a warrior of the [[Minamoto clan]], exiled to [[Izu Oshima|Izu Ôshima]] in [[1165]], in the aftermath of the [[Hogen Rebellion|Hôgen Rebellion]]. He is the subject of a number of myths and legends, which have him making his way to [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] from Ôshima, and fathering [[Shunten]], the first king of Okinawa. | | Minamoto no Tametomo was a warrior of the [[Minamoto clan]], exiled to [[Izu Oshima|Izu Ôshima]] in [[1165]], in the aftermath of the [[Hogen Rebellion|Hôgen Rebellion]]. He is the subject of a number of myths and legends, which have him making his way to [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] from Ôshima, and fathering [[Shunten]], the first king of Okinawa. |
− | Tametomo was the son of [[Minamoto no Tameyoshi]], brother to [[Minamoto no Yoshitomo]], and thus a direct uncle to [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]], first [[shogun]] of the [[Kamakura shogunate]]. He lived for a time in Kyushu during his younger days, and is thus associated with the island, and with the term "Chinzei," an alternate name for Kyushu. During his time there, it is said he married a woman named Shiranui, the daughter of [[Taira no Tadakuni]]. | + | Tametomo was the eighth son of [[Minamoto no Tameyoshi]], brother to [[Minamoto no Yoshitomo]], and thus a direct uncle to [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]], first [[shogun]] of the [[Kamakura shogunate]]. Through his father Tameyoshi, he was a member of the prominent [[Seiwa Genji]] line; a grandson of [[Minamoto no Yoshiie]], Tametomo identified himself as seven generations from Prince Rokuson and nine from [[Emperor Seiwa]] himself.<ref>William de Bary, ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', vol 1, Columbia University Press (2001), 273.</ref> Tametomo lived for a time in Kyushu during his younger days, and is thus associated with the island, and with the term "Chinzei," an alternate name for Kyushu. During his time there, it is said he married a woman named Shiranui, the daughter of [[Taira no Tadakuni]]. |
| Tametomo fought alongside his father in the Hôgen Rebellion of [[1156]], siding with [[Emperor Sutoku]] against [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]] (who, incidentally, had Minamoto no Yoshitomo, Tametomo's brother, on his side). After Go-Shirakawa's victory, Yoshitomo was forced to behead his father, Tameyoshi, and several of his brothers and other close relatives who had opposed Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Tametomo, renowned for his skill with a bow, had the ligaments or tendons of his bow arm cut, rendering it useless, before he was exiled to Izu Ôshima. | | Tametomo fought alongside his father in the Hôgen Rebellion of [[1156]], siding with [[Emperor Sutoku]] against [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]] (who, incidentally, had Minamoto no Yoshitomo, Tametomo's brother, on his side). After Go-Shirakawa's victory, Yoshitomo was forced to behead his father, Tameyoshi, and several of his brothers and other close relatives who had opposed Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Tametomo, renowned for his skill with a bow, had the ligaments or tendons of his bow arm cut, rendering it useless, before he was exiled to Izu Ôshima. |