2.7 Late Heian or Fujiwara Era: The Rise of the Warrior Class

The End of the Heian Period

After Emperor Konoe died family feuds within the imperial family, the Fujiwara, and samurai families fueled a succession dispute. The dispute, Hōgen Rebellion or Disturbance (Hōgen no ran), re-shaped Japan’s history forevermore.

The Hōgen Rebellion pitted retired Emperor Sutoku who wanted his son named emperor after Konoe against Insei Emperor Toba’s wife Nariko, who did not want Sutoku becoming insei emperor and but wanted her son-in-law, Morihito to become emperor.  Nariko gathered allies including Fujiwara no Tadamichi, Fujiwara no Michinori, and Minamoto no Yoshitomo.  When Toba died, retired Emperor Sutoku gathered allies to oppose the enthronement of Go-Shirakawa.  It was the first battle fought within Kyoto and the allies of Go-Shirakawa were victorious. Sutoku’s allies which included Fujiwara Tadazane, the regent, other high Fujiwara officials, and senior members of the Minamoto and Taira clans, were either killed in battle, executed, or committed seppuku. Go-Shirakawa later became insei emperor until his death 1192; Nariko’s adopted son and son-in-law Morihito became Emperor Nijō and her grandson became Emperor Rokujō; Minamoto Yoshitomo and Taira no Kiyomori became heads of their respective clans. Fujiwara no Michinori became very close to Go-Shirakawa. Emperor Sutoku saw his line removed from the royal succession.

Sutoku was banished to Shikoku Island, where he led a monastic life. Upon his death, Sutoku became an onryō (vengeful spirit). The subsequent fall in fortune of the Imperial court, the rise of the samurai powers, draughts and internal unrests were blamed on his vengeance. He is also said to have transformed into an Ootengu (greater tengu), one of the Three Terrible Yōkai of Japan.

After the Hōgen Rebellion, Taira no Kiyomori was favored by Go-Shirakawa, which created resentment. Led by Fujiwara Nobuyori and the Minamoto clan, the dissenters captured Go-Shirakawa and Nijō. Kiyomori was able to put down the rebellion. Kiyomori banished Minamoto no Yoritomo, seized Minamoto wealth and land, and eventually formed the first samurai-dominated government. Manipulating a rivalry between Go-Shirakawa and Nijō, he was able to gain political power. This culminated in 1167, when Kiyomori became the first courtier of a warrior family to be appointed chief minister and the de facto ruler of the imperial government. 

Kiyomori asserted that his clan was replacing the Fujiwara. He arranged a marriage between Emperor Takakura and his daughter and their first son, Tokihito, became Emperor Antoku. He removed rivals from government, amassed a fortune, imprisoned Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and his kinsmen held many tax-exempt estates. In the meantime, he made many enemies and the Minamoto were building up for revenge.

In 1180, Minamoto no Yoritomo, now head of the Minamoto clan, took up arms to aid Prince Mochito against the Taira. Minamoto no Yoshitsune, along with his other brother, Minamoto no Noriyori, joined in the Genpei War (Jisho-Juei War). Eventually, Yoritomo settled in his home base in Kamakura to concentrate on administrative matters of setting up a new government. Noriyori and Yoshitsune led most of the fighting, with Yoshitsune being the more successful. They not only defeated the Taira in several key battles but also killed a cousin, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, who was vying for control of the Minamoto. Yoshitsune went on to decisive victories in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani and the Battle of Yashima in 1185.

The Battle of Ichi-no-Tani is remembered for Yoshitsune and Yoshinori splitting their forces. Yoshitsune took less than 100 horsemen down steep cliffs to surprise the Taira forces from one side while Yoshinori attacked from a plain. It is also known for the killing of Taira no Atsumori.

As the Taira were being routed, Kumagai Naozane spotted a warrior, Taira no Atsumori, in the water trying to escape. He waived his fan at the warrior and taunted him, saying that a lord should not turn his back to the enemy. Atsumori turned and gave battle to Naozane, but Naozane was too powerful. He knocked Atsumori down, who lost his helmet. Naozane looked at the face of Atsumori and noticed that he was the same age as his son, had a white powdered face, and blackened teeth, a style of the courtiers. He also noticed the boy had a flute in his pack. He remarked how gentle were the courtiers. Seeing other soldiers coming, he thought it better to kill Atsumori himself so that he could offer prayers for him. After the war Naozane became a monk and was very remorseful about this tragedy. Noh dramas and puppet plays were written about the event.

The Genpei War pitted the Taira against the Minamoto. It started with the Battle of Uji nearby Phoenix Hall. This five year war climaxed at Dan-no-ura in 1185. During the sea battle of Dan-no-ura, Antoku’s grandmother took him and plunged with him into the water in the Shimonoseki Straits, drowning the child emperor rather than allowing him to be captured. The Taira (Heike) were defeated and most of the clan were killed or committed suicide. The Minamoto clan was triumphant with no one left to oppose them.

And thus the Heian Period begun by Emperor Kanmu came to an end. The Heian Period was followed by the Kamakura Period.