Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159 – 1189) was a busho (military commander) of Kawachi-Genji (Minamoto clan) in the Late Heian period and early Kamakura periods. His military victories in the Genpei War brought him fame. His popularity continued through legend, history, painting, and performing arts.

The story of Yoshitsune is one of tragedy and has inspired the term “hōgan biiki” based on his title of “hōgan,” which means “sympathy for a tragic hero” or “sympathy for the underdog.”

Yoshitsune was the son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, head of the Kawachi-Gengi, from the Seiwa-Gengi (descendants of Emperor Seiwa). His mother was Tokiwa Gozen, a court lady who attended the empress. Yoshitsune’s childhood name was Ushiwakamaru.

He officially married Sato Gozen and had concubines, one was Shizuka Gozen, famous as a traditional Japanese dancer.

Yoshitsune was born shortly before the Heiji Disturbance of 1160. His father was defeated by Taira no Kiyomori and died along with his two oldest brothers. His half-brother Yoritomo was banished to Izu Province. Tokiwa Gozen tried to escape with her boys; however, finding out that her mother was arrested, she went to Kiyomori to plead for mercy. Kiyomori took her as a concubine and allowed the boys and mother to live.

Later, Tokiwa married a court noble, and they sent young Ushiwakamaru to Kurama-dera Temple, near Kyoto. Ushiwakamaru decided not to enter the priesthood but avenge his family. He took the name Yoshitsune and went to Mutsu Province under the protection of Fujiwara no Hidehira.

In 1180, Yoshitsune and Noriyori joined Minamoto no Yoritomo, now head of the Minamoto clan, to aid Prince Mochihito against the Taira in the Genpei War (Jisho-Juei War). Yoritomo concentrated on setting up a new government in Kamakura that would eventually be the government of the Kamakura Era, while Noriyori and Yoshitsune led most of the fighting. They not only defeated the Taira in several key battles but also killed Minamoto no Yoshinaka, a cousin who was vying for control of the Minamoto. Yoshitsune led his forces to decisive victories, especially in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani.

After the Battle of Ichi-no-tani, while three military commanders, including Noriyori, were given rewards of appointment of provincial governorships, Yoshitsune the conquering hero was not included in Yoritomo’s recommendations to the Imperial Court. Nevertheless, Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa awarded Yoshitsune titles that allowed him access to the cloistered government.

Yoshitsune had a good relationship with Emperor Go-Shirakawa for he had driven Minamoto no Yoshinaka from Kyoto and kept order in Kyoto. 

Initially, Yoshitsune was not included in the campaign to finish off the Taira; however, when Noriyori’s forces stalled, he was ordered to aid in the fighting.  He defeated the Taira at the Battle of Yashima, and some escaped, making another base by Dan-no-ura. The next time they were not so lucky.

While Yoshitsune methodically built up his forces for the final battle, the Taira having no support base were suffering from shortages. In the battle Yoshitsune instructed his archers to shoot the unprotected steersmen and oarsmen of the Taira boats. While the Taira were attempting to escape through narrow straights, Yoshitsune’s strategy left their boats floating aimlessly and helpless. The Taira were slaughtered in complete victory.

After the Battle of Dan-no-ura, Yoshitsune and Yoritomo clashed. There are various theories why. Perhaps this author could make inquiries in a Valhalla Trip to find out the real reason.

Yoshitsune planned to take Taira no Munemori and Taira no Kiyonume (son and grandson of Kiyomori) as prisoners to Kamakura in a triumphal entrance. He was told at Koshigoe that the prisoners could enter Kamakura but not him. He did try to reconcile to no avail. After Yoritomo had his fun with the prisoners, he turned them over to Yoshitsune and ordered Yoshitsune to go back to Kyoto. Yoshitsune was incensed by this treatment and threatened retaliation. However, Yoritomo was began confiscating Yoshitsune’s properties to distribute to his forces to ensure their loyalty.

Yoshitsune returned to Kyoto. On the way he executed Munemori and decapitated his son and gave Shigehira to representatives of Tōdai-ji Temple. The monks there were none too pleased with Shigehira, who had set fire to Tōdai-ji. He was beheaded on the banks of the Kizugawa near Kyoto.

Yoritomo ordered Yoshitsune to attack his uncle Minamoto no Yukiie, but Yoshitsune refused. Concluding that Yoshitsune was allied with Minamoto no Yukiie, Yoritomo sent Tosanobo Masatoshi to Kyoto. Masatoshi and more than 60 mounted warriors attacked Yoshitsune’s residence. However, the attackers were defeated. Masatoshi was publicly executed, and his head placed on display.

Yoritomo gathered his army and marched down from Kamakura to Kyoto in late October. About the same time, Yoshitsune headed for Kyushu to gather his forces in western Japan. Along the way, his force was attacked by Yoritomo’s allies. After arriving at Daimotsu no Ura, a heavy storm wrecked several ships, making it impossible for Yoshitsune to get to Kyushu.

Yoshitsune returned to Kyoto and Yukiie went to Izumi Province. Yoritomo, who suspected that the cloistered government and the aristocracies were helping Yoshitsune escape, threatened them with war.

On November 11, the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa’s decree to arrest Yoshitsune was issued throughout Japan.

Yukii was discovered in May 1186 and, along with two sons, beheaded. Other family members and vassals, who were hidden in various places in the country, were discovered and killed.

Yoshitsune, accompanied by retainers and his concubine, Shizuka Gozen, hid in Yoshino, but Shizuka Gozen was captured. Yoshitsune escaped and proceeded to Oshu Province (Mutsu Province), counting on his old protector, Fujiwara no Hidehira. However, on October 29, 1187, Hidehira died. Yoritomo strongly pressured Fujiwara no Yasuhira, the successor head of the clan, to arrest Yoshitsune.

In April, 1189 Yasuhira yielded to pressure and leading 500 mounted troops attacked Yoshitsune and his retainers. His forces defeated Yoshitsune’s retainers, including the great fighting monk, Benkei. The situation being hopeless, Yoshitsune killed his wife and daughter, then committed seppuku.

The head of Yoshitsune was preserved in fine sake for presentation to Yoritomo. It took forty-three days to reach Kamakura and when the severed head arrived, it was badly decomposed. Thus, the legend of the Yoshitsune’s immortality came about.

Like Elvis, Yoshitsune kept showing up after his death. Many of these stories appeared in the Edo Period and Meiji Era, but some were as early as the Muromachi Period.

Ainu historical accounts hold that Yoshitsune escaped and went north to Hokkaido, eventually settling with the Ainu. Perhaps the best came in Late Edo or Meiji Era is that Yoshitsune escaped to China, where Yoshitsune went on a series of conquests, using the name Genghis Khan. The Genghis Khan theory was used by the Meiji Era politician Kencho Suematsu as a graduation thesis at Cambridge University and it later became a bestseller in Japan entitled “Yoshitsune Saikoki” (The Rebirth Story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune).

Among the famous stories about Yoshitsune is his duel with the warrior monk, Musashibō Benkei, at the Gojo Bridge. Though Benkei was a huge powerful man, Yoshitsune defeated Benkei using techniques learned from ancient Chinese strategy books. Benkei became his loyal servant and stayed with Yoshitsune until the end.

It is supposed that the many legends derive from a story found in a collection of nursery tales in the Muromachi period. In this story young Yoshitsune goes on a sea voyage to obtain a manual of martial strategy which he obtains and uses those strategies to defeat the Taira.

The life and times of Yoshitsune have been written about for centuries. He was featured in Heike Monogatari (Tale of the Heike). During the Edo period, there was a literary genre called ‘Yoshitsune-mono’ (“Yoshitsune story”), usually making him noble and glamorous. In visual arts, manga for example, Yoshitsune is often drawn as a bishōnen (a beautiful boy). Yoshitsune has been a subject in Noh, Kabuki, and movie.