Battle of Dan-no-ura

Coordinates: 33°57′54.3″N 130°57′23.9″E / 33.965083°N 130.956639°E / 33.965083; 130.956639
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Dan-no-ura
Part of the
Shimonoseki Strait
33°57′54.3″N 130°57′23.9″E / 33.965083°N 130.956639°E / 33.965083; 130.956639
Result
Taira
clan
Territorial
changes
Minamoto
gain command of Japan
Belligerents  Minamoto clan  Taira clanCommanders and leaders Minamoto clan Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Strength 300 ships[1] 400–500 ships[1]
Battle of Dan-no-ura is located in Japan
Battle of Dan-no-ura
class=notpageimage|
Location within Japan

The Battle of Dan-no-ura (壇ノ浦の戦い, Dan-no-ura no tatakai) was a major sea battle of the

Honshū. On April 25, 1185 (or March 24, 1185 by the official page of Shimonoseki City), the fleet of the Minamoto clan (Genji), led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, defeated the fleet of the Taira clan (Heike). The morning rip tide was an advantage for the Taira, but turned to their disadvantage in the afternoon. The young Emperor Antoku was one of those who died among the Taira nobles.[1]

History

Map of the battle of Dan-no-ura, with red representing the Taira, white representing the Minamoto, and the blue arrows showing the direction of tidal current

At the time of the battle, the war was not going well for the Taira. They still had the Emperor on their side as well as the Imperial Regalia which symbolized the Emperor's authority, but had lost much of their territory. Still, the coming battle would be fought in their home territory with the trained southerners fighting in their home waters. The Taira were weaker (despite having more ships), but they had the advantage over the Minamoto in understanding the tides of that particular area as well as naval combat tactics in general. Another issue for the Taira was that the son of one of their generals, Taguchi Shigeyoshi, had been captured by the Minamoto and was being held hostage. While some of the other Taira generals encouraged their commander to either dismiss or execute Shigeyoshi as a liability, the commander believed in his continued loyalty to the cause after conversing with him. The Taira also brought the young emperor (who was around six years old at the time) and some of his retainers, dressed in their full court garb. Directly having the emperor with the army would inspire the troops and show the legitimacy of their cause, in theory.

The Taira split their fleet into three squadrons, while the Minamoto arrived en masse, their ships abreast, and archers ready.

boarded each other. However, the tide changed, and the advantage was given back to the Minamoto.[3]

One of the crucial factors that allowed the Minamoto to win the battle was that Taguchi Shigeyoshi did indeed defect. His squadron attacked the Taira from the rear.

Yasakani jewel into the water before the ship holding the regalia was captured.[5] Apocryphally, the woman who attempted to toss the mirror looked into it and died instantly from its spiritual power. The jewel was recovered by divers; many presume the sword to have been lost at this time. A new sword was found eventually. A variety of explanations exist for the sword used afterward: that it was a replica, that it was recovered from the sea anyway, that it was supernaturally delivered or remade, and others; the new sword was enshrined at Atsuta Shrine
.

Aftermath

This decisive defeat of the Taira forces led to the end of the Taira bid for control of Japan.

Kamakura. In this battle the Taira lost Taira Tomomori, Taira Noritsune, Taira Norimori, Taira Tsunemori
, Taira Sukemori, Taira Arimori and Taira Yukimori, who were killed.

The Battle of Akama Strait at Dan no Ura in Choshu in 1185.

In culture

According to legend, the heike crabs found in the Straits of Shimonoseki are considered by the Japanese to hold the spirits of the Taira warriors.

The battle is featured in Masaki Kobayashi's 1964 film Kwaidan, in the films third act, titled "Hoichi the Earless".

The battle is the subject of an opera by the Thai-American composer S. P. Somtow. Called Dan no Ura, the opera premiered in Bangkok in 2014.

The 2021 animated film Inu-Oh also references the battle in its exposition.

Episodes 10 and 11 of the 2021 Naoko Yamada animated series The Heike Story portray this battle.

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0804705232
    .
  2. ISBN 9781841764788
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 1854095234
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 9780231138031
    .
  5. ISBN 0026205408
    .

Further reading

  • Stephen Turnbull: Fighting Ships of the Far East (2): Japan and Korea AD 612–1639. Osprey Publishing 2012, pp. 41–42 (online copy, p. 41, at Google Books[dead link])

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Dan-no-ura.
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