Battle of Uji (1180)
| First Battle of Uji | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Uji, just outside Kyoto 34°53′4″N 135°47′59″E / 34.88444°N 135.79972°E | |
| Result |
Taira victory; Minamoto commander and Prince Mochihito killed |
Minamoto clan
Taira clan
The first battle of
In early 1180,
Three warrior monks in particular are named in the
A contingent of the Taira troops was led by Ashikaga Tadatsuna, one of the few warriors of direct Minamoto descent who stayed loyal to his oath to the Taira family up until he and his father were murdered by one of their retainers, Kiryū Rokurō. According to Azuma Kagami, the 18-year-old Tadatsuna is supposedly remembered as having had the strength of one hundred men, a voice that echoed over 10 li (5 km), and teeth of 1 sun (3.03 cm) long. Kagami further stated that "there will be no warrior in future ages like this Tadatsuna."
Led by their young general, the Taira force forded the river and caught up with the Minamoto. Tadatsuna was the first warrior on the frontline and following a custom of the period is said to have proclaimed his name and lineage before charging his enemies. Yorimasa tried to help the Imperial Prince get away, but was struck with an arrow in the right elbow. While his sons, Nakatsuna and Kanetsuna were fighting to fend off their enemies, Yorimasa committed seppuku.[4] And it is said that "Yorimasa committed seppuku in a way that was to set the standard for generations to come."[5]
Prince Mochihito was captured and killed at Kōmyōzen torii shortly after the battle by the Taira clan.[3]
References
- ISBN 9781472813862. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
- ^ "The Heike Monogatari".
- ^ ISBN 0804705232.
- ^ ISBN 0026205408.
- ISBN 1854095234.
Bibliography
- Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949–1603. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. [ISBN missing]