November, 1185.
Omura Bay in Settsu Province.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was attempting to flee westward by ship.
However, a fierce wind began to blow from midnight.
The ships were tossed by the rough waves, and some were damaged. The samurai aboard were scattered, and the group abandoned their attempt to cross the sea.
According to the diary “Gyokuyo” by Kujo Kanezane, there is a record that Yoshitsune and Minamoto no Yukie escaped on a small boat to the shore of Izumi.
Yoshitsune was twenty-seven years old by traditional Japanese count.
In March of that year, Yoshitsune had defeated the Taira clan at Dan-no-ura.
He attacked the Taira positions at Ichi-no-Tani, crossed the sea to approach their stronghold at Yashima, and finally led the Genji fleet to victory over the Taira at Dan-no-ura.
Yet, just over seven months later, Yoshitsune was being pursued by his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo.
When Yoshitsune’s residence in Kyoto was attacked, he obtained an imperial order to defeat Yoritomo.
However, he could not gather troops.
Many of the eastern samurai who had fought under Yoshitsune’s command were vassals loyal to Yoritomo.
Despite his repeated victories leading armies, Yoshitsune had no forces to fight against his brother.
His plan to leave Kyoto and gather allies in the west failed due to the storm at Omura Bay.
Yoshitsune vanished with only a few followers.
Four years later.
April 30, 1189, in the leap month, Oshu.
Fujiwara no Yasuhira’s forces attacked Yoshitsune at Koromogawa no Tate.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Yoshitsune killed his wife and four-year-old daughter before taking his own life.
He was thirty-one years old.
Yoshitsune’s life later became the subject of numerous tales.
The tengu of Mount Kurama, his meeting with Benkei, the leap down the slope at Hiyodorigoe, the eight-boat leap at Dan-no-ura.
However, when examining the diaries of nobles, records from Kamakura, and Yoshitsune’s own surviving letters, a different image emerges from the heroic figure depicted in military tales.
Born in the Year of the Heiji Rebellion
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was born in 1159, the first year of the Heiji Rebellion.
His father was Minamoto no Yoshitomo.
He was a figure who inherited the legacy of the Kawachi Genji and established connections with the warriors of the eastern provinces.
His mother was Tokiwa Gozen.
It is said that she bore three sons with Yoshitomo: Imawaka, Otowaka, and Ushiwaka.
Yoshitsune was the youngest, Ushiwaka.
Yoshitomo also had other sons, including Yoshihira, Tomonaga, Yoritomo, and Noriyori.
Yoshitsune is generally considered the ninth son, but the way siblings are counted varies in different genealogies. The article on Yoshitsune’s death in the “Azuma Kagami” records him as Yoshitomo’s sixth son.
In December of the year Yoshitsune was born, his father Yoshitomo raised an army alongside Fujiwara no Nobuyori.
This was during the Heiji Rebellion.
Although Yoshitomo and his allies temporarily seized control of politics in Kyoto, they were defeated when Taira no Kiyomori counterattacked.
Yoshitomo attempted to flee to the eastern provinces but was killed by Nagata Tadafusa in Owari Province.
His eldest son, Yoshihira, was captured and executed, while Tomonaga died during the escape.
Yoritomo was exiled to Izu.
Yoshitsune was still a young child.
He spent little time with his father and was too young to understand the conflicts the Genji clan faced in Kyoto.
The Escape of His Mother, Tokiwa Gozen
After Yoshitomo’s defeat, it is said that Tokiwa Gozen fled with her three young children.
The “Heiji Monogatari” depicts Tokiwa wandering with her children along a snowy mountain path.
However, upon learning that her mother had been captured by the Taira, she decided to return to Kyoto.
Tokiwa reportedly appeared before Kiyomori, pleading for the lives of her children.
The “Heiji Monogatari” narrates that Kiyomori, moved by Tokiwa’s beauty, spared the lives of the three children.
However, much of Tokiwa’s escape route and her conversation with Kiyomori are largely derived from later war tales.
It is not possible to reconstruct these scenes in detail from contemporary records.
Tokiwa is later said to have married Ichijo Nagamasa.
The three children who survived were placed in temples and each followed a different path.
Imawaka later became known as Ano Zenjo.
Owaka, also known as Gien, followed Minamoto no Yukie into the Battle of Sunomata River in the fifth year of the Jisho era (1181), where he lost his life.
The youngest son, Ushiwaka, is said to have been sent to Mount Kurama, located north of Kyoto.
Ushiwakamaru at Mount Kurama
Kurama Temple has long been a center of faith and is known as a place for mountain ascetic practices.
According to the “Gikeiki,” Ushiwaka studied Buddhism and academics at Kurama and was called Shanao.
However, he did not wish to become a monk and chose the path of a warrior as a child of the Minamoto clan.
The details of his life at Mount Kurama are primarily conveyed through later stories.
It is unclear at what age Ushiwaka entered the temple or what kind of education he received.
A famous legend tells that he learned military strategy and swordsmanship from the tengu.
It is said that Ushiwaka would enter the mountains at night and hone his martial skills with the tengu as his opponent.
He would nimbly dart between the trees, evading attacks.
Such depictions later became associated with the bold actions Yoshitsune was said to have shown on the battlefield.
However, it is unknown from whom Yoshitsune actually learned martial arts.
While there are historical sites related to Yoshitsune at Mount Kurama, the story of learning strategy from the tengu should be regarded as a legend.
Meeting Musashibo Benkei
The story of Ushiwakamaru also features Musashibo Benkei.
He was a wild monk wielding a large naginata, known for taking swords from samurai walking in Kyoto.
Benkei, aiming to collect a thousand swords, challenged Ushiwaka to a fight.
However, Ushiwaka evaded his attacks with agile movements and defeated Benkei.
Impressed by his martial skills, Benkei is said to have become his retainer.
This is the famous tale known as the Duel at Gojo Bridge.
In the “Gikeiki,” Benkei is portrayed as a loyal retainer of Yoshitsune.
However, there are no contemporary records detailing the duel or Benkei’s origins.
While Benkei’s name appears in the “Azuma Kagami,” there are limited clues about his character.
The story of “Benkei’s Standing Death,” where he died standing while defending Yoshitsune, also became widely known through later narratives.
The relationship between Yoshitsune and Benkei has been passed down in Noh and Kabuki, becoming an essential theme in recounting Yoshitsune’s life.
To the Fujiwara Clan of Oshu
Yoshitsune is said to have left Mount Kurama in his teenage years.
His destination was Hiraizumi in Mutsu Province.
This area is now around Hiraizumi Town in Iwate Prefecture.
At that time, Hiraizumi was under the control of Fujiwara no Hidehira.
He was the third generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.
The Oshu Fujiwara clan, consisting of Kiyohira, Motohira, and Hidehira, held significant power in the Mutsu and Dewa regions.
In Hiraizumi, temples such as Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji were built, and the city developed by incorporating the culture of Kyoto.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was under the protection of Hidehira.
However, the exact time Yoshitsune arrived in Hiraizumi and the details of how he became associated with Hidehira are not well known.
According to the ‘Gikeiki,’ there is a story that he headed to Oshu with the help of a merchant named Kaneuri Kichiji.
Kichiji is depicted as a merchant traveling between Kyoto and Oshu, but there is little evidence to support the existence of such a journey.
There are also insufficient records about how Yoshitsune lived in Hiraizumi.
While Yoritomo was living in exile in Izu, Yoshitsune grew to adulthood under the protection of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.
The brothers would reunite in Jisho 4 (1180).
Reuniting with Yoritomo at Kise River
August of Jisho 4.
Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army in Izu.
Although he suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Ishibashiyama, he fled to Awa Province, regrouped, and gained the support of Chiba Tsunetane and Kazusa Hirotsune.
On October 6, Yoritomo entered Kamakura.
Upon hearing this news, Yoshitsune set out from Hiraizumi to the eastern provinces.
According to the ‘Azuma Kagami,’ the two met at the camp by the Kise River in Suruga Province.
Yoritomo was thirty-four years old.
Yoshitsune was twenty-two.
It had been about twenty years since their father, Yoshitada, had been defeated in the Heiji Rebellion.
Yoritomo had formed marital ties with the Hojo clan in Izu and built connections with the warriors of the eastern provinces.
Yoshitsune was under the protection of the Oshu Fujiwara clan.
Though they were sons of the same father, the brothers grew up in different lands.
Stories such as the ‘Heike Monogatari’ recount that the two were overjoyed and shed tears upon their reunion.
The exact words they exchanged remain unknown.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune began to operate in Kamakura under the command of Minamoto no Yoritomo.
However, there are no records of Yoshitsune leading a large army immediately.
Yoritomo was busy consolidating the loyalty of the samurai in the eastern provinces, dealing with disputes over landholdings and military campaigns.
Yoshitsune himself did not possess vast estates or a retinue of vassals like the Chiba or Miura clans.
It was during the campaign to subdue Minamoto no Yoshinaka (Kiso Yoshinaka) that Yoshitsune was first entrusted with commanding a large force.
Subduing Minamoto no Yoshinaka (Kiso Yoshinaka)
The year was Juei 2 (1183).
Minamoto no Yoshinaka defeated the Taira clan’s punitive forces in the Hokuriku region and entered Kyoto.
The Taira clan fled westward, taking Emperor Antoku and the Imperial Regalia with them.
However, relations between Yoshinaka and Emperor Go-Shirakawa gradually deteriorated.
In November of the same year, Yoshinaka attacked the Hojuji Palace and imprisoned the Emperor.
Yoritomo dispatched his brothers, Minamoto no Noriyori and Yoshitsune, to Kyoto.
Yoshitsune led the samurai from the eastern provinces as Yoritomo’s deputy.
On the 20th day of the first month of Juei 3 (1184).
Noriyori aimed for Kyoto from the Seta area, while Yoshitsune approached from the Uji area.
Yoshinaka’s forces attempted to hinder their advance by destroying bridges, but Yoritomo’s troops crossed the river and entered Kyoto.
Yoshinaka left the capital and was defeated at Awazu in Omi Province.
This Battle of Uji River was later recounted in many war tales.
The story of Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwara Kagesue competing to be the first to cross is also well-known.
Yoshitsune, following Yoritomo’s orders, led the forces advancing toward Kyoto.
With this victory, Yoshinaka’s control ended, but the Taira clan still remained in the west.
Yoshitsune and Noriyori then turned their attention to pursuing the Taira clan.
From Mikusayama to Ichi-no-Tani
After leaving Kyoto, the Taira clan regained strength in the western provinces.
They defeated Yoshinaka’s forces at Mizushima in Bitchu Province and also won against Minamoto no Yukie‘s troops at Muroyama in Harima Province.
Subsequently, they advanced to Fukuhara in Settsu Province.
Yoshitsune led part of the Taira pursuit forces, advancing from the Tanba region into Harima Province.
On the 5th of the second month of Juei 3.
Yoshitsune’s forces defeated the Taira army near Mikusayama.
The “Heike Monogatari” recounts a tale of a night assault through mountain paths on the enemy camp.
Two days later, on February 7th.
The Genji forces launched an attack on the Taira positions at the Battle of Ichinotani.
Noriyori’s troops advanced from the Ikuta Forest area, while Yoshitsune and others attacked from the west.
One of the most famous episodes of this battle is the “descent of Hiyodorigoe.”
In “The Tale of the Heike,” it is depicted that Yoshitsune led mounted warriors down a steep mountain to break through the Taira’s rear.
However, there are historical discrepancies regarding this scene.
Alternative Theories on the Descent of Hiyodorigoe
The diary “Gyokuyo” by Kujo Kanezane, in the entry for February 8, Juei 3, records the report that reached Kyoto the day after the Battle of Ichinotani.
According to this report, Noriyori advanced from the front, and Yoshitsune attacked Ichinotani.
On the other hand, the person noted to have led the attack from the mountains was Tada Yoshitsuna.
Yoshitsuna was a Genji warrior based in Tada Manor in Settsu Province.
The “Tale of the Heike” account of Yoshitsune’s descent and the “Gyokuyo” description of the mountain attack do not align.
Moreover, there is a significant distance between present-day Hiyodorigoe and Ichinotani, making it difficult to match the routes described in the war tales to the actual terrain.
There is a theory that Yoshitsune advanced towards Ichinotani via Hiyodorigoe.
Another theory suggests that Yoshitsuna attacked Hiyodorigoe.
Yet another theory posits that Yoshitsune and Yoshitsuna attacked from separate locations.
Multiple interpretations still exist today.
The “Gyokuyo” entry was also a first report from the battlefield, and Kanezane did not witness the battle directly.
While it is certain that Yoshitsune played a crucial role in the capture of Ichinotani, the exact location and commander of the descent remain unresolved.
Becoming a Kebiishi in Kyoto
The Taira suffered significant losses at the Battle of Ichinotani.
Taira no Tadanori, Taira no Atsumori, and Taira no Michimori were killed in battle, and Taira no Shigehira was captured.
Meanwhile, Munemori and Tomomori fled to the western provinces, taking Emperor Antoku and the Imperial Regalia with them.
Noriyori advanced the pursuit into the western provinces, while Yoshitsune remained active in Kyoto for a time.
In Kyoto at that time, it was necessary to crack down on the remaining Taira forces and address the lawlessness caused by the war.
Yoshitsune became involved in these efforts.
On August 6, 1184.
Yoshitsune was appointed as a Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards and also served as a police commissioner.
The police commissioner was a role responsible for maintaining public order, crime control, and judicial matters in Kyoto.
Yoshitsune’s nickname “Kurou Hangan” derives from this position.
However, Yoshitsune’s appointment affected his relationship with Yoritomo.
The Azuma Kagami records that Yoritomo took issue with Yoshitsune receiving his position without Yoritomo’s endorsement.
Yoritomo sought to personally manage the appointments of his vassals.
When eastern warriors received court appointments, it was important for them to do so through Yoritomo, as it was tied to the control of his vassals.
On the other hand, for Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, appointing Yoshitsune in Kyoto had its advantages.
He could utilize the military prowess of a general who had fought against the Taira for the capital’s defense and public order.
Yoshitsune continued his activities in Kyoto and led the pursuit against the Taira again the following year.
Despite the issues surrounding his appointment, Yoritomo continued to employ his brother.
Marriage to the Daughter of Kawagoe Shigeyori
On September 14, 1184.
The Azuma Kagami notes that Kawagoe Shigeyori’s daughter traveled to Kyoto to become Yoshitsune’s wife.
The Kawagoe clan was a prominent samurai family in Musashi Province.
Shigeyori’s wife was said to be the daughter of Hiki no Ama.
Hiki no Ama was Yoritomo’s wet nurse and supported him during his exile in Izu.
Through the Hiki clan, the Kawagoe family had deep ties with Yoritomo.
Yoshitsune’s marriage was influenced by Yoritomo’s intentions.
This woman is known to later generations by names such as Gozen of the Village.
However, the marriage entry in the “Azuma Kagami” does not record her real name.
While Yoshitsune held a court position in Kyoto, he also formed marital ties with powerful gokenin of the eastern provinces who were loyal to Yoritomo.
This relationship would break down the following year.
The Surprise Attack on Yashima
February, 1185 (Genryaku 2).
Yoshitsune led forces to pursue the Taira clan, heading west once more.
The Taira, using Yashima in Sanuki Province as their base, were resisting while protecting Emperor Antoku and the Imperial Regalia.
Meanwhile, Noriyori was attempting to advance from the Sanyo Road towards Kyushu, but faced difficulties in procuring provisions and ships.
Yoshitsune crossed the sea from Watanabe Port in Settsu Province and landed in Awa.
According to “The Tale of the Heike” and other sources, he set sail with a small number of ships amidst stormy weather.
With the cooperation of the warriors of Awa, Yoshitsune advanced and approached Yashima on February 19.
The Taira withdrew to their ships and fought back from the sea.
Yoshitsune’s forces also faced counterattacks, and it is said that his retainer Sato Tsugunobu was killed in action.
In “The Tale of the Heike,” it is said that Tsugunobu took an arrow meant for Yoshitsune, shot by Taira no Noritsune.
The Battle of Yashima is remembered for many anecdotes, such as the reverse oar dispute with Kajiwara Kagetoki and Nasu no Yoichi shooting the fan target.
However, there is skepticism about treating the reverse oar dispute as an actual meeting record, and the details of the fan target are mainly passed down in war tales.
Yoshitsune captured the stronghold at Yashima.
The Taira, taking Emperor Antoku with them, retreated towards Nagato Province.
However, their fleet remained at sea, and the pursuit continued.
The Decisive Battle of Dan-no-ura
Having left Yashima, the Taira established their base around Hikoshima in Nagato Province.
Yoshitsune pursued them from the sea.
It is said that Kono Michinobu from Iyo joined the Genji forces, and the naval forces of Kumano also cooperated.
The troops led by Noriyori, advancing towards Kyushu, were also restricting the Heike’s retreat.
March 24, 1185.
The final major naval battle between the Genji and Heike began at Dan-no-ura.
The Heike had long utilized the sea routes of the Seto Inland Sea and were experienced in naval operations.
According to the “Tale of the Heike,” the Heike initially had the upper hand in the battle.
However, the tide of battle gradually turned in favor of the Genji, and the Heike fleet fell apart.
Taira no Tomomori drowned himself, and the overall commander, Munemori, was captured.
It is also said that Emperor Antoku and Nii-no-Ama Tokiko sank into the sea.
Of the Three Sacred Treasures, the mirror and the jewel were recovered, but the sword was lost.
Yoshitsune led the Genji forces, playing a significant role in the downfall of the Heike.
However, it is difficult to attribute the victory at Dan-no-ura solely to Yoshitsune’s military achievements.
The advance by Noriyori towards Kyushu, the movements of the western naval forces, and defections from the Heike side all influenced the outcome of the decisive battle.
The famous tale of Yoshitsune leaping from boat to boat, pursued by Taira no Noritsune, is well-known.
However, there are records stating that Noritsune died in battle at Ichi-no-Tani, so it is not possible to confirm the depiction of him pursuing Yoshitsune at Dan-no-ura.
There remains a discrepancy between Yoshitsune’s actual military achievements and the heroic tales told in later generations.
Criticism by Kajiwara Kagetoki
After the Battle of Dan-no-ura, a report criticizing Yoshitsune’s actions reached Kamakura.
It is recorded in the “Azuma Kagami” entry for April 21, 1185.
The report was made by Kajiwara Kagetoki.
Kagetoki claimed that Yoshitsune was trying to monopolize the credit for the military success and was not listening to the opinions of the eastern samurai.
The samurai who fought under Yoshitsune’s command were vassals loyal to Yoritomo.
They were in a position to have their land holdings recognized by Yoritomo and to receive rewards according to their military achievements.
Kagetoki is said to have conveyed the dissatisfaction of these vassals to Yoritomo.
However, the original report does not survive.
The “Azuma Kagami” is a historical record compiled in later generations, and it is unclear to what extent Kagetoki’s criticism accurately reflected the reality.
The downfall of Minamoto no Yoshitsune cannot be explained solely by the slander of Kagetoki.
There was also dissatisfaction from Yoritomo regarding appointments, and after the fall of the Taira clan, it was necessary to coordinate with Yoritomo about rewards and the handling of captives.
Amidst this, questions arose about the extent to which Yoshitsune followed Yoritomo’s orders.
Held Back at Koshigoe
After defeating the Taira at Dan-no-ura, Yoshitsune headed east with the captives Munemori and Kiyomune.
However, Yoritomo did not permit Yoshitsune to enter Kamakura.
Yoshitsune was detained at Koshigoe.
This was just on the outskirts of Kamakura.
The “Azuma Kagami” records that Yoshitsune sent a letter to Yoritomo’s close aide, Oe no Hiromoto.
This letter, dated May 24, Genryaku 2, is known as the “Koshigoe Letter.”
In it, Yoshitsune reportedly described his upbringing and military achievements against the Taira, pleading to clear himself of treasonous suspicions.
He recounted the hardships after the death of his father, Minamoto no Yoshitomo.
The days he fought for his brother.
Yet he was not even allowed to enter Kamakura.
He appealed these circumstances, expressing his wish to meet Yoritomo.
However, the original Koshigoe Letter does not survive.
There is scholarly debate about whether the text in the “Azuma Kagami” was penned by Yoshitsune himself.
Ultimately, Yoshitsune was ordered back to Kyoto without meeting his brother.
The Execution of Munemori and His Son
On his way back to Kyoto with Munemori and Kiyomune, Yoshitsune was involved in their execution in Omi Province.
On June 21, Genryaku 2.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Munemori was executed at Shinohara, and Kiyomune at Nojiguchi.
It is recorded that Tachibana no Kimimasa executed Munemori, and Hori no Kagemitsu executed Kiyomune.
Munemori had been captured at Dan-no-ura, met Yoritomo in Kamakura, and was being sent back to Kyoto.
Yoshitsune was not only leading the forces against the Taira but also responsible for escorting prisoners and handling post-war matters.
However, Yoshitsune’s own position was deteriorating.
The “Azuma Kagami” also notes that Yoritomo revoked the confiscated Taira lands that had been granted to Yoshitsune.
His rewards for military achievements were said to have been lost due to Yoritomo’s decisions.
Meanwhile, back in Kyoto, Yoshitsune continued to hold court positions and was involved in communications with estate lords.
Clues to this work remain to this day.
Existing Letters of Yoshitsune
On June 28, Genryaku 2.
There is a letter believed to have been written by Yoshitsune.
It is part of the “Takao-dera Documents,” a National Museum of Japanese History Important Cultural Property.
Known as the “June 28th Letter from Left Guard Minor Captain Minamoto no Yoshitsune.”
This letter was a response to an inquiry from the household administration of the Eightfold Court.
Hachijo-in, the daughter of Emperor Toba, possessed numerous estates across various regions.
Before dispatching envoys to Iyo Province, Hachijo-in’s side sought to ensure their safe passage.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune responded that there were no obstacles to the envoys’ passage in Iyo Province and that he had instructed the relevant parties accordingly.
The letter lacked Yoshitsune’s signature seal.
Below the signature, the character “奉” was written in small script, and the address took an unusual form compared to typical letters.
The National Museum of Japanese History suggests that Yoshitsune might have personally penned the letter as a formal document to the esteemed Hachijo-in.
Documents believed to be in Yoshitsune’s own handwriting are rare today.
This letter is noted as one such document.
While the museum’s explanation introduces Yoshitsune as the governor of Iyo Province, it is generally accepted that his appointment as Governor of Iyo occurred on August 16 of the same year.
Since the letter predates this appointment, there is room for further examination regarding its relation to Yoshitsune’s official career.
In any case, the existing letter confirms that Yoshitsune had responded regarding the passage of envoys to Iyo Province.
Just over three months had passed since the victory at Dan-no-ura.
Yoshitsune was engaged in such administrative duties in Kyoto.
Marrying Taira no Tokitada’s Daughter
In the second year of Genryaku, Yoshitsune is said to have married the daughter of Taira no Tokitada.
Taira no Tokitada was the brother of Kiyomori’s wife, Tokiko, and had acted alongside the Taira clan at Dan-no-ura.
After the fall of the Taira clan, Tokitada was taken prisoner and awaited his fate in Kyoto.
The “Monogatari of the Heike” Volume Eleven, “The Matter of the Letter,” details the circumstances under which Tokitada married off his daughter to Yoshitsune.
It is said that Tokitada decided to marry off his daughter to retrieve a document that had fallen into Yoshitsune’s hands.
Yoshitsune accepted the daughter and returned the document as Tokitada wished.
While the detailed account of this negotiation comes from a military tale, Yoshitsune’s marriage to Tokitada’s daughter is also recorded in the “Azuma Kagami.”
The daughter’s real name remains uncertain.
Yoshitsune already had a wife, the daughter of Kawagoe Shigeyori.
Taira no Tokitada‘s daughter was a different person from this woman.
This marriage further deepened Yoritomo’s distrust.
Tokitada was a prominent figure in the Taira clan, and Yoshitsune becoming his son-in-law drew attention from Kamakura.
On the other hand, Kawagoe Shigeyori was also punished due to his connection with Yoshitsune.
The conflicts surrounding Yoshitsune began to affect families that were connected through marriage.
Appointment as Governor of Iyo
On August 16, 1185.
Yoshitsune was appointed as the Governor of Iyo.
Iyo Province corresponds to present-day Ehime Prefecture.
Yoshitsune was already serving in Kyoto as a Lieutenant of the Left Guard and an Inspector.
This new appointment added to his official duties.
However, there are no records of Yoshitsune actually traveling to Iyo Province to govern.
At that time, many provincial governors remained in Kyoto while managing regional affairs.
Yoshitsune continued his activities in Kyoto.
Receiving an official position from the court elevated Yoshitsune’s status.
However, Yoritomo sought to manage the appointments of his vassals and the Minamoto clan under Kamakura’s control.
Yoshitsune, who had achieved military success in the pursuit of the Taira, grew closer to Emperor Go-Shirakawa in Kyoto, accumulating official titles.
This increasingly strained his relationship with Yoritomo.
Yoritomo then ordered Yoshitsune to eliminate his uncle, Minamoto no Yukie.
The Conflict Over Minamoto no Yukie
Minamoto no Yukie was the younger brother of Yoshitsune’s father, Yoshitomo.
In the fourth year of the Jisho era, he was the one who conveyed Prince Mochihito’s edict to the Minamoto clan across the regions.
Afterward, he independently led forces, worsening his relations with Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshinaka (Kiso Yoshinaka).
After the fall of the Taira, Yukie was active around Kyoto.
Yoritomo demanded that Yoshitsune pursue Yukie.
The “Azuma Kagami” records that Kajiwara Kageki visited Yoshitsune to convey the order to pursue Yukie.
Yoshitsune did not immediately comply, citing illness.
He reportedly stated that Yukie, being a member of the Minamoto clan, could not be treated like an ordinary criminal.
Yoritomo doubted this response.
He suspected that Yoshitsune’s illness might not be genuine.
It remains unclear how seriously ill Yoshitsune actually was.
However, it was certain that Yoshitsune did not attack Yukie and later joined him in opposing Yoritomo.
Yoshitsune, who was supposed to follow Yoritomo’s orders, now found himself moving to the side opposing his brother.
The Night Attack at Horikawa
The night of October 17, 1185.
Yoshitsune’s residence in Kyoto was attacked.
The attackers were forces led by Tosabō Shōshun.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Shōshun was depicted as having been sent by Yoritomo to Kyoto to eliminate Yoshitsune.
Yoshitsune’s retainers fought back and repelled Shōshun’s forces.
It is said that Shōshun was later captured and executed.
This incident became known as the Night Attack at Horikawa.
There are discrepancies in historical records regarding the location of Yoshitsune’s residence, but the “Azuma Kagami” records it as being in Rokujō Muromachi.
In later military tales, scenes of Yoshitsune bravely fighting off the sudden attack are vividly depicted.
There is also a story that Shizuka Gozen warned of the danger.
However, the exact conversations during the attack and the detailed movements within the residence remain uncertain.
Yoshitsune found himself in a position where his life was threatened in Kyoto.
The following day, he received an order from Emperor Go-Shirakawa to pursue Yoritomo.
The Imperial Order to Pursue Yoritomo
October 18, 1185.
An imperial order was issued to Yoshitsune and Yukie to pursue Yoritomo.
The “Azuma Kagami” contains the text of the order issued on this day.
The order accused Yoritomo of disrupting the court’s order and commanded Yoshitsune and Yukie to subdue him.
Yoshitsune attempted to gather troops based on the court’s command.
However, he did not manage to gather as many forces as he had hoped.
Yoritomo had already gained the allegiance of powerful warriors in the eastern provinces.
His vassals were granted land and rewarded for their military achievements.
Though Yoshitsune had notable achievements at Ichinotani and Dan-no-ura, many of the warriors he commanded were Yoritomo’s vassals.
Following Yoshitsune could mean losing their feudal ties with Kamakura.
Even with an imperial order, it was not guaranteed that warriors would rally to Yoshitsune.
Yoritomo mobilized his forces for the pursuit and departed Kamakura himself on October 29.
Yoshitsune found it difficult to remain in Kyoto and decided to head west.
The Storm at Daimotsu Bay
Early November.
Yoshitsune left Kyoto with Yukie and others, heading for Settsu Province.
It is believed they intended to gather allies in the western provinces to continue opposing Yoritomo.
The group attempted to set sail from Daimotsu Bay.
However, from the night of November 5 to the 6th, a fierce wind began to blow.
The “Gyokuyō” records news that the ships were damaged and Yoshitsune and Yukie escaped on a small boat.
The “Azuma Kagami” also records that the group was scattered by a violent storm.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune abandoned his plan to cross the sea.
Few remained with Yoshitsune after he lost his fleet.
The “Azuma Kagami” mentions the names of Izu no Arisuna, Hori no Kagemitsu, Musashibo Benkei, and Shizuka Gozen.
Yoshitsune, avoiding pursuers, fled into the mountains of the Kinai region.
During this escape, he had to part ways with Shizuka Gozen.
Parting with Shizuka at Mount Yoshino
Shizuka Gozen was a shirabyoshi from Kyoto.
Shirabyoshi were performers who wore costumes incorporating male attire and showcased songs and dances.
The exact details of when Yoshitsune and Shizuka met are unknown.
However, when Yoshitsune left Kyoto, Shizuka accompanied him.
The group headed towards Yoshino in Yamato Province.
Yoshino was a place of mountain worship, frequented by ascetic practitioners.
The “Gikeiki” depicts the scene of Yoshitsune and Shizuka parting in the snowy mountains.
It became difficult to continue fleeing with Shizuka, and Yoshitsune bid her farewell.
However, the words exchanged and the precise location rely heavily on military tales.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Shizuka was captured at Yoshino and sent back to Kyoto.
She was later interrogated by Hojo Tokimasa and others, and taken to Kamakura.
Yoshitsune himself continued his escape.
Shizuka Gozen Dances at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
On April 8, 1186 (Bunji 2).
Shizuka performed a dance at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura.
This event is recorded in the “Azuma Kagami.”
Yoritomo and Hojo Masako were visiting the shrine, and Shizuka was summoned to the corridor.
Initially, Shizuka refused to dance.
It is said she was reluctant to perform in front of Yoritomo due to her deep connection with the fugitive Yoshitsune.
However, she was strongly urged and eventually complied.
Two poems attributed to Shizuka from that time have survived.
“I long for the traces of the one who entered the snowy peaks of Mount Yoshino.”
“Oh, how I wish to turn the thread of time back to those days now gone.”
The poems expressed her longing for Yoshitsune, who had fled to Yoshino, and her desire to reclaim the past.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Yoritomo was displeased by this.
However, Masako spoke of her own suffering when Yoritomo was exiled to Izu, urging him to understand Shizuka’s feelings.
This conversation is depicted in the “Azuma Kagami,” compiled in later times, and the actual words cannot be verified.
It is recorded that Shizuka’s dance, expressing her love for Yoshitsune, angered Yoritomo.
At that time, Shizuka was pregnant with Yoshitsune’s child.
The Birth of Shizuka’s Son
July 29, 1186 (leap month).
Shizuka gave birth to a son.
According to the Azuma Kagami, Yoritomo had ordered that if Yoshitsune’s child was a boy, he should be killed.
Shizuka refused to hand over the child and was said to have been deeply saddened.
However, the order was not overturned.
The boy was taken to Yuigahama and was killed, as recorded.
It is said that Masako sympathized with Shizuka.
Afterward, Shizuka returned to Kyoto with her mother, Iso no Zenji.
Shizuka’s life after this remains unclear.
Although there are places claiming to be her grave or retreat, there is no definitive record of her actual end.
It is also unknown whether Yoshitsune learned of the birth and death of the boy.
At this time, Yoshitsune was moving from place to place to avoid Yoritomo’s pursuit.
The Death of Yukie and the Flight to Oshu
May 1186.
Minamoto no Yukie, who had opposed Yoritomo alongside Yoshitsune, was captured and executed in Izumi Province.
Yukie was the one who had once delivered Prince Mochihito’s decree to Yoritomo.
Afterward, he independently mobilized forces and clashed with both Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshinaka.
In the end, he obtained an imperial order to pursue Yoritomo with Yoshitsune, but could not gather sufficient forces.
Even after Yukie’s death, the pursuit of Yoshitsune continued.
The exact route of Yoshitsune’s escape is not known.
The Gikeiki contains the famous tale of him crossing the Ataka Barrier disguised as a mountain ascetic with Benkei and others.
It is the story where Benkei reads the Kanjincho and strikes Yoshitsune with his staff to dispel suspicion.
However, there is no record confirming this scene as an actual event.
Yoshitsune’s whereabouts became clear again when news arrived that he had headed to Oshu.
Fleeing to Hiraizumi with His Family
February 10, 1187.
The Azuma Kagami records that Yoshitsune headed to Oshu with his family.
He is said to have escaped to Hiraizumi via Ise and Mino.
It is also said that they traveled disguised as mountain ascetics and children.
However, the exact route they took and where the family reunited remain unknown.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune’s wife is believed to have been the daughter of Kawagoe Shigeyori.
Shigeyori was a retainer who, under Minamoto no Yoritomo’s orders, gave his daughter in marriage to Yoshitsune.
However, when Yoshitsune turned against Yoritomo, Shigeyori was punished due to this familial connection.
According to research by the Kawagoe City Central Library, while some documents suggest Shigeyori was executed on November 12th of Bunji 1 (1185), there is no conclusive evidence to confirm the exact date of his execution.
It is also necessary to carefully consider whether Yoshitsune’s wife, who fled to Oshu with him, was indeed Shigeyori’s daughter.
Yoshitsune entered Hiraizumi with his wife and children, seeking refuge with his former protector, Fujiwara no Hidehira.
Hidehira Welcomes Yoshitsune
It was Fujiwara no Hidehira who welcomed Yoshitsune back to Hiraizumi.
Hidehira was the head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, which held significant power in Mutsu and Dewa.
Yoshitsune had lived under Hidehira’s care during his youth.
By sheltering Yoshitsune, the Oshu Fujiwara clan risked deepening their conflict with Kamakura.
Nevertheless, Hidehira chose to protect Yoshitsune.
However, in the same year, in October, Hidehira passed away.
His successor was Fujiwara no Yasuhira.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Hidehira, on his deathbed, instructed that Yoshitsune be made the commander and that his sons follow him.
However, this testament cannot be corroborated by contemporary records.
It is also unclear whether Yoshitsune gained the authority to command the Oshu Fujiwara forces freely.
Yoritomo continued to demand that Yasuhira hand over Yoshitsune.
By protecting Yoshitsune, the Oshu Fujiwara clan faced the danger of conflict with Yoritomo.
Then, in Bunji 5 (1189), Yasuhira decided to attack Yoshitsune.
Fujiwara no Motonari’s Koromogawa Residence
The place where Yoshitsune met his end is commonly known as Koromogawa Residence.
The “Azuma Kagami” records that Yoshitsune was at Fujiwara no Motonari’s Koromogawa Residence.
Motonari was a figure related by marriage to the Oshu Fujiwara clan and was the father of Hidehira’s wife.
Yoshitsune had taken refuge at his residence.
Today, the site known as Yoshitsune’s final resting place is Takadate in Hiraizumi.
Yoshitsune Hall is built on a hill overlooking the Kitakami River.
However, caution is needed when directly equating the current location of Takadate Yoshitsune Hall with the Koromogawa Residence of Fujiwara no Motonari mentioned in historical records.
Archaeological investigations and geographical studies have been conducted regarding the location of residences around Koromogawa.
The exact location of the residence where Yoshitsune spent his days remains a subject of research.
It is believed that Yoshitsune lived here with his wife and children.
However, detailed records of those days do not survive.
On the intercalary 4th month, 30th day of Bunji 5 (1189).
Yasuhira’s forces approached the residence.
The Final Stand at Koromogawa
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Yasuhira sent hundreds of horsemen against Yoshitsune.
The retainers who followed Minamoto no Yoshitsune also put up a defense, but they were unable to halt the enemy’s attack.
The defense of the residence crumbled.
It is said that Yoshitsune entered the Buddha hall.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” Yoshitsune first took the lives of his wife and daughter, and then took his own life.
His wife was twenty-two years old.
His daughter was four years old.
The real name of his wife is not recorded.
There is a view that she was the daughter of Kajiwara no Shigeyori, but this is not confirmed.
The name of the daughter is also unknown.
She was a different child from the son born to Shizuka Gozen in Kamakura.
The “Gikeiki” contains a tale that Benkei protected Yoshitsune to the end, dying while standing with arrows piercing his entire body.
However, the “Azuma Kagami” does not record the scene of Benkei’s standing death.
While it is conveyed that Yoshitsune’s retainers resisted, it is difficult to verify each of their ends as told in the stories.
Yoshitsune was thirty-one years old by traditional Japanese age reckoning.
Yasuhira would send his head to Kamakura.
The Head Sent to Koshigoe
June 13, 1189.
Yoshitsune’s head arrived at Koshigoe in Sagami Province.
According to the “Azuma Kagami,” the head was soaked in sake and placed in a black lacquered box.
The examination of the head was conducted by Wada Yoshimori and Kajiwara Kagetoki.
Wada Yoshimori was a prominent retainer who supported Yoritomo’s uprising.
Kajiwara Kagetoki was a figure who acted alongside Yoshitsune in the pursuit of the Taira and sent reports criticizing Yoshitsune’s conduct to Yoritomo after the Battle of Dan-no-ura.
The two confirmed Yoshitsune’s death.
The “Azuma Kagami” records that those present shed tears upon seeing Yoshitsune’s head.
Four years earlier, in May 1185.
Yoshitsune had come to Koshigoe accompanied by Taira no Munemori and Kiyomune.
However, he was refused entry into Kamakura by Yoritomo and could not meet his brother.
Now, Yoshitsune’s head was brought to that very place.
At Koshigoe, where Yoshitsune is said to have once hoped to meet his brother, the Kamakura retainers confirmed his death.
No records remain of Yoritomo himself viewing Yoshitsune’s head.
