Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Background
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Your are Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was the son of Minamoto Yoshitomo and brother of Minamoto Yoritomo. After the Hôgen Distrubance in 1156 (a conflict of power between the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan), Yoshitsune’s grandfather was put to death, and soon after his father, mother, and most of his siblings were also killed. The remaining siblings who survived included Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minomoto no Noriyori. Yoshitsune was exiled to a temple on Kuramayama, north of Kyoto. From this monastery, he either transferred or fled to Mutsu, where he was taken under the wings of the governor of the province, Fujiwara Hidehira.
There is very limited information regarding Yoshitsune’s youth.
In 1880, when Prince Mochihito, the son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, issued a call to arms against the Taira clan, Yoshitsune responded. During this time, Yoshitsune was also reunited with his brother Yoritomo.
During the Gempei Wars, Yoshitsune led an army against Yoshinaka who posed as a threat and rival to Yoritomo. On June 2, 1183, Yoshinaka was victorious in a battle against the Taira and then continued on to Kyoto. The skilled strategist Yoshitsune used the poor behaviour of Yoshinaka’s army in Kyoto to his advantage in order to drive them away from the capital. In 1184, during the Battle of Awazu, Yoshitsune killed Yoshinaka under Yoritomo’s orders.
With Yoshinaka out of the picture, Yoshitsune was able to gain support from Emperor Go-Shirakawa to continue the war against the Taira.
Yoshitsune also obtained victory for the Minamoto clan at Ichi no Tani against the Taira. This cleared way for them to continue their assault on the Taira headquarters on Yashima.
When Yoshitsune returned from Ichi no Tani, he conflicts arose with his brother regarding court titles that Yoritomo denied him.
Yet,Yoshitsune continued to bring victory to the Minamoto clan from the Battles of Yashima and Dan No Ura.
During this time, Yoritomo began to fear rivalry with Yoshitsune since their relationship began to worsen as the months past. In addition, Yoshitsune believed that Yoritomo was gaining too much when Yoritomo forced the emperor to accept the two new posts he had created. When Yoritomo realized that Yoshitsune was rebelling against him, he was furious and drove his own brother out of Kyoto. Yoshitsune fled to Fujiwara no Hidehira where he was brought up. However, the son of Hidehira, Fujiwara no Yasuhira was afraid that Yoritomo may punish them as well for aiding Yoshitsune, and thus, forced Yoshitsune and his wife and daughter to commit suicide.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was the son of Minamoto Yoshitomo and brother of Minamoto Yoritomo. After the Hôgen Distrubance in 1156 (a conflict of power between the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan), Yoshitsune’s grandfather was put to death, and soon after his father, mother, and most of his siblings were also killed. The remaining siblings who survived included Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minomoto no Noriyori. Yoshitsune was exiled to a temple on Kuramayama, north of Kyoto. From this monastery, he either transferred or fled to Mutsu, where he was taken under the wings of the governor of the province, Fujiwara Hidehira.
There is very limited information regarding Yoshitsune’s youth.
In 1880, when Prince Mochihito, the son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, issued a call to arms against the Taira clan, Yoshitsune responded. During this time, Yoshitsune was also reunited with his brother Yoritomo.
During the Gempei Wars, Yoshitsune led an army against Yoshinaka who posed as a threat and rival to Yoritomo. On June 2, 1183, Yoshinaka was victorious in a battle against the Taira and then continued on to Kyoto. The skilled strategist Yoshitsune used the poor behaviour of Yoshinaka’s army in Kyoto to his advantage in order to drive them away from the capital. In 1184, during the Battle of Awazu, Yoshitsune killed Yoshinaka under Yoritomo’s orders.
With Yoshinaka out of the picture, Yoshitsune was able to gain support from Emperor Go-Shirakawa to continue the war against the Taira.
Yoshitsune also obtained victory for the Minamoto clan at Ichi no Tani against the Taira. This cleared way for them to continue their assault on the Taira headquarters on Yashima.
When Yoshitsune returned from Ichi no Tani, he conflicts arose with his brother regarding court titles that Yoritomo denied him.
Yet,Yoshitsune continued to bring victory to the Minamoto clan from the Battles of Yashima and Dan No Ura.
During this time, Yoritomo began to fear rivalry with Yoshitsune since their relationship began to worsen as the months past. In addition, Yoshitsune believed that Yoritomo was gaining too much when Yoritomo forced the emperor to accept the two new posts he had created. When Yoritomo realized that Yoshitsune was rebelling against him, he was furious and drove his own brother out of Kyoto. Yoshitsune fled to Fujiwara no Hidehira where he was brought up. However, the son of Hidehira, Fujiwara no Yasuhira was afraid that Yoritomo may punish them as well for aiding Yoshitsune, and thus, forced Yoshitsune and his wife and daughter to commit suicide.
Key Points
Remember your key points for this role. This section should make it easier for you to organize your thoughts and arguments. However, be sure to read the background thoroughly before moving onto this section; the key points are meant only to supplement your argument points.
Although Yoritomo and you were close brothers at the beginning of the Gempei Wars, you began to realize Yoritomo’s major flaws.
Although Yoritomo and you were close brothers at the beginning of the Gempei Wars, you began to realize Yoritomo’s major flaws.
- Throughout the Gempei Wars, you continuously aided Yoritomo in battles. You even killed your own cousin under Yoritomo’s direct orders. You were one of the major individuals who aided Yoritomo in his success of reaching the high status of Shogun. For instance, it was due to you driving Yoshinaka out of Kyoto that the emperor rewarded Yoritomo with the title of Shogun. You were loyal to Yoritomo and contributed to the success of Yoritomo.
- Towards the end of the Gempei Wars you began to notice how selfish your brother was. He refused to give you any court title even though you contributed so much during the Gempei Wars and defeated the Taira in countless of difficult battles.
- When Yoritomo forced the emperor to accept the two new posts he had created, you decided to go against Yoritomo. You believed that he was abusing his power and longing for more. However, your own brother found out about your ‘rebelling’ thoughts about Yoritomo's greed for power and decided to chase you out of Kyoto. He even sent individuals to have you killed since he now saw you as a rival.
- Yoritomo’s powerful and influential status resulted in a deep betrayal in Fujiwara no Hidehira (the place you spent your childhood in), where you were forced to commit suicide along with your wife and daughter.
Your Goal
Map of Japan during the Gempei War
Although you were very close to your brother during the Gempei War, you started to realize Yoritomo's unjust ways of ruling. In an attempt to stop your brother from abusing his power, you attempted to limit his power. However, you brother was afraid of any threats and ordered for you to be killed. Attempt to convince others that your own brother betrayed you since you posed a threat to him. Argue that even though you helped Yoritomo so much during the Gempei War, he still betrayed you.
Although the opposition may argue that Yoritomo did create many reforms that improved Japanese lifestyle, he was also a ruthless killer. Focus on how his selfish desires and greed for power drove him to kill his own brother who helped him achieve success. Focus on the emotional thought of your own brother betraying you just to obtain more power. Is this really how a leader must rule?
Although the opposition may argue that Yoritomo did create many reforms that improved Japanese lifestyle, he was also a ruthless killer. Focus on how his selfish desires and greed for power drove him to kill his own brother who helped him achieve success. Focus on the emotional thought of your own brother betraying you just to obtain more power. Is this really how a leader must rule?