Pro: Prince Mochihito
Background
You are Prince Mochihito
Taira no Kyomori, a member of the Taira clan, was abusing his power as Emporer. Kyomori placed his one year old grandon Tokihio on the Imperial throne as Emperor Antoku. Tired and enraged by his behaviour, the Imperial Court began searching for a champion. One who could defeat Kyomori and reinstate law and order to Japan. Among the first to volunteer for this position was Minamoto no Yoritomo.
A distant relative of Yoritomo's, Minamoto no Yorimasa, joined forces with Prince Mochihito, and together they marched to battle in Kyoto. However in June 1180, at the battle of Uji, the two men were defeated and slaughtered. This was what initiated and marked the commencement of the Gempei War.
News of the revolt eventually reached Yoritomo in September of that year. From his center of power in Izu, Yoritomo himself rose in revolt. Clans of the Kanto Plains split up, siding with particular allies for support. Most of the great families of Kanto had allied with Yorimoto by the spring of the year 1181.
In order to consolidate his power in the Kanto, Yoritomo set up base at Kamakura. He attempted to win control in the aftermath of the death of the leader if the nation, throwing the leadership of Minamoto into complete anarchy. Yoritomo, through a display of cunning and leadership eventually established control by forming a Samurai-Dokoro, or in English, Board of Retainers. However this act created conflict among his family members as they did not all agree with him.
Later on, in an attempt to reach a compromise, Yoritomo reached out to to the Taira clan, and offered them peace in return for "recognized control of the Eastern Provinces." Reasons for this offer are unknown, however, modern historians speculate that it could have had something to do with Yoritomo's wild cousin Minamoto "Kiso" no Yoshinaka. The offer was rejected in the end. After a failed harvest season, on August 17th, 1182, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, Yoritomo's cousin, captured Kyoto. When word reached Yoritomo that Yoshinaka wants control of the Minamoto for himself, Yoritomo attempted to ally with the Retired Empoeror Go-Shirakawa, who readily enlisted his help. Yoritomo, now feeling secure on his positions, sent his best generals, his half brothers Minamoto no Noriyori and Minamoto no Yoshitune out to battle. His brother Yoshitune, the nominal commander in chief, was able to defeat Yoshinaka and cast him out of the land through a series of brilliant campaigns. Yoshinaka is speculated to have committed suicide.
After everything had calmed down in Japan, Yoritomo gave his brothers a mandate to destroy the Taira Clan. In the end, at Ichi-noTani, Yoshitune was able to win a great victory. However shortly after this, worried about the strength of the Taira, Yoritomo ordered a temporary pause in activities.
Eventually, after Yoshitune's epic victory at the battle of Dan-no-ura, Yoritomo was able to defeat the Taira, therefore bringing law and order into the provinces. Modern records describe this act as the restoration of the Minamoto clan, in addition to their revenge against the Kyomori. In 1183, Yoritomo sent his brothers Yoshitsune and Minamoto Yoshinaka to conquer the Taira in the Western Provinces. In the end the Taira were conquered, therefore indicating Yoritomo's blatant display of strategic planning and battle skills.
Taira no Kyomori, a member of the Taira clan, was abusing his power as Emporer. Kyomori placed his one year old grandon Tokihio on the Imperial throne as Emperor Antoku. Tired and enraged by his behaviour, the Imperial Court began searching for a champion. One who could defeat Kyomori and reinstate law and order to Japan. Among the first to volunteer for this position was Minamoto no Yoritomo.
A distant relative of Yoritomo's, Minamoto no Yorimasa, joined forces with Prince Mochihito, and together they marched to battle in Kyoto. However in June 1180, at the battle of Uji, the two men were defeated and slaughtered. This was what initiated and marked the commencement of the Gempei War.
News of the revolt eventually reached Yoritomo in September of that year. From his center of power in Izu, Yoritomo himself rose in revolt. Clans of the Kanto Plains split up, siding with particular allies for support. Most of the great families of Kanto had allied with Yorimoto by the spring of the year 1181.
In order to consolidate his power in the Kanto, Yoritomo set up base at Kamakura. He attempted to win control in the aftermath of the death of the leader if the nation, throwing the leadership of Minamoto into complete anarchy. Yoritomo, through a display of cunning and leadership eventually established control by forming a Samurai-Dokoro, or in English, Board of Retainers. However this act created conflict among his family members as they did not all agree with him.
Later on, in an attempt to reach a compromise, Yoritomo reached out to to the Taira clan, and offered them peace in return for "recognized control of the Eastern Provinces." Reasons for this offer are unknown, however, modern historians speculate that it could have had something to do with Yoritomo's wild cousin Minamoto "Kiso" no Yoshinaka. The offer was rejected in the end. After a failed harvest season, on August 17th, 1182, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, Yoritomo's cousin, captured Kyoto. When word reached Yoritomo that Yoshinaka wants control of the Minamoto for himself, Yoritomo attempted to ally with the Retired Empoeror Go-Shirakawa, who readily enlisted his help. Yoritomo, now feeling secure on his positions, sent his best generals, his half brothers Minamoto no Noriyori and Minamoto no Yoshitune out to battle. His brother Yoshitune, the nominal commander in chief, was able to defeat Yoshinaka and cast him out of the land through a series of brilliant campaigns. Yoshinaka is speculated to have committed suicide.
After everything had calmed down in Japan, Yoritomo gave his brothers a mandate to destroy the Taira Clan. In the end, at Ichi-noTani, Yoshitune was able to win a great victory. However shortly after this, worried about the strength of the Taira, Yoritomo ordered a temporary pause in activities.
Eventually, after Yoshitune's epic victory at the battle of Dan-no-ura, Yoritomo was able to defeat the Taira, therefore bringing law and order into the provinces. Modern records describe this act as the restoration of the Minamoto clan, in addition to their revenge against the Kyomori. In 1183, Yoritomo sent his brothers Yoshitsune and Minamoto Yoshinaka to conquer the Taira in the Western Provinces. In the end the Taira were conquered, therefore indicating Yoritomo's blatant display of strategic planning and battle skills.
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.
- Volunteers as champion for Prince Mochihito to defeat Taira Clan. Indicates his loyalty to his clan and ambitious ability to stand up and rightfully avenge his family. Also shows patriotism towards his country.
- Managed to get most families in Kanto to ally with him. Indication of his high leadership and political skills.
- Establishes control in Kanto by establishing a Samurai-Dokoro (Board of Retainers). Another indication of his high leadership and political skills. This board was what kept the peace in Kanto in a time of chaos and anarchy. Due to his brilliant innovation, peace was once more restored.
- Offers peace with Taira for exchange of land. Indicates his knack for mercy, even against his greatest enemies.
- Worried about the strength of the Taira Yoritomo orders a halt to their battle activities. Indicates that Yoritomo knew when to draw a line, step back, and rethink his strategies before proceeding. Great leaders are able to plan for battle in order to ensure the safety of their country or nation. Those who leap before they think may not necessarily always come out on top.
- Defeats the Taira. This act displays once again Yoritomo's military skills and ability to strategically plan and execute an operation. Through her perseverance and integrity, Yoritomo was able to defeat the Taira.
Your Goal
Argue how Yoritomo was immediate in acting on family honour against his bitter enemies. Due to this loyalty and need to succeed, he was able to defeat one of the greatest clans of all time. Mention Yoritomo's primitive battle tactics, skills, and strategies. Due to these factors, he was able to succeed in conquering the Taira, therefore bringing restoration and glory to his land. In addition, remember to mention his offer of peace in exchange for land, indicating his willingness to compromise. In the end, just remember how much of an asset Yoritomo was to Japan, and what would have happened had he not been the first Shogun of Japan.