tour 4 of 10
Japanese Swords: Cutting Edge
Sumiyoshi Hirotsura, Yoshitsune at the Battle of Yashima
This woodcut by Sumiyoshi Hirotsura (1793-1863)
depicts the great warrior Yoshitsune at the Battle of Yashima. This
was a major battle fought during the Gempei Wars (1182-85) between
the Minamoto and Taira
clans.
Yoshitsune and his
brothers were members of the Minamoto clan. Their earlier victories
cleared the way for an attack on Yashima, the headquarters of the
Taira clan on Shikoku island. In March 1185 Yoshitsune began
assembling a fleet of ships and on 22 March ordered them to set
sail - although some dropped back because of stormy weather. When
the fleet was nearing Yashima, Yoshitsune learned from a local
warrior that many of its defenders were on an expedition, leaving
the garrison
vulnerable.
The fleet
moored near the mainland facing the Taira base. Fearing a much
larger enemy force than was actually present, the Taira leader
Munemori ordered his men to evacuate the garrison. They headed
towards their ships as Yoshitsune's men charged forward;
the ensuing sword-battle is shown on the woodcut. The next morning
the Taira abandoned Shikoku altogether. In the final battle of the
Gempei Wars, on 24 April 1185, the Taira fought bravely but
Yoshitsune's forces were victorious. The Taira no longer
posed a threat to the Minamoto, and Yoshitsune's brother
Yoritomo founded the first shogunate at Kamakura. Rule by shoguns
(military rulers) continued until 1868, with the emperors
continuing to reign as spiritual and cultural
leaders.