The Gempei War Part 1: An Ill-Fated Uprising

November 29, 2021 justin-david-hebert Heian, Season 6 Comments Off on The Gempei War Part 1: An Ill-Fated Uprising
Season 6, Episode 19: The Gempei War Part 1: An Ill-Fated Uprising

源平合戦

“Gempei Kassen,” which translates to “The Gempei War.” The first two characters are from Minamoto and Taira respectively.

A painting of Minamoto Yorimasa. Source: Public Domain
A depiction of Prince Mochihito, who initiated the Gempei War. Source: Public Domain
Byodo-In, or “The Phoenix Temple,” which miraculously has survived in its original form to this day. This is where Minamoto Yorimasa fled once the First Battle of Uji was lost. Source: Oilstreet, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A depiction of the First Battle of Uji. Note the warrior monks crossing the bare beams where the planks have been torn out. Source: Public Domain
Minamoto Yorimasa preparing to commit the first known Seppuku. His dagger is drawn and he has removed his armor. Source: Public Domain.