Tag: Gempei War

The Gempei War Part 4: The Final Countdown

December 9, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 6, Episode 22: The Gempei War Part 4: The Final Countdown

Kiso Yoshinaka and his wife, Tomoe Gozen, at the Battle of Awazu. Source: Public Domain

The Minamoto-allied samurai make their way to the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani. Public Domain

The Battle of Kojima. The Minamoto horsemen are charging through the low tide to take the island fortress. Source: Public Domain

The Battle of Yashima, in which the Taira were goaded into facing the Minamoto forces in the surf. Source: Public Domain

A depiction of the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the final battle in the Gempei War in which the Taira were unequivocally vanquished. Source: Public Domain

A satellite photo of the Shimonoseki straits which allows you to see just how narrow is the passage of water between Kyushu and Chugoku. Source: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Gempei War Part 3: The Rise and Fall of Kiso Yoshinaka

December 6, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 6, Episode 21: The Rise and Fall of Kiso Yoshinaka

A painting of Kiso Yoshinaka. Source: Public Domain

A painting by Katsukawa Shuntei of The Battle of Kurikara Pass. Note the oxen with torches affixed to their horns in the background. Source: Public Domain

A statue of a bull with torches tied to its horns honoring Kiso Yoshinaka’s victory at Kurikara Pass. Source: Bakkai at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Just south of Bitchu Province, which is highlighted in red above, is where the Battle of Mizushima occurred, which is when Kiso Yoshinaka’s martial luck began to run out. Source: Ash_Crow, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

The race across Uji river between Kajiwara Kagesue and Sasaki Takatsuna. Source: Public Domain

The Gempei War Part 2: A Reversal of Fortune

December 2, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

Season 6, Episode 20: The Gempei War Part 2: A Reversal of Fortune

Minamoto Yoritomo displays his troops on the eastern side of the Fujigawa river. Mount Fuji is clearly visible in the background. Source: Public Domain

A painting of Taira Koremori, the ill-fated commander who lost the battle of Fujigawa. Source: Public Domain.

A painting of Minamoto Yoritomo, the victor of Fujigawa. Source: Public Domain

Minamoto Yoritomo’s signature, which he would have affixed to correspondences. Source: Public Domain.

A painting of Minamoto Yukiie, whose antics at the battle of Sunomatagawa led to his troops getting slaughtered after the Taira noticed that they were soaking wet. Source: Public Domain

A monument at the alleged site of the battle of Sunomatagawa.

The Gempei War Part 1: An Ill-Fated Uprising

November 29, 2021 justin-david-hebert Comments Off

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.