Minamoto no Yorimasa (源 頼政, 1106 – 20 June 1180) was a Japanese poet, aristocrat and samurai lord. His poetry appeared in various anthologies. He served eight different emperors in his long career, holding posts such as hyōgo no kami (head of the arsenal). As a general, he led the Minamoto armies at the beginning of the Genpei War.
In the clashes between the Minamoto and Taira clans that had gone on for decades, Yorimasa had tried to stay out of politics, and avoided taking sides. He did participate in the Hōgen rebellion in 1156. For a time, he was even friends with Taira no Kiyomori. During the Heiji Rebellion of 1160, he leaned just enough in favor of the Taira that it allowed them to overthrow the Minamoto. However, by the time he officially retired from military service in Kiyomori's army in 1179, Yorimasa had changed his mind about opposing his own clan. He entered the Buddhist priesthood. In May 1180, he sent out an appeal to other Minamoto leaders, and to temples and monasteries that Kiyomori had offended.[1]
In the Genpei War, which began with the Battle of Uji in 1180, Yorimasa led Minamoto forces, along with warrior monks from Mii-dera, in defending Byōdō-in. Despite the monks' having torn up the planks of the bridge leading to the temple, the Taira managed to break through the defenses, and take the temple. Suffering defeat at Uji, he committed suicide at Byōdō-in.[1] Minamoto no Yorimasa's ritual suicide by seppuku may be the earliest recorded instance of a samurai's suicide in the face of defeat,[2] although Minamoto no Tametomo, who died in 1170, ten years before Yorimasa, may hold this distinction.
According to legend, after his death a retainer took Yorimasa's head to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Taira. He then fastened it to a rock and threw it into the Uji River so it could not be found.[2]
Samidare ni sawabe no makomo mizu koete/izure ayame to hikizo wazurau
The fifth-month rains swamp the water-oats along the shore, making it hard to tell irises from one another and pull just one
"So, Yorimasa not only added to his reputation as an archer by shooting down a nue; he also proved himself a distinguished poet by winning with a single poem Lady Ayame, whom he had adored for years and months."[3]
^Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 200,307–308. ISBN1854095234.
External linksEdit
Media related to Minamoto no Yorimasa at Wikimedia Commons
October 20, 2023
minamoto, yorimasa, this, japanese, name, surname, minamoto, 頼政, 1106, june, 1180, japanese, poet, aristocrat, samurai, lord, poetry, appeared, various, anthologies, served, eight, different, emperors, long, career, holding, posts, such, hyōgo, kami, head, ars. In this Japanese name the surname is Minamoto Minamoto no Yorimasa 源 頼政 1106 20 June 1180 was a Japanese poet aristocrat and samurai lord His poetry appeared in various anthologies He served eight different emperors in his long career holding posts such as hyōgo no kami head of the arsenal As a general he led the Minamoto armies at the beginning of the Genpei War Minamoto no YorimasaNative name源 頼政Born1106 1106 Died20 June 1180 1180 06 20 aged 73 74 Minamoto no Yorimasa by Kikuchi Yosai Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 Poetry 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditIn the clashes between the Minamoto and Taira clans that had gone on for decades Yorimasa had tried to stay out of politics and avoided taking sides He did participate in the Hōgen rebellion in 1156 For a time he was even friends with Taira no Kiyomori During the Heiji Rebellion of 1160 he leaned just enough in favor of the Taira that it allowed them to overthrow the Minamoto However by the time he officially retired from military service in Kiyomori s army in 1179 Yorimasa had changed his mind about opposing his own clan He entered the Buddhist priesthood In May 1180 he sent out an appeal to other Minamoto leaders and to temples and monasteries that Kiyomori had offended 1 In the Genpei War which began with the Battle of Uji in 1180 Yorimasa led Minamoto forces along with warrior monks from Mii dera in defending Byōdō in Despite the monks having torn up the planks of the bridge leading to the temple the Taira managed to break through the defenses and take the temple Suffering defeat at Uji he committed suicide at Byōdō in 1 Minamoto no Yorimasa s ritual suicide by seppuku may be the earliest recorded instance of a samurai s suicide in the face of defeat 2 although Minamoto no Tametomo who died in 1170 ten years before Yorimasa may hold this distinction According to legend after his death a retainer took Yorimasa s head to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Taira He then fastened it to a rock and threw it into the Uji River so it could not be found 2 Family EditYorimasa had a daughter poet Nijōin no Sanuki and a son samurai lord Minamoto no Nakatsuna Poetry EditIn a famous episode in the Taiheiki Samidare ni sawabe no makomo mizu koete izure ayame to hikizo wazurau The fifth month rains swamp the water oats along the shore making it hard to tell irises from one another and pull just one So Yorimasa not only added to his reputation as an archer by shooting down a nue he also proved himself a distinguished poet by winning with a single poem Lady Ayame whom he had adored for years and months 3 Yorimasa s death poem was 埋もれ木の 花咲くことも なかりしに 身のなる果てぞ 悲しかりける umoregi no hana saku koto mo nakarishi ni mi no naru hate zo kanashikarikeru Like a fossil tree From which we gather no flowers Sad has been my life Fated no fruit to produce 4 See also EditSeiwa GenjiReferences Edit a b Sansom George 1958 A History of Japan to 1334 Stanford University Press pp 277 279 ISBN 0804705232 a b Turnbull Stephan R 1977 The Samurai A Military History New York MacMillan Publishing Co p 47 Sato Hiroaki 1995 Legends of the Samurai Overlook Duckworth pp 188 190 ISBN 9781590207307 Turnbull Stephen 1998 The Samurai Sourcebook Cassell amp Co p 200 307 308 ISBN 1854095234 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Minamoto no Yorimasa at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Minamoto no Yorimasa amp oldid 1169500251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
