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Information About

Genpei War




  partof Minamoto - Taira clan disputes of late Heian Period
  caption Scene of the Genpei war (12th century screen)
  date 1180 - 1185
  place Japan
  casus Clan disputes over Imperial succession
  result Minamoto clan victory Kamakura Shogunate established
  combatant1 Minamoto clan
  combatant2 Taira clan
  commander1 Minamoto No Yoritomo , Minamoto No Yoshitsune
  commander2 Taira No Munemori , Taira No Shigehira , Taira No Tomomori



The Genpei or '''Gempei War''' (源平合戦、寿永・治承の乱) ( 1180 - 1185 ) was a war of ancient Japan , fought between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The Genpei War resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and establishment of Minamoto Yoritomo as Shogun of Japan in 1192 . The name "Genpei" comes from ''Genji'' and ''Heike''(or ''Heishi''), alternate readings of the Kanji characters 'Minamoto' and 'Taira' respectively.

The Genpei Wars were the culmination of a decades-long conflict between the two clans over dominance of the Imperial court, and thus, by extension, control of Japan. In the Hogen Rebellion and Heiji Rebellion of earlier decades, the Minamoto attempted to regain control from the Taira , and failed. The Taira then began a series of executions, intended to eliminate their rivals once and for all. Finally, in 1180 , the Genpei Wars themselves began, as Minamoto No Yorimasa supported a different claimant for the Imperial throne than the Taira nominee. The ensuing battle took place just outside Kyoto and is called the first Battle Of Uji . The war ended five years later, with a decisive Minamoto victory in the naval Battle Of Dan-no-ura .


BATTLES




GENPEI WAR IN LITERATURE


Many stories and works of art depict this conflict. '' The Tale Of The Heike '' (''Heike Monogatari'', 平家物語) is one of the most famous.


SEE ALSO


  • Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.