Biographies LXXXI: Ōba Kagechika, Itō Sukechika, Saitō Sanemori, and the Retainers of the Taira

Ōba-no-Kagechika

¶Ōba-no-Kagechika, of the Taira clan, styled Saburō, was a warrior of Sagami province. He was a younger brother of Taira-no-Tairō Kageyoshi (Taira-no-Taketoshi). (Note: following the Heishi Keizu and the variant text of the Hōgen Monogatari. That he was a man of Sagami is based on the Azuma Kagami. Some genealogies make him a son of Kageyoshi, but this is an error.)

¶In the Hōgen Disturbance he followed Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and attacked the Shirakawa Palace. (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari.) On this occasion he incurred guilt and was about to be beheaded, but he was spared through the intercession of the Taira. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶When Minamoto-no-Yorimasa raised troops, Kagechika took the side of the Taira and went out to attack him. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶When Minamoto-no-Yoritomo made his camp at Ishibashiyama, Kagechika, together with his younger brother Matano Kagehisa, sided with the Taira (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki) and, with the commanders of Musashi and Sagami, led three thousand troops in the attack. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶Inage Shigenari said to Kagechika, "The day is already gone, and it is hard to tell friend from foe. We should wait until tomorrow to fight." (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.) But at that very moment Miura-no-Yoshizumi and his men arrived at the Mariko River and set fire to the dwellings of Kagechika and the other commanders. Kagechika looked on from afar and said, "This must be the work of the Miura band. If we put it off until tomorrow, they will surely join Yoritomo's side. Then we shall be struck from front and rear and shall not be able to hold. The stronghold of Ishibashi has narrow roads and is ill suited to the movement of a great host. Now, while the enemy is few, let us first take it by storm, and tomorrow we can fight the Miura band afresh; thus we shall leave nothing neglected on either side." (Note: following the Azuma Kagami; the Genpei Jōsuiki was also consulted.) And so they advanced.

¶Toward dawn Yoritomo was defeated and fled to Sugiyama, and Kagechika pressed the pursuit, riding on his victory. Yoritomo hid himself in the mountains and valleys, and Kagechika could not discover where he had gone. Kagechika guarded the barriers, sealed the steep paths, and cut off the roads. He also sent a mounted messenger to report the state of the fighting to Taira-no-Kiyomori. Kiyomori ordered Taira-no-Koremori, Taira-no-Tadanori, and others to lead troops and attack Yoritomo.

¶Before long Yoritomo's strength grew greatly, and the warriors of the Kantō came one after another to submit to him. Kagechika led a thousand troops (Note: the Jōsuiki says three thousand) to meet the Taira army (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Genpei Jōsuiki) and advanced as far as the post station of Aizawa. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.) But when he heard that Yoritomo's two hundred thousand men had crossed Mount Ashigara and that more than twenty thousand of the Kai Genji had taken position in Suruga, he found himself at his wits' end, without any plan to carry out, and fled to Kawamurayama. (Note: the Jōsuiki says Hoshiyama.) A few days later he came out and surrendered, whereupon Yoritomo had him confined in the custody of Kazusa-no-suke Taira-no-Hirotsune (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Genpei Jōsuiki), and in that same year had him beheaded on the bank of the Katase River. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.) His son was beheaded together with his father. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.) He had a younger brother, Kagehisa.

Ōba-no-Kagehisa

¶Ōba-no-Kagehisa was called Matano Gorō. Together with his elder brother Kagechika he attacked Yoritomo at Ishibashiyama, and grappled with Sanada Yoshitada and killed him. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami; the Genpei Jōsuiki was also consulted.)

¶After Yoritomo's flight, Kagehisa sought to destroy the Takeda, Ichijō, and related houses. Urging on the troops of Tachibana-no-Tōmochi, the Suruga Mokudai, deputy governor, he set out for Kai and advanced his camp to the northern foot of Mount Fuji. But in the middle of the night a swarm of rats appeared and gnawed through every one of the soldiers' bowstrings. Kagehisa did not know what to do and moved to Shidayama. There Yasuda-no-Yoshisada, Kudō-no-Kagemitsu, and others came down from Kai and attacked, and he fought them. His army could not even shoot its arrows and broke in rout. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶When Kagechika was beheaded, Kagehisa knew that he could not escape either, and secretly went up to the capital (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Genpei Jōsuiki), and at last followed Taira-no-Koremori and fought Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka in the Hokuriku. He was defeated at the battle of Ataka, and when Yoshinaka's army pursued him as far as Nariai, Kagehisa fought furiously in every direction and took thirteen heads, but, grievously wounded, he finally took his own life. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki. The Yasaka-bon Heike Monogatari says that Kagehisa fell in battle at Tonamiyama. The Nagato-bon says that he was shot dead by Nei-no-Yukichika.)

¶Earlier, Kagehisa had been in the capital together with Saitō Sanemori and others. Sanemori, resolved upon his own death, wished to test the hearts of his comrades and said to Kagehisa and the rest, "Now the strength of the Genji grows day by day, and the Taira are defeated again and again. Why not simply surrender to Lord Kiso (Yoshinaka)?" Kagehisa answered, "We are men whose names have long been known in the eastern provinces. To draw near when it is hot and withdraw when it is cold is a thing I could never bring myself to do. As for today's business, my mind is already made up." And he died in battle. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

Itō-no-Sukechika

¶Itō-no-Sukechika (Note: the name Sukechika is from the Azuma Kagami; this book writes it with different characters, but with the same reading), of the Fujiwara clan, was a grandson of Kudō Taifu Ietsugu. His father was named Sukeie. (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku.)

¶Ietsugu took a widow to wife in his old age. The woman had a daughter by her former husband, and Ietsugu was intimate with this daughter as well and had by her Suketsugu. Since Sukeie had died young, Ietsugu named Suketsugu his heir and gave him the Itō estate. He made Sukechika serve Suketsugu as an elder brother and gave him the Kawazu estate, so that Sukechika was called Kawazu Jirō.

¶Sukechika harbored resentment and said, "I am the true legitimate grandson and ought rightly to inherit the house, yet instead a son by a lesser bed is made heir. This is wholly contrary to reason." When Ietsugu died, he at last brought suit before the authorities, but he could not win his case, and Sukechika's anger only grew.

¶Afterwards, when Suketsugu fell ill and was near death, Sukechika went to visit him and pretended outwardly to be unable to bear his grief. Suketsugu believed him and entrusted his son Suketsune to him, saying, "When Kongishi (Konjaku) reaches the age of fifteen, I want you to act as his eboshi-oya, sponsor at his coming of age, and then give your daughter to him as wife." Sukechika agreed, and Suketsugu died content. Konjaku was the childhood name of Suketsune. When Suketsune grew up, he took possession of the Itō estate.

¶Sukechika took his own daughter, who was to become Suketsune's wife, up to the capital and had an audience with Taira-no-Shigemori; he had Suketsune kept in the capital as a palace guard, and himself returned to Izu and seized every part of Suketsune's holdings. When Suketsune sent men to collect the annual dues, he could get nothing. Suketsune brought a complaint. Sukechika secretly bribed the officials in charge, and they handed down a ruling that the holdings be divided in two, each man to hold half. Suketsune was enraged and secretly slipped out of the capital, planning to strike Sukechika down. Sukechika perceived this, accused him before the authorities in the capital, took Suketsune's wife from him, and married her anew to Toi-no-Tōhira. Suketsune's shame and rage grew all the greater; he returned to Izu in secret, avoiding all eyes, and plotted to kill Sukechika.

¶At that time Minamoto-no-Yoritomo was in exile in Izu on account of his offense. Sukechika and his son Sukeyasu (Note: the name Sukeyasu is from the Azuma Kagami; the Sonpi Bunmyaku has Sukemichi), together with other local magnates, received Yoritomo and held a hunt at Fujino. Suketsune ordered his retainers Ōmi-no-Kotōda and Hachiman Saburō to strike down Sukechika and his son, and the two lay in ambush at Akazawayama awaiting their chance. Sukeyasu came by first, and Hachiman shot him from behind and hit him. Sukeyasu turned and tried to set an arrow to his bow, but could not draw it, and fell from his horse insensible. When Sukechika arrived next, Ōmi shot an arrow and wounded his finger. Sukechika pretended to be gravely wounded, lay hidden behind his horse, and cried out, "There are bandits!" All the people ran up and gathered. Ōmi and Hachiman escaped in the confusion.

¶Sukechika went to Sukeyasu, pulled out the arrow lodged in him, and said in a harsh voice, "Who shot you? You cry out that you have taken an arrow, and yet will you die without a word?" Sukeyasu forced his voice from deep in his throat and said, "Suketsune has borne me a grudge for many years. A moment ago I saw Ōmi and Hachiman and thought them suspicious. Now Suketsune enjoys the favor of the Shōgun's house (Yoritomo), and he may yet prove to be no small harm to you, sir, to the very end." When he had finished speaking, he breathed his last. Sukechika, driven by grief and anger, sent his second son Sukekiyo to kill Ōmi and Hachiman.

¶Now, when Yoritomo had been at Itō, he had been intimate with a daughter of Sukechika and had a son by her. At that time Sukechika was in the capital, and his wife secretly raised the child. When Sukechika returned home and learned of it, he hated it, and fearing that he would be called to account by the Taira, he secretly planned to kill the child and to do away with Yoritomo as well. Sukekiyo told this to Yoritomo, and Yoritomo left that place and took refuge with the Hōjō. (Note: following the Soga Monogatari. The account given in this book of Sukechika's family differs considerably from entries in the Sonpi Bunmyaku and elsewhere, but not every difference is annotated here.)

¶In the Jishō years, when Yoritomo raised troops and was defeated at Ishibashiyama and fled to Toi, Sukechika led three hundred troops in pursuit but could not catch him; he burned the dwellings of the people of Toi and withdrew. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶Before long Yoritomo's martial power grew day by day, and the whole Kantō submitted to him. Sukechika, his strength exhausted, planned to cross by ship from Koina in Izu to Suruga and join Taira-no-Koremori, but on the way he was captured by Amano-no-Tōkage. At that time Yoritomo was encamped at the Kise River, and Tōkage brought Sukechika to have an audience with him. Miura-no-Yoshizumi, the husband of Sukechika's daughter, asked to have Sukechika placed in his own household's custody.

¶In the Juei years, when Yoritomo's wife (Hōjō Masako) became with child, a plea was made for Sukechika's pardon, and Yoritomo granted it. Yoshizumi was overjoyed and meant to have Sukechika go to the shogunate to offer his apology. Sukechika lamented, saying, "With what face could I meet Yoritomo again?" and in the end took his own life. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶In his youth Suketsune served as a palace guard in the capital, became Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, and was called Kudō Ichirō. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Soga Monogatari.) He was very fond of waka. Later he served Yoritomo and was deeply favored. He always feared vengeance from Sukeyasu's two sons, Sukenari and Tokimune, and secretly urged Yoritomo, saying, "The two sons of Kawazu, grandsons of Itō, are being raised by Soga-no-Sukenobu. Itō was your enemy, and when those two grow up, they will surely carry out his purpose. Is that not dangerous?" Yoritomo had the two boys seized and was about to behead them, but Hatakeyama Shigetada and others interceded and their lives were spared. (Note: following the Soga Monogatari.)

¶In the fourth year of Kenkyū, when Suketsune followed Yoritomo to a hunt at Fujino, he was at last killed by Sukenari and Tokimune. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Soga Monogatari.) His son Suketoki (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku) had the childhood name Inubōmaru (Note: following the Kudō Keizu) and likewise served Yoritomo. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Soga Monogatari.)

Itō-no-Sukekiyo

¶Itō-no-Sukekiyo was called Itō Kurō. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶Once, when Yoritomo was in exile in Izu, Sukekiyo saw that he was no ordinary man and secretly treated him with great generosity. When his father Sukechika sought to kill Yoritomo, Sukekiyo told Yoritomo of the plot and let him escape the danger. Yoritomo felt deep gratitude for this.

¶After Sukechika's death, Yoritomo summoned Sukekiyo and said, "As for your father's offense, I am still inclined to pardon it. You did me a kindness, and I shall surely repay it richly." Sukekiyo answered, "My father has already been put to death. With what face could I serve you? Moreover, when I protected you, it was not in hope of reward afterward. I beg you to cut me down at once. If that cannot be, then I ask that you release me. I shall surely take the Taira side and shoot at you." Yoritomo said, "I cannot bear to kill you. And what has one man's coming or going to do with the outcome of victory or defeat? Leave quickly and go to the Taira." And he set Sukekiyo free.

¶Sukekiyo then hurried to the capital, later followed the Taira, and died fighting Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka at Shinohara. (Note: following the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari.)

Saitō-no-Sanemori

¶Saitō-no-Sanemori was styled Bettō and was a descendant of Fujiwara-no-Toshihito, Chinjufu-shōgun, Commander-in-chief of the Pacification Headquarters. His family had been a distinguished house of Echizen for generations, but in Sanemori's time they moved to Nagai in Musashi province. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶He served Minamoto-no-Tameyoshi and his son Yoshitomo. In the battle of the Shirakawa Palace and the battle of the Taikenmon gate he followed Yoshitomo and won distinction. (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari and the Heiji Monogatari.)

¶When Yoshitomo fled toward the eastern provinces, only some thirty horsemen, Sanemori among them, followed him. The warrior-monks of Enryakuji learned of this, and three hundred of them came out onto the road and lay in wait. Sanemori dismounted, took his helmet in his hand, let down his tangled hair to hide his face, and said falsely, "We had been raising troops in the provinces, but since Lord Sama-no-kami (Yoshitomo) has been killed in battle, we are merely fleeing home with our lives. What credit would there be in killing us? If you need armor and weapons, we shall give you everything we have. But you are so many that there may not be enough to go around. Why not let each of you take whatever I throw?" So saying, he flung his helmet to the ground, and the warrior-monks swarmed upon it, each trying to be first. The party took advantage of the confusion and galloped through. The monks were greatly enraged and pressed after them with their troops. Sanemori announced his own name in a great voice, turned his horse about, and faced them. The monks flinched and fell back. Going on, they broke the warrior-monks of Yokawa at Ryūge. When they reached Seta, Yoshitomo took leave of Sanemori and the rest, and they parted, each fleeing by a different road, promising to meet again in the eastern provinces. (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari.)

¶After Yoshitomo's death Sanemori served Taira-no-Munemori and followed Taira-no-Koremori to attack Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka in the Hokuriku. Earlier, at the time of the battle of the Fuji River, Sanemori had insisted at length that "the warriors of the Kantō are superb at mounted archery and fierce, and can hardly be matched," and so the soldiers of the Taira had been struck with great fear, and in the end had fled without fighting. On this Hokuriku campaign, Sanemori petitioned Munemori, saying, "I mean to stake my life on this one battle and wash away my earlier shame. But Echizen is my native place, and all my kin are there. Since ancient times it has been said, 'To return home clad in brocade.' I beg you to grant me a brocade hitatare, a robe, that it may be an honor after my death." Munemori pitied him and granted it.

¶When battle was joined at Shinohara, his own side all fled. Sanemori alone stood firm and fought hard, grappled with Tezuka-no-Mitsumori, and was at last killed. Mitsumori showed the head to Yoshinaka and said, "Mitsumori has taken this head. Though he looked a warrior, he wore a brocade hitatare, and though one would take him for a general, he had no following and was alone on horseback. I asked his name, but to the end he would not give it, saying only, 'Show me to Lord Kiso.'" Yoshinaka studied it closely and said, "Ah, is this not Saitō Bettō? When I saw him in my childhood his hair was already white, so why are his side locks black now? Higuchi was an old acquaintance of Saitō's, and he may be able to tell." Higuchi Kanemitsu wept the moment he saw it and said, "This is Sanemori. He once said to me, 'I am old and my strength has failed, and for that I am constantly looked down upon by the young men. When the time comes for me to go into battle, I shall dye my beard and hair and take my place among the young warriors.' Now he has done exactly as he said." So they washed the head, and the beard and hair were pure white. Seeing this, Yoshinaka hid his tears. Sanemori was seventy-three. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari.)

¶He had two sons: Munesada, called Saitō Gorō, and Munemitsu, called Saitō Rokurō. (Note: the names of the two sons are from the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari.) Both served Taira-no-Koremori. When Koremori fled to the western provinces, Munesada and his brother asked to accompany him, but Koremori would not agree, and said, "When your father went off to the northern provinces, he left you two here, as though he had foreseen this very day. I ask you to protect the young Rokudai in my place." Munesada and his brother therefore gave up their wish, followed Rokudai and his mother, and hid with them at Shōbudani. When Rokudai was seized, the brothers went with him and were taken to the eastern provinces barefoot. Later they were pardoned and returned to the capital, and both took the tonsure; what became of them afterward is not known. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

Ashikaga-no-Tadatsuna

¶Ashikaga-no-Tadatsuna was called Matatarō. He was a descendant of Fujiwara-no-Hidesato, Chinjufu-shōgun. For generations his family held the Ashikaga estate in Shimotsuke province.

¶His father Toshitsuna was slandered in the Nin'an years and had his lands confiscated, but he went up to the capital and pleaded his innocence, and through the intercession of Taira-no-Shigemori they were restored to him. Toshitsuna felt deep gratitude for this and resolved to exert himself on behalf of the Taira.

¶Tadatsuna was without equal in valor, and the men of the time said, "Tadatsuna has three points in which he surpasses others: his teeth are an inch long, his voice carries ten ri, and his strength is that of a hundred men."

¶In the Jishō years, when Prince Mochihito raised troops, a ryōji, princely edict, was sent down to Tadatsuna and to Oyama-no-Tomomasa. Tadatsuna and Tomomasa were of the same kin and both powerful men of Shimotsuke province, and so they had always regarded each other with suspicion. Tadatsuna had long been on friendly terms with the Taira, and so he followed Taira-no-Tomomori and attacked Prince Mochihito at Uji. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶The bridge had already been cut down, and the river was just in flood; Fujiwara-no-Tadakiyo attacked and was defeated, and proposed, "We should divide the troops to guard the bank and go around to Imoarai in Yodo, or else withdraw the troops and head for Kawachi." Tadatsuna stepped forward and said to Tomomori, "If we go by a roundabout road and lose time, the warrior-monks will come to the rescue, the Prince will enter Nara, and we shall no longer be able to restrain him. Besides, with the enemy before us, this is no time to worry about drowning." And he urged his troops to cross the river straight ahead. Of the three hundred horsemen who followed him, not one was drowned. The other forces followed him across, and at last won a great victory. Tadatsuna was then seventeen. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari and the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶When they returned to the capital, Fujiwara-no-Tadakiyo repeatedly declared, "The merit of this victory truly belongs to Tadatsuna." Kiyomori summoned Tadatsuna and meant to reward him, and Tadatsuna asked to be made Daisuke, Senior Assistant Governor, of the six districts of Kōzuke and to be granted the Nitta estate, and this was allowed. But the men of Tadatsuna's own kin contended for credit and raised a clamor, and Kiyomori in the end did not carry it out. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶The next year Shida-no-Yoshihiro planned to attack Kamakura and asked Tadatsuna for help. Tadatsuna, thinking to use the occasion to remove Tomomasa, at once joined Yoshihiro. But when Yoshihiro was defeated, he fled and hid in Tatsuoku. A few days later a retainer, a certain Kiryū, urged him to flee, and Tadatsuna at last escaped to the western provinces; what became of him afterward is not known.

¶In the Jishō years, Toshitsuna was attacked by Yoritomo. Kiryū killed Toshitsuna and offered his surrender. Yoritomo hated his disloyalty and unrighteousness, put Kiryū to death, and exposed his head beside the head of Toshitsuna. Toshitsuna's lands were confiscated, but his wife and children were pardoned, and their house sites and property were returned. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶Tadatsuna had a son named Tadahiro, who took the court's side in the Jōkyū Disturbance and died in battle. (Note: following the Sano Keizu.)

Taira-no-Iesada

¶Taira-no-Iesada was a descendant of Sadamori, Chinjufu-shōgun, and a son of Shin-no-Saburō Taifu Iefusa. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari and the Genpei Jōsuiki. The Jōsuiki writes Iefusa as Suefusa. In various genealogies he is made a son of Chikugo-no-kami Noriuji.)

¶His grandfather, Moku-no-kami Sadamitsu, Director of the Bureau of Carpentry, served Ukyō-no-daibu Masamori, Master of the Right Capital Office, and his descendants for generations became retainers of the Taira. Iesada was appointed Chikugo-no-kami, Governor of Chikugo.

¶In the Tenshō years, when the court nobles sought to shame Taira-no-Tadamori in the imperial presence, Iesada, together with his son Ienaga, wore armor beneath his clothes and carried a sword, and waited below the steps. Kurōdo-no-tō Minamoto-no-Moroshun scolded him and tried to drive him off, but Iesada would not go, and said, "I am Lord Tadamori's retainer. I heard that there might be trouble and have come, in case of the worst." Glaring upward with angry eyes, he spoke so fiercely that the courtiers lost their nerve and dared not lay a hand on him. Tadamori also turned the courtiers aside with quick wit and in the end escaped harm. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶When Kiyomori was on pilgrimage to Kumano, he heard that Fujiwara-no-Nobuyori had raised a rebellion and turned back to strike him down, but he had no arms. Iesada took some armor, helmets, bows, and arrows out of the fifty chests he carried with him, and all marveled at the thoroughness of his preparations. Hearing that Nobuyori's forces were strong, Kiyomori meant to go to Shikoku and raise troops, but Shigemori remonstrated with him and urged him to go quickly to meet the crisis, and Iesada strongly agreed, so Kiyomori returned to the capital. When Minamoto-no-Yoshihira attacked Rokuhara, Iesada, together with his son Sadayoshi, went forward at the head of the men and fought Yoshihira. (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari.)

¶In the first year of Heiji, Hyūga-no-Tarō Michiyoshi rose in revolt in Hizen, and an imperial command to subdue him was sent down to Kiyomori. Kiyomori sent Iesada to attack him. Michiyoshi was valiant and his castle was strong and did not fall readily, but before long the imperial forces gathered in numbers and the rebels' strength gradually declined. After the turn of the year the castle fell, over three hundred heads were taken, and the heads of Michiyoshi and his sons Michihide, Chikayoshi, and others, seven in all, were sent to the capital. The Retired Emperor went in procession to the Toba Palace to view them. Iesada's two hundred or more horsemen advanced in good order, their bearing upright and their movements worthy of note. When the Retired Emperor sent a man to ask their names, Iesada answered from horseback, and all who saw it praised him. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶His sons were Ietsugu, Sadayoshi, Iezane, and Ienaga. (Note: following the Heishi Keizu. For Ienaga, a different text of the Heishi Keizu is followed. The Genpei Jōsuiki makes Ietsugu a younger brother of Sadayoshi, but the Gyokuyō, the Sankaiki, and the Hyakurenshō all make him Sadayoshi's elder brother, which also agrees with the genealogies, and so this is followed. The Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari writes Ietsugu as Sadatsugu.) Ietsugu is recorded in the Biographies of the Loyal and Courageous. Ienaga was called Iga Heinai Saemon and died at Dan-no-ura following Taira-no-Tomomori. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari.)

Taira-no-Sadayoshi

¶Taira-no-Sadayoshi served as governor of Chikugo, Higo, and other provinces. Kiyomori relied on Sadayoshi and made him a confidant. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.)

¶In the fourth year of Jishō, Kikuchi-no-Takanao and others raised troops and answered Minamoto-no-Yoritomo. Sadayoshi went to Higo, mobilized the troops of Kyūshū, and attacked Takanao. The garrison held firm, and Sadayoshi, judging that it could not be taken quickly, tightened the siege, held his position, seized the strategic points, and cut off the supply routes. Takanao ran out of provisions and surrendered, and Harada, Usuki, Hetsugi, and others submitted one after another, so Sadayoshi put his army in order and returned in triumph to the capital. While Sadayoshi was in Chinzei, he sent officials to levy taxes on estates and shrines and to requisition military provisions, and his demands were harsh and pressing, so that the people of Tsukushi suffered under them. (Note: the Azuma Kagami, the Heike Monogatari, and the Genpei Jōsuiki were consulted.)

¶At that time the provinces were collapsing and the disorder grew worse by the day. In the capital a rumor spread that "Tada-no-Yukitsuna of the Settsu Genji has led troops and blocked Kawajiri." Sadayoshi led five hundred horsemen to attack him, but when he heard that the rumor was false he turned back. (Note: the figure of five hundred horsemen is from the Heike Monogatari.)

¶On the way back he met Munemori fleeing west with the emperor. Sadayoshi went to meet Munemori and said, "Where, in the end, do you mean to go? Even if you flee to the western seas, can you really escape death? When the enemy learn that we are fleeing, they will lie in ambush everywhere. Then even in death there will be shame upon shame. If you must die, you should die in the capital. I beg you to turn back at once." Munemori would not listen. Sadayoshi said sorrowfully, "I cannot bear to leave the capital, and I cannot follow you," and went back to the capital. He then visited Shigemori's grave, and after a time of grief dug up the grave, gathered the remains (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki), and deposited them on Mount Kōya. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

¶Afterwards he again followed Munemori at Fukuhara. While Munemori was at Dazaifu, Ogata-no-Koreyoshi raised troops and attacked. Munemori had Sadayoshi lead troops to defend against him, but this went badly and he withdrew. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the variant text of the Heike Monogatari.)

¶Later he fled and shaved his head (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari) and changed his name to Iten. (Note: following the old records of Shōjiji temple in Naka district, Hitachi province.) Through the intercession of Utsunomiya-no-Tomotsuna he petitioned to be spared the death penalty at Kamakura, and this was granted. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami.) He was called Higo Nyūdō. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki. The Gyokuyō says that Sadayoshi was captured by warriors of Bungo together with Sukemori, but the circumstances are not clear and cannot now be investigated. The old records of Shōjiji say that Sadayoshi went to Naka district in Hitachi province, buried Shigemori's remains, then built a hermitage in Wakana village in Namekata district and lived there in seclusion until the end of his life.)

Taira-no-Moritoshi

¶Taira-no-Moritoshi was an elder of Kiyomori's clan (a senior kinsman, zokufu). (Note: following the Heishi Keizu.) His father was named Morikuni (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari, the Genpei Jōsuiki, and the Gukanshō); after serving in turn as governor of Ise he became a Kebiishi, imperial police magistrate (Note: following the Azuma Kagami), and was called Shume-no-hōgan. (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari and the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari.)

¶Moritoshi was large of build and strong. He was appointed governor of Ecchū. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.) In the Heiji Disturbance he followed Shigemori and defended Rokuhara against Minamoto-no-Yoshihira. (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari.)

¶In the early days of Yōwa he led troops and won distinction by striking Minamoto-no-Yukiie at the Sunomata River, and again led his sons Moritsuna and Moritsugu and five thousand troops, following Taira-no-Koremori to attack Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka at Shinohara and facing him across the Ataka River. Moritoshi had Moritsuna measure the shallows of the river, and when they were found he urged the troops across and engaged Yoshinaka's army, and again fought Yukiie at Shio. When Yoshinaka's reinforcements came, he withdrew. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶When Munemori fled to the west, Moritoshi followed him with his whole clan and defended the castle of Ichi-no-Tani. When the castle fell and he tried to escape, Moritoshi fought with all his strength and died. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari and the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶Morikuni was taken prisoner in the defeat at Dan-no-ura, sent to Kamakura, and starved himself to death. His younger brother Morihisa became Sahyōe-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, and in the battle of the Sunomata River won distinction following Taira-no-Shigehira. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami. The Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari says the following. Morihisa followed Taira-no-Munemori to the western provinces, but when his lord's house was defeated he fled back to the capital and hid in a commoner's house. He had long had deep faith in Kannon, had made a life-size image of her, and had enshrined it at Kiyomizudera. So, changing his clothing and going barefoot, he made pilgrimage to Kiyomizudera and performed a thousand-day devotion. Before it was fulfilled he was seized by Hōjō Tokimasa and sent to Kamakura. Minamoto-no-Yoritomo ordered Tsuchiya-no-Munetō to behead Morihisa on the beach at Yuigahama, but when the moment came to cut, the sword broke, and when it was exchanged it broke again. Munetō found this strange and sent a messenger galloping to report to Yoritomo. It came out that Yoritomo's wife, of the Hōjō, had just had a very similar dream, and since the matters matched, he was spared the death penalty. All his holdings were restored as before, and he was given a fine horse besides. This tale has something of the marvelous in it, and so it is not adopted here.)

¶Moritoshi had two sons, Moriki and Moritsugu.

Taira-no-Moritsugu

¶Taira-no-Moritsugu became Uhyōe-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Right Gate Guards, and was known as Ecchū-no-Jirō-hyōe. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari.)

¶In the first year of Yōwa, he followed Taira-no-Tomomori and attacked Minamoto-no-Yukiie at the Owari River. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.) In the second year of Juei, he followed Taira-no-Koremori and attacked Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka at Tonamiyama. He also fought at Mizushima against Ashikaga-no-Yoshikiyo, a general of Yoshinaka, defeated him utterly, and killed Yoshikiyo with his own hand. Following Taira-no-Noriyori, he struck Minamoto-no-Yukiie at Muroyama and killed Tsuge-no-Arishige. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari.)

¶At the battle of Yashima, when Tomomori encouraged his officers and men, resolved to take Yoshitsune alive, Moritsugu rose up and said, "I had long heard that Yoshitsune was coming west, and I secretly scouted his appearance. The man is small. It would be easy to tuck him under one arm and throw him into the sea." Then, on a ship, with an iron hook (a tettō), he hooked Yoshitsune's helmet and very nearly took him. Kobayashi-no-Muneyuki saved Yoshitsune, and Moritsugu then hooked Muneyuki instead and cut off his shikoro, the neck guard of his helmet. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶After the defeat he fled and hid in the capital, but just then Taira-no-Tomotada gathered like-minded men and raised troops at Hōshōji. Moritsugu joined him, but they were attacked by Fujiwara-no-Yoshiyasu, Tomotada killed himself, and Moritsugu fled. He threw himself on the household of Kihi-no-Michihiro, a resident of Tajima province, and became a menial who tended horses. Each time he washed the horses he displayed his skill at galloping and shooting, and in time he gained trust and secretly became intimate with Michihiro's daughter. Michihiro inwardly realized that this was Moritsugu but did not question him. When Michihiro later took up a turn of guard duty in the capital, Moritsugu also came and went to the capital at that time, and since there was a woman he had known before, he often visited her house.

¶Yoritomo had put a reward on Moritsugu and was searching for him, and a certain man secretly learned Moritsugu's whereabouts from that woman and reported it to Kamakura. Yoritomo ordered Michihiro to seize him. Michihiro sent his sister's husband Asakura-no-Takakiyo to Tajima to take him. Takakiyo sent several strong men to the bathhouse to bind him. Moritsugu came out and rebuked them, saying, "Could men like you take me? But if I flee now, Michihiro will surely be held guilty. In honor I cannot run, yet I cannot bear only to be bound." So saying, he undid his own waist sash and was bound with it.

¶Yoritomo saw him and reproached him, saying, "You are of the Taira clan; why did you not die in the western seas?" Moritsugu answered, "The lords of the Taira produced no particular stratagem, and were quickly seized and destroyed. I wished to preserve my life, serve a single lord anew, and restore the work of my ancestors." Yoritomo asked, "Did you ever serve Yoshitsune?" Moritsugu answered, "When I was in the capital before, I secretly planned to strike down the Hōgan (Yoshitsune), but his precautions were thorough and I could not carry out my aim. Afterward, I meant, with a sharp blade and arrowhead, in time to try the life of Your Excellency the Shōgun." Yoritomo inwardly thought of pardoning him, but, fearing future trouble, in the end had him beheaded at Yuigahama. (Note: following the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari. The place Yuigahama is from the Genpei Jōsuiki. The Yasaka-bon Heike Monogatari says that Yoritomo tried to pardon Moritsugu and take him into his service, but Moritsugu said, "A loyal retainer does not serve two lords. Now, if the Shōgun, not knowing Moritsugu's true heart, pardons him and does not put him to death, he will surely regret it later. I beg you to cut off my head at once," and he went to his execution.)

Fujiwara-no-Tadakiyo

¶Fujiwara-no-Tadakiyo was a man of Furuichi in Ise province. At first he was called Itō Gorō. (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari.) He served Taira-no-Kiyomori and was appointed Uemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Right Gate Guards. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.) Later he became Kazusa-no-suke, Assistant Governor of Kazusa.

¶When Tadakiyo was about eighteen, two bandits once fled into the treasure house of the Toba Palace, shut the gate, and barricaded themselves in. The constables merely surrounded the place, and none dared go in. Tadakiyo at once climbed over the wall and charged in, cut down one man with his own hand, and bound the other. All admired his nerve and courage. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

¶When Prince Mochihito raised troops, Tadakiyo slipped into Onjōji. When Minamoto-no-Yorimasa sent a circular letter to the warrior-monks and called on the two temples of Enryakuji and Kōfukuji, both temples responded. The Taira commanders gathered at Rokuhara to discuss measures. Tadakiyo said, "If the Sanmon (Enryakuji) and Nanto (Kōfukuji) join their strength, it will not be easy to hold them. If the warrior-monks of Miidera close the barriers and guard them firmly, the monks of the mountain take up crossbows and hold the strategic points, and troops of the Tōkai and the Hokuriku are called in, while Nanto brings the forces of Yoshino and Totsukawa, then we shall be struck from front and rear. If it becomes a long contest and days pile up, the Genji of the provinces will gather as well, and it will no longer be possible to break them. First we should lure the monks of the mountain with profit." So an inzen, a retired emperor's decree, was sent down to Enryakuji, to induce it to attack Onjōji. Twenty thousand koku of rice and three thousand bolts of silk were piled up at the monastic quarters for the warrior-monks to take as they pleased, and Enryakuji, just as expected, broke its promise and sided with the Taira.

¶When Prince Mochihito fled to Uji, Tadakiyo, together with his younger brother Kageaki and others, followed Taira-no-Tomomori in pursuit, personally led more than three hundred horsemen, and fought Tsutsui-no-Akihide, Watanabe-no-Habuku, and others, but without success. Before long Ashikaga-no-Tadatsuna advanced across the river, and Tadakiyo crossed after him, fought, and won distinction. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶Taira-no-Shigehira and the others, hearing that the Prince had fled to Nara, hurried to pursue him, but Tadakiyo said, "By the time we reach Nanto the day will be over, and this is not good policy," and had the army turned back. (Note: following the Sankaiki.)

¶Soon afterward he followed Taira-no-Koremori as vanguard, went down to the eastern provinces to strike Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, and pitched camp west of the Fuji River in Suruga. In the night waterfowl took fright and made a great noise; mistaking it for a night attack by Yoritomo's troops, the whole army fell into great confusion and fled back of its own accord. Kiyomori was furious and ordered Tadakiyo beheaded (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari), but Taira-no-Morikuni exerted himself to plead for his life, and he was spared. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

¶After that he followed Koremori and attacked Minamoto-no-Yukiie at the Sunomata River, and again, with his son Tadatsuna, followed Koremori and attacked Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka in the northern provinces. On that occasion Tadatsuna died in battle. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶Tadakiyo at last shaved his head and fled. (Note: following the Itō-bon, Yasaka-bon, and Nanto-bon Heike Monogatari.) When Taira-no-Ietsugu rallied like-minded men and raised troops in Iga, Tadakiyo joined him. When Ietsugu was defeated and killed, Tadakiyo fled and hid in the mountains (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Gyokuyō), and later lay hidden at Asō-no-ura in Shima province. He was seized by the retainers of Katō-da Mitsukazu and sent to the capital, and was at last beheaded at the Rokujō riverbed. (Note: following the Azuma Kagami. The Heike Monogatari says that when Kiyomori died, the brothers Tadakiyo and his brother both shaved their heads, that soon after, when Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka's forces rose, his sons and nephews all died in battle, and that Tadakiyo at last died in grief, but that account is not adopted here.)

¶He had three sons, named Tadatsuna, Tadamitsu, and Kagekiyo. Tadamitsu is recorded in the Biographies of the Loyal and Courageous. Tadatsuna was called Kazusa Tarō and became a Kebiishi. In the Jishō years he followed his father to Uji, struck down Minamoto-no-Yorimasa, and shot dead Minamoto-no-Kanetsuna. Later he followed in attacking Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka and died in battle. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari.)

Fujiwara-no-Kagekiyo

¶Fujiwara-no-Kagekiyo was called Kazusa Shichirō-hyōe. He was large of build and widely known in his day for his fierceness, and was called in the world Aku Shichibyōe. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari. That he was large of build is from the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari.)

¶In the Juei years he served under Taira-no-Koremori in the attack on Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka without success, and again followed Taira-no-Tomomori and attacked Minamoto-no-Yukiie at Muroyama and defeated him. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶At the battle of Yashima, Kagekiyo went ashore and clashed with Mioya-no-Jūrō. When Jūrō turned and fled, Kagekiyo gave chase, gripped a naginata under his left arm and seized Jūrō's helmet with his right hand, and as they pulled against each other he tore off the shikoro, but Jūrō got away. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

¶When Yoshitsune pressed toward Dan-no-ura and Taira-no-Tomomori sought to capture Yoshitsune, Kagekiyo said, "The warriors of Bandō are good at fighting on horseback, but in a sea battle they are like fish climbing a tree; we shall take them all and throw them into the sea." When Taira-no-Moritsugu grappled with Fujiwara-no-Noritsuna in a boat, Kagekiyo struck Noritsuna from the side and killed him. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶When the Taira were destroyed, Kagekiyo fled. When Taira-no-Tomotada raised troops at Hōshōji, Kagekiyo joined him, but when Tomotada was defeated, he escaped. (Note: following the Nagato-bon and Jobaku-bon Heike Monogatari.)

¶Later he came forward and surrendered, and Yoritomo ordered Wada-no-Yoshimori to keep him in his residence. Kagekiyo behaved arrogantly and discourteously, and Yoshimori, unable to bear it, asked to be excused, and Kagekiyo was transferred to the custody of Hatta-no-Tomoie. After a little more than a year, Kagekiyo starved himself to death. (Note: following the Yasaka-bon Heike Monogatari.)

¶Tadakiyo had a younger brother, Kageie.

Fujiwara-no-Kageie

¶Fujiwara-no-Kageie was appointed Hida-no-kami, Governor of Hida. He followed his elder brother Tadakiyo in the fighting at Uji and took the head of Minamoto-no-Yorimasa. (Note: following the Sankaiki.) Because Genkaku of Enmanin fought with all his strength, Kageie feared that Prince Mochihito would escape, and led troops in hot pursuit. At Kōmyōsan he had arrows rained on the riders, and the Prince was struck by a stray arrow and lost his life. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari.)

¶In the early days of Yōwa he led his son Kagetaka and followed Taira-no-Koremori to attack Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka in the northern provinces. At the battle of Ataka, Kagetaka died in action. Kageie, together with his elder brother Tadakiyo, shaved his head and took Buddhist orders (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Yasaka-bon Heike Monogatari. The Jōsuiki also has Kageie's name at the battle of Fujito, but this is probably an error), and what became of him afterward is not known.

¶He had two sons, Kagetaka and Kagetsune.

¶Kagetaka was called Tarō Saemon. He followed his father in pursuing Prince Mochihito, took his head, and returned. Later he served under Taira-no-Koremori in the attack on Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka, was badly defeated, and fell back to fight at the ford of Ataka. Kagetaka, with five hundred troops, met two hundred or more of Nei-no-Yukichika's men and fought hard for a long time, and when the casualties on both sides were nearly exhausted, he was at last killed by Yukichika. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki.)

¶Kagetsune was called Saburō Saemon and, being a menoto-ko, foster-brother, of Taira-no-Munemori, was the most closely and warmly regarded by him. When the battle of Dan-no-ura was lost and Munemori threw himself into the sea, Kagetsune was hooked with a rake by Ise-no-Yoshimori and taken. Kagetsune scolded him in a loud voice, leapt into his boat, swung his sword and cut down one man, and moved on to strike Yoshimori. Hori-no-Chikaie shot an arrow from the side and hit Kagetsune in the forehead, and so he was finally killed. (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari.)

Fujiwara-no-Kagetaka

¶Seo-no-Kaneyasu was a man of Bitchū province, called Tarō, who held the Seo estate. (Note: Seo is also written with different characters, read the same way.)

¶In the Juei years he followed Taira-no-Koremori to attack Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka and fought at the ford of Ataka, but was captured by Kuramitsu-no-Narizumi and was about to be beheaded. Yoshinaka, seeing his appearance, felt that he was no ordinary man, released him, and placed him in the custody of Narizumi's younger brother Nariuji. Kaneyasu humbled his heart and served Nariuji, and was much liked by him. He then urged, saying, "The Seo estate is a fine land, rich in water and grass. If you ask for it, you will surely obtain it. I shall guide you." Nariuji petitioned Yoshinaka, and they set out together.

¶Kaneyasu's son Muneyasu heard of this, came to meet them, and joined them at the provincial headquarters of Harima. When the party reached the Mitsuishi station in Bizen, friends came to visit them with sake, and they held a lavish feast through the night. When Nariuji fell asleep dead drunk, Kaneyasu and Muneyasu stabbed him to death. They then attacked and killed the deputy whom Minamoto-no-Yukiie had stationed at the Bizen provincial headquarters, in his residence. Calling up soldiers, they gathered more than two thousand, built a stockade at Sasa-no-sako, and held it firmly.

¶Just then Yoshinaka, leading troops toward Bizen, heard of this, was greatly enraged, and sent Imai-no-Kanehira with three thousand troops to attack them. Kaneyasu was routed, defended the Itakura River in Bitchū, was pursued and defeated again, grappled with Narizumi, and fell into the river. In the water he seized Narizumi's sword and killed him with it, took his horse, and fled. Muneyasu was stout and his feet were swollen so that he could not walk, and he collapsed by the road. Kaneyasu had already gone about one ri, but could not bear to abandon him and turned back, and looking toward his native place he wept. Then the pursuers rode up, and, knowing he could not escape, he stabbed Muneyasu to death himself, fought with all his strength and cut down several men, but was at last killed. (Note: following the Heike Monogatari. The Genpei Jōsuiki has the following.

¶At first Kaneyasu was captured and humbled his heart to serve Yoshinaka. Just then Yoshinaka's army was greatly defeated in the battle of Mizushima in Bitchū, and the men of the province all submitted to the Taira. Yoshinaka personally led troops to attack them. Kaneyasu, being a native of that land, was ordered to be guide. When they reached Harima, Kaneyasu deceived Yoshinaka, saying, "Let me go ahead to Bitchū first. I shall have the men of my home province prepare provisions." He also urged Narizumi, saying, "The Seo estate that I once held is fertile land. Why not petition for it in return for your merit?" Narizumi petitioned Yoshinaka and was granted it, and set out for Seo with Kaneyasu. When they reached the Wake ford in Bizen, they rested in a temple by the road. Kaneyasu said, "Seo is not far from here, but the villagers do not yet know that their new lord is coming. So that the hospitality may not fall short, let me go ahead and inform the elders of the village." Then he galloped to Kusakabe village, plotted with old acquaintances, and in the night led his men to attack the temple and killed Narizumi. Summoning soldiers, he gathered three hundred and took position on the rugged ground of Sasa-no-sako. Yoshinaka, hearing that Narizumi had been killed, was greatly enraged and attacked. Kaneyasu's army was defeated, fell back to defend Itakura, was defeated again, and fled with his son Kanemichi. Kanemichi was stout and could not follow on foot. The two went into a wood, hid behind a great tree, and shot at their pursuers, but when their arrows were gone, each disemboweled himself and died. This book now follows the account given here.)