Biographies LXXXIX: Figures of the Jōkyū Era

Fujiwara-no-Tadanobu

¶The Jōkyū Disturbance was a great upheaval in the realm, an event that decided whether the authority of the Court would flourish or decline. For the Son of Heaven to govern a mere commoner is a matter of correct standing and sound principle, and the force of his position ought to make it as easy as mastering a fox or a hare. Yet Hōjō-no-Yoshitoki held the power over soldiers and horses and wielded an authority like that of a tiger or a wolf. Three Retired Emperors were all sent into exile, and even the deposing and setting up of emperors came to rest on Yoshitoki's will. This was a calamity without precedent since the opening of heaven and earth. If one traces its origin, it lay in the slackening of the Court's discipline and its loss of real power over land and arms. This did not come about in a single morning or evening, but it cannot be denied that Retired Emperor Gotoba, failing to grasp the root of the matter, raised troops lightly, and that this too was one of the causes. Moreover, those who assisted the Court at that time lacked the talent to rescue the situation, the commanders lacked the capacity to face the enemy, and those who joined in the plot were all timid and feeble men. Disaster piled upon disaster, the rebellion came swiftly, and it is no wonder that they met defeat in a single battle. Yet among them there were those who exerted their full strength, those who gave up their lives when danger came, those who left the side of the rebels to serve the Court with loyalty, and those who put aside private feeling to serve the public good. Their courses of action were not the same, but in having exerted themselves for the Court they were one. As the Shujing says, "When fire burns on the Kunlun mountain, jade and stone are burned together." They were not favored by the turn of the times and met undeserved deaths, but in having served without a divided heart in their duties they are alike. Each is given the appraisal he deserves, and all are here compiled and gathered into a biography.

Fujiwara-no-Muneyuki

¶Fujiwara-no-Tadanobu was a son of Nobukiyo, Naidaijin, Minister of the Interior. Tadanobu's aunt entered the harem of Emperor Takakura and bore Emperor Gotoba, and three of Tadanobu's sisters all served in the harems of Emperor Gotoba and Emperor Juntoku (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). Tadanobu rose to high rank while still young, passing through the posts of Jijū, Chamberlain, Sakonoe-no-shōshō, Junior Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and Ukonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, concurrently serving as Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain; step by step he advanced to Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, and also held concurrent posts as Commander of the Left and Right Gate Guards. In the fifth year of Kenpō he was granted Senior Second Rank, and in the following year was appointed Gon-dainagon, Provisional Major Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Tadanobu's sister was married to Minamoto-no-Sanetomo, and when Sanetomo was made Udaijin, Minister of the Right, and held the great banquet, Tadanobu went to Kamakura as the guest of honor together with other kugyō, the high court nobles. In the Jōkyū Disturbance he led troops and guarded Yodo (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki. The Azuma Kagami says "he guarded Imoarai"), but the Court's army was defeated. The Hōjō searched out the court nobles who had sided with the Court, seized Tadanobu, and sent him to Rokuhara, and then on to Kamakura. Chiba-no-Tanetsuna took Tadanobu as far as Maizawa in Tōtōmi and was about to kill him. Because Sanetomo's widow pleaded with Hōjō-no-Masako, he was granted a special pardon (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). Tadanobu returned to the capital, shaved his head and became a monk, but soon afterwards was banished to Echigo by Yoshitoki (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Earlier, Retired Emperor Gotoba had had Nobunari, a son of Chikakane of the same clan, adopted as Tadanobu's heir, and Nobunari had been appointed Sangi, Counsellor (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). In the Jōkyū Disturbance, Nobunari was among the very first to join the plot, and his retainer Kawawa-no-Iekata, together with more than sixty of his kinsmen, took position at Ganmonzan in Tsukigase but was defeated by Sasaki-no-Nobuzane. Iekata was a descendant of Takiguchi-no-Suekata (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). When the Retired Emperor died in Oki, Nobunari was deeply grieved, shaved his head and became a monk (Note: compare the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Kugyō Bunin).

Minamoto-no-Arimasa

¶Fujiwara-no-Muneyuki was a son of Yukitaka, Sa-daiben, Major Controller of the Left. Rising through successive posts, he reached U-daiben, Major Controller of the Right, and Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, and was appointed Sangi, Counsellor. In the sixth year of Kenpō he became Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the Jōkyū Disturbance he was seized on the charge of having joined the plot, and on the way to Rokuhara he shaved his head; when he reached Kikugawa in Tōtōmi, he is said to have written the following on the pillar of his lodging: "Long ago, at Nanyang in China, the waters of the Chrysanthemum Spring were said to lengthen the lives of those who drank downstream. Now, at Kikugawa on the Tōkaidō, I who lodged on its western bank shall lose my life." He was then killed when he reached Aizugahara in Suruga (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). He was forty-eight years old (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin. The Azuma Kagami says forty-seven).

Fujiwara-no-Mitsuchika

¶Minamoto-no-Arimasa was a son of Masakata, Sangi, Counsellor. He was appointed Ukonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Right Palace Guards, concurrently serving as Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, rose to Sangi, Counsellor, was granted Senior Third Rank, and concurrently held the posts of Uhyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Right Military Guards, and Kebiishi-no-betto, Superintendent of the Police Commission. In the second year of Kenryaku he became Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the Jōkyū Disturbance he led troops together with Fujiwara-no-Norishige and guarded Uji, but the Court's army was defeated, and Arimasa was captured and sent to Rokuhara. Ogasawara-no-Nagakiyo took him as far as Itagaki in Kai and was about to cut him down. Arimasa, relying on his close relations with Hōjō-no-Masako, asked to be allowed to wait for the news of a pardon before meeting his death. But Nagakiyo would not listen and beheaded him. He was forty-six years old at the time (Note: his age follows the Azuma Kagami and the Kugyō Bunin). Just then the news of the pardon arrived, but Arimasa had already been cut down, and all who heard of it pitied him (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki).

Fujiwara-no-Norishige

¶Fujiwara-no-Mitsuchika was a son of Mitsumasa, Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor. He served successively as Sa-chūben, Middle Controller of the Left, and U-chūben, Middle Controller of the Right, concurrently holding the post of Kurōdo, Chamberlain, rose to Sangi, Counsellor, and concurrently held the posts of Uhyōe-no-kami, Commander of the Right Military Guards, and Kebiishi-no-betto, Superintendent of the Police Commission. In the first year of Kenryaku he was appointed Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, and afterwards concurrently served as Mutsu-Dewa Azechi, Inspector of Mutsu and Dewa (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Mitsuchika was outstanding in learning and received especially favorable treatment. When Retired Emperor Gotoba planned to subdue the Hōjō, Mitsuchika remonstrated strongly, argued that it should not be done, and submitted dozens of written opinions. But the Retired Emperor would not listen. For that reason Mitsuchika had no choice but to draft the imperial edict ordering the pursuit and destruction of Yoshitoki, and set out Yoshitoki's crimes in it (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). When the Court's army was defeated, Mitsuchika was seized and sent to Rokuhara. Takeda-no-Nobumitsu took him as far as Kakozaka in Suruga and beheaded him (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). As he faced death, Mitsuchika called a monk and had him recite the nenbutsu, and went to his death with composure (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). He was forty-six years old at the time. It is said that afterwards Hōjō-no-Yasutoki, on seeing Mitsuchika's written remonstrances, deeply regretted and mourned his death (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). He wrote the Shingenki (Note: following the Ninna-ji Shoseki Mokuroku).

Fujiwara-no-Nobuyoshi

¶Fujiwara-no-Norishige was a son of Norisue, Moku-no-kami, Director of the Bureau of Carpentry, and was a full brother of Shumeimon'in. At the age of fourteen, by virtue of his father's rank, he was appointed Kurōdo, Chamberlain; he served as Sakonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, and was appointed Sangi, Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). Together with Minamoto-no-Arimasa he led troops and guarded Uji, but the Court's army was defeated, and Norishige was captured and sent to Rokuhara. Hōjō-no-Tomotoki took him as far as Mount Ashigara and was about to cut him down. Norishige asked a promise of his guards: "I have heard that one whose five limbs are not whole cannot attain Buddhahood. Please let me end my life by being sunk in water." Tomotoki allowed it, and in the end he was sunk in the water (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki).

Fujiwara-no-Tomotoshi

¶Fujiwara-no-Nobuyoshi was a son of Yoshiyasu, Gon-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor, and served successively as Sakonoe-no-chūjō, Middle Captain of the Left Palace Guards, and Kurōdo-no-tō, Head Chamberlain, before being appointed Sangi, Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). He led troops and guarded the Imoarai ferry, but the Court's army was defeated, and Nobuyoshi was captured and sent to Rokuhara. Tōyama-no-Kagetomo took him as far as Tōyama in Mino and beheaded him (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). His younger brother, the monk Sonchō (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku), had guarded Imoarai together with Nobuyoshi (Note: following the Azuma Kagami), and when the army was defeated he fled into hiding at Totsukawa (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). He was later captured and killed himself (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Miura-no-Taneyoshi

¶Fujiwara-no-Tomotoshi was Emon-no-suke, Assistant Captain of the Gate Guards. When the imperial army was setting out for Uji, Tomotoshi took leave of the Retired Emperor and addressed him: "If the imperial army is victorious, your servant will return alive, though wounded, and report. If the rebels' strength should grow rampant, I shall repay the country with my death." (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki.) When the army was defeated, Hatta-no-Tomohisa, Sasaki-no-Ujitsuna and others raised Tomotoshi up as their commander, fought on the riverbank, and were all wiped out. Tomotoshi charged into the enemy ranks and died in battle (Note: compare the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki).

Ōe-no-Chikahiro

¶Miura-no-Taneyoshi was a son of Miura-no-Yoshizumi (Note: following the Heishi Keizu). He was called Heikurō, became Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, and was appointed a Kebiishi, police commissioner (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki and the Miura Keizu). Once, while on night duty in Kyoto, he did not return to his post when the time for relief came. At that time Retired Emperor Gotoba was planning to subdue Yoshitoki and was seeking a commander able to carry the matter through; finding it strange that Taneyoshi had stayed so long in the capital, he ordered Fujiwara-no-Hideyasu to find out the reason. Hideyasu secretly invited Taneyoshi by night, prepared wine, and asked about his true intentions. Taneyoshi answered: "My wife is a daughter of Ippōbō Shōkan, who was a close retainer of the late Ukon'e-no-taishō (Minamoto-no-Yoritomo) (Note: this book writes 'Shōkan' as 'Ippōbō Seikan,' but that is an error of sound, and it is corrected here following the Azuma Kagami and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). At first my wife served the late Saemon-no-kami (Minamoto-no-Yoriie) and bore him a son, but that child was killed by Yoshitoki. She is deeply grieved by this wrong and often says, 'I do not wish to face Yoshitoki.' I understand her feelings well and truly pity her. That is why I have no heart to return to my post." Hideyasu, perceiving that his reasons were understandable, gradually revealed the Retired Emperor's intentions. Taneyoshi was roused and said: "When the Son of Heaven moves to punish a rebellious subject, who among the subjects of the realm would dare to oppose him? Moreover, my elder brother Miura-no-Yoshimura has courage beyond that of ordinary men. If he is promised the post of Tenka Sōtsuibushi, Inspector-General of the Realm, once the matter is accomplished, he will gladly obey the command. I too shall send him a private letter urging him." Hideyasu reported this to the Retired Emperor, who was greatly pleased and settled upon a plan to gather troops. The Retired Emperor sent an envoy to Taneyoshi to have a letter delivered to Yoshimura and summon him, and also meant to summon Fujiwara-no-Mitsusue and Ōe-no-Chikahiro, the Protectors of Kyoto. Taneyoshi said: "Chikahiro will answer at once if summoned. But Mitsusue is the elder brother of Yoshitoki's wife (Note: 'elder brother of his wife' follows the Azuma Kagami), so he will certainly not come. It would be best to summon them and put to death whoever does not come." The Retired Emperor followed this. As expected, Mitsusue did not obey the imperial command, and Taneyoshi, together with Hideyasu, led troops and killed him. The Retired Emperor was greatly pleased and wished to reward him. Taneyoshi said: "How could I accept a reward for having destroyed a single small enemy? I will wait until the rebels have been put down." The Retired Emperor therefore withheld the reward. Soon afterwards Yoshimura sent Taneyoshi's envoy away and showed his letter to Yoshitoki. When Yoshitoki's army advanced on Kyoto, the imperial army met it at the Owari River. Taneyoshi, together with Hideyasu, led ten thousand troops guarding Mamedo, but hearing that Ōido had fallen, he tried to hurry to its aid. Hideyasu, fearful, said: "If the eastern army gets behind us, we shall receive the enemy from front and rear, and that is a dangerous road. Since we have already received the Court's plan of operations, if things go badly at the Owari River we should withdraw and hold Uji and Seta; we cannot disobey the imperial command." He then pulled back his troops. Taneyoshi, alone, could not advance, and he too withdrew and returned. The Court again deliberated on dividing troops among the commanders and sending them out, and Taneyoshi once more went with Hideyasu and the others to the Handa ferry crossing. But at Uji and Seta the imperial army was heavily defeated, and Taneyoshi and the rest likewise broke and returned. They tried to report the state of the fighting to the Retired Emperor, but the palace gates were shut and they could not enter (Note: the Azuma Kagami says, "Taneyoshi and the others reported, 'The eastern army has gathered like clouds and mist, and the roads are blocked. Your servants are resolved that they have no means of escaping death themselves,'" but it does not record that the palace gates were closed). Taneyoshi, filled with unappeasable indignation, resolved to go to the enemy lines and die. On the road he came out at Tō-ji, where he met troops of the Genji side belonging to the Sahara, a clan related to his own. Taneyoshi deliberately avoided them and did not fight, but Sahara-no-Kageyoshi led his men and attacked. Taneyoshi scolded him: "Why do you forget the bond of common kin?" He then ordered his son Tarō-hyōe-no-jō, name not recorded, and Jirō-hyōe-no-jō Tanetsura and others to strike them. Kageyoshi fled in defeat. The troops of Anzai Kanemari, a man of Awa, attacked. Taneyoshi fought with the resolve of one ready to die and exchanged several blows, but Tanetsura fell, killed as he and Takai-no-Tokiyoshi stabbed each other. Taneyoshi's men were nearly all dead, and he fled to Higashiyama with only Tarō-hyōe-no-jō. Since his wife and children were at Uzumasa, he went there to meet them. When he reached Konoshima, enemy soldiers were waiting along the road. Father and son hid in the thicket of a shrine, intending to go on after nightfall. A former subordinate of his who had become a monk happened to follow their tracks and arrived, and said: "The troops of Amano-no-Masakage fill the roads before and behind you, and you cannot escape. You will only be disgraced." Tarō-hyōe-no-jō heard this and killed himself first. Taneyoshi said to the monk: "Take away the heads of father and son and show them to my wife. After that, send them to the Suruga-no-kami (Miura-no-Yoshimura) and tell him, 'Our kin have all perished, and you alone, elder brother, remain alive. How pleasant that must be.'" He then killed himself. The monk did as he was told, and Yoshimura delivered the heads to Hōjō-no-Yasutoki. Taneyoshi had five sons in the east, all of them young, who were being raised in the household of their grandmother, the nun of Yabe. Because of Taneyoshi's guilt as the chief plotter, Yoshitoki ordered Yoshimura to put them all to death. The nun of Yabe hid Toyoōmaru and would not give him up, and so he alone was spared, while the rest of the children were all beheaded (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki).

Fujiwara-no-Hideyasu

¶Ōe-no-Chikahiro was a son of Hiromoto, Daizen-no-daibu, Master of the Palace Table. He was appointed Ukonoe-no-shōgen, Lieutenant of the Right Palace Guards, and Minbu-no-shō, Junior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs, and was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower. He served as Tōtōmi-no-kami, and was transferred to Musashi-no-kami. In the first year of Jōkyū, when Minamoto-no-Sanetomo died, Chikahiro, unable to cease his mourning, shaved his head (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). His Buddhist name was Ren'a (Note: following the Ōe Keizu). Together with the Kebiishi Fujiwara-no-Mitsusue he became a Protector of the Capital region (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). When the Retired Emperor planned to subdue Yoshitoki, he used the yabusame mounted archery at Jōnan-ji as a pretext and summoned Chikahiro first. Chikahiro did not perceive the intention and came with more than fifty horsemen. The Retired Emperor questioned him in person: "Will you side with Yoshitoki, or with the Court? Decide your allegiance at once." Pressed, Chikahiro answered, "I wish to exert myself for the Court." Thereupon he was made to write a pledge on the spot (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). When Hōjō-no-Yasutoki and the others pressed on Uji and Seta, Chikahiro, together with Fujiwara-no-Hideyasu and Nakajō-no-Morioki, Governor of Shimōsa, held the Handa ferry crossing against them, but his troops were defeated and fled (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki).

Yamada-no-Shigetada

¶Fujiwara-no-Hideyasu was a son of Hidemune, Yamato-no-kami. Hidemune's original surname was Taira and he was called Wada, but as he had been adopted by his maternal grandfather Fujiwara-no-Hidetada, he took that surname. Hideyasu served as Sahyōe and Saemon-no-jō, a Kebiishi, was appointed Noto-no-kami, and became a Saimen-no-bushi, warrior of the Western Guard (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). When Retired Emperor Gotoba planned to subdue Yoshitoki, he ordered Hideyasu to persuade Miura-no-Taneyoshi. Taneyoshi obeyed the command, and the Retired Emperor's resolve was fixed. When Hōjō-no-Yasutoki advanced on Kyoto, the imperial army met him at the Owari River. The river had nine crossings, and the imperial army divided into nine forces and defended the two routes of the Tōsandō and the Tōkaidō. Hideyasu, with Taneyoshi and Nakajō-no-Moritsuna and others, went to Mamedo to face the rebel army coming along the Tōkaidō. When the rebels broke through Ōido, Taneyoshi and Moritsuna tried to go to its relief, but Hideyasu would not agree, abandoned the army, and returned to the capital. The commanders were enraged, but because he was one of the Retired Emperor's close attendants they could not oppose his words; they fled one after another, and the imperial army collapsed entirely. When the army of Yasutoki and the others pressed on the capital region, the Court deliberated on defending at Uji and Seta. Hideyasu once more led more than ten thousand horsemen with Taneyoshi and Moritsuna and guarded the Handa ferry crossing, but was again defeated (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). With his younger brother Hidezumi he fled into hiding in Kawachi (Note: the Sonpi Bunmyaku says, "Hidezumi died at Sunomata"), but was later discovered and searched for (Note: following the Azuma Kagami), and Hideyasu killed himself. Hideyasu's son Hidenobu and his nephew Hidenori both joined the army and died in battle (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Shimizu-no-Yoritaka

¶Yamada-no-Shigetada was a descendant of Minamoto-no-Mitsumasa, Chinjufu-shōgun, Commander of the Pacification Headquarters. His family lived in Mino for generations. His remote ancestor Shigezane served Retired Emperor Toba, and together with his younger brother Shigetoki and Minamoto-no-Mitsunobu and others was known as one of the Four Heavenly Kings. His son Shigetō became a son-in-law of Minamoto-no-Yoshiie and was adopted by his grandfather Shigemune. When Shigemune was defeated and died in battle with Yoshiie, Shigetō moved to Owari. His son Shigenao took the name Yamada Senjō, "the Elder of Yamada," and fathered Shigemitsu. Shigemitsu was Shigetada's father and was called Izumi-no-Kanja (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). In the first year of Yōwa he followed Minamoto-no-Yukiie and fought Taira-no-Shigehira and others at the Sunomata River; leading a separate force of seven hundred, he crossed the river by night to attack the enemy, but could not win and fell in battle (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki; compare the Sonpi Bunmyaku and the Azuma Kagami). Shigetada was called Jirō (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). He was brave and capable and generous toward others, and so was praised by the men of his time (Note: following the Shasekishū). In the Jōkyū Disturbance Shigetada, together with Fujiwara-no-Hidezumi, was guarding Sunomata (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). When Takeda-no-Nobumitsu and others broke through Ōido, the commanders watched the situation and scattered. Shigetada alone spoke in indignation: "We have received an imperial edict to punish the rebels, and yet to withdraw without loosing a single arrow! When the Court asks us, what defense can we offer?" He then led more than ninety horsemen, stood fast on the riverbank, drew his strong bow, and showered arrows on the enemy. Many of the enemy soldiers were struck and fell into the river, and could not advance. Yasutoki on the Hōjō side commanded his troops and fought hard. When the great army arrived one unit after another, Shigetada's force was defeated, and as he retreated alone on horseback he fell by mistake into a ditch. A single enemy horseman caught up and exchanged several blows with him, but his own men rushed up and rescued him, and he got away. When he reached Koseki in Mino, he tied his banner to the top of a tree as a decoy and departed. The imperial army was holding Uji and Seta. Shigetada further led more than two thousand horsemen, warrior monks of Enryaku-ji, to Seta, broke down the bridge, and fought hard. Hōjō-no-Tokifusa gathered his troops and withdrew. But when Yasutoki attacked Uji, the Court's army was defeated. Shigetada could not hold alone, and with the other commanders he drew back his troops and returned. The Retired Emperor ordered the gatekeepers not to let Shigetada in, and had them say, "Go wherever you please." Shigetada pounded on the gate and cursed loudly, saying, "Ah, I have been misled by a foolish lord," and galloped into Mount Saga. As enemy soldiers closed in, his son Shigetsugu, Izu-no-kami, and the monk Iyobō held them off. Shigetada then killed himself, and Shigetsugu was struck by arrows and captured (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). Shigetsugu's son Kanetsugu, aged fourteen, was banished to Echigo. Shigetada's kinsmen Shigetomo, Shigeyoshi and others all died. Kida-no-Shigekuni, Kojima-no-Shigetoshi (a man of Mino), and Asuke-no-Shigenari (a man of Mikawa) were also all of Shigetada's clan; Shigekuni died at Mamedo together with his son Shigetomo and his nephew Shigesue. Shigetoshi also died together with his younger brothers Shigemochi, Shigetsugu (a different man from the one mentioned above) and Shigemichi, and Shigenari too died (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku; the account of Shigetoshi's death follows the printed edition).

Hatta-no-Tomohisa

¶Shimizu-no-Yoritaka was a descendant of Minamoto-no-Yorimitsu. His family lived in Mino for generations. His father Yorikane was called Shimizu Gorō. Yoritaka was called Shin-Kurōdo. In the Jōkyū Disturbance he led troops and guarded Ōido, but because his kinsman Kurino-no-Kunimitsu and others happened to be on the enemy side, Yoritaka fought against them; his army was defeated, and Yoritaka fell in battle (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Sasaki-no-Tsunetaka

¶Hatta-no-Tomohisa was a son of Tomoie, Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). He was called Chikugo Rokurō. In the disturbance of Wada-no-Yoshimori he crushed the rebels together with Ashikaga-no-Yoshiuji (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). He served Retired Emperor Gotoba, was appointed Saemon-no-jō, and became a Saimen-no-bushi, warrior of the Western Guard. In the Jōkyū upheaval the Retired Emperor had Tomohisa lead troops and guard Ōido, and encouraged him by giving him a sword that he had himself tempered. When the army was defeated, Tomohisa was overtaken by Takeda-no-Nobutaka. Tomohisa turned back and fought, drew the sword that had been bestowed on him and cut off the head of the horse Nobutaka was riding, escaped and returned to the capital, and went out again to guard the Uji bridge (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). He died in battle together with Fujiwara-no-Tomotoshi (Note: following the Azuma Kagami).

Sasaki-no-Hirotsuna

¶Sasaki-no-Tsunetaka was called Jirō. He was a son of Hideyoshi. When his father was pursued by the Taira, he took refuge at Hatano in Sagami (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Shibuya-no-Shigekuni gave his daughter in marriage to Tsunetaka and cherished him as his own son (Note: following the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari). When Minamoto-no-Yoritomo was about to attack Taira-no-Kanetaka, Tsunetaka too wished to join him, but Shigekuni firmly forbade it. Tsunetaka said: "Having resolved to go for the sake of righteousness, I cannot look back on the obligations of private feeling. If my father-in-law is angered, I leave the lives of my wife and children in your hands. If in some later day the Suke-dono (Minamoto-no-Yoritomo) accomplishes his purpose, who could take my wife and children captive?" (Note: compare the Azuma Kagami and the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari.) At last he went to Izu with his elder brother Sadatsuna and the others, and followed Hōjō-no-Tokimasa in attacking Kanetaka. Tokimasa sent Tsunetaka and the others out in separate groups to strike Kanetaka's partisan Tsutsumi-no-Nobutō. Sadatsuna and the others went around to the back of the residence, while Tsunetaka advanced straight on and reached the front garden and loosed an arrow. The men of that time praised this as the first arrow Yoritomo shot against the Taira. When Nobutō burst out brandishing his sword, Tsunetaka fought him fiercely and took an arrow that flew at him. Sadatsuna and Takatsuna pulled out the arrow, and at last Nobutō was cut down. When the army was defeated in the battle of Ishibashiyama, Sadatsuna and the others threw themselves on the protection of Shigekuni's house. Tsunetaka, remembering his earlier words, did not go. Shigekuni sent a man to look for Tsunetaka. Ōba-no-Kagechika tried to take Tsunetaka's wife and children captive, but Shigekuni used every argument to turn him away, and the wife and children escaped harm. When the Taira had been destroyed, Tsunetaka was appointed Nakatsukasa-no-jō, Secretary of the Ministry of Central Affairs, became Shugo, Protector, of Awaji, Awa and Tosa, and guarded Kyoto. In the time of Minamoto-no-Yoriie, Tsunetaka committed some offense against the law, but because of his past service he was not called to account. In the second year of Shōji, someone reported that a certain rebel of Yamato was about to attack Kyoto. Tsunetaka at once called out the troops of the three provinces of Awaji, Awa and Tosa. Kyoto was thrown into uproar by this. Retired Emperor Gotoba was angered that Tsunetaka had disregarded the provincial governors and had recklessly raised troops and disturbed the capital; he ordered the shogunate to investigate, stripped him of his office as Protector, and confiscated his lands. Tsunetaka shaved his head and changed his name to Kyōren. The following year he sent his son Takashige to the shogunate to plead his innocence, and had him say: "In the seventh month of last year, there were repeated reports that a rebel of Yamato was plotting to attack Kyoto. We therefore gathered the troops of the three provinces and in the end captured the rebel, the monk Enshiki. But the Court listened to the words of slanderers, and instead he received blame. Tsunetaka has no means of clearing himself and begs that this false charge be lifted." Yoriie had the matter deliberated again and pardoned his offense. Takashige gave thanks and returned. Hōjō-no-Tokimasa, Ōe-no-Hiromoto and others sent horses to console him. Soon afterwards Tsunetaka himself came to give thanks, and offered to the portrait hall of Yoritomo a liturgy composed on the strength of six copies of the Lotus Sutra that he had transcribed with his own hand; its words were truly poignant. Stripped of office, he was in want even of alms. When Yoritomo's wife, the Hōjō lady (Masako), heard of this she pitied him, and ordered Yoriie to restore one of Tsunetaka's former estates. Tsunetaka spoke of his own services, unable to bear his emotion, and wept aloud. The old commanders from Wada-no-Yoshimori on down also shed tears on hearing it. Hōjō-no-Yasutoki said to his father Yoshitoki: "Kyōren's former lands were no more than a reward for his services. Now that his false charge has been cleared, everything should be restored as it was." Yoshitoki answered: "If one gives lands to warriors of long service, they will surely come to harbor disloyal intentions later." Yoshitoki did not accept his counsel. In the Jōkyū Disturbance Tsunetaka, as expected, received the edict and directed military affairs. When the imperial army was defeated, he fled into hiding at Washio. Yasutoki sent an envoy to say: "You must not die. I will petition the shogunate and see that your life is spared." Tsunetaka said, "These must be words urging me to kill myself," drew his sword and cut open his own belly. While he still breathed, the envoy put him on a conveyance and brought him back to Rokuhara. Yasutoki pitied and mourned him and told him how things really stood. Tsunetaka opened his eyes wide and cried out fiercely, but without uttering a single word he breathed his last. His son Takashige became Saemon-no-shōjō, Junior Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, and served as a Kebiishi. In the Jōkyū Disturbance he joined Miura-no-Taneyoshi in attacking and killing Iga-no-Mitsusue (Fujiwara-no-Mitsusue). He also guarded Seta together with Taneyoshi and the others, but was beaten by Hōjō-no-Tokifusa. He made a stand and fought at Sekidera, but his troops were defeated and he died in battle (Note: following the Azuma Kagami).

Kagami-no-Hisatsuna

¶Sasaki-no-Hirotsuna was a son of Sadatsuna, Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards. Implicated in the affair of his younger brother Sadashige, he was banished to Oki, but was soon pardoned and returned (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Sasaki Keizu). When Sadatsuna died, Hirotsuna succeeded to his position as Shugo, Protector, of Ōmi, entered Kyoto to keep guard, and was appointed Saemon-no-jō and Kebiishi. He was chosen by Retired Emperor Gotoba to be a Saimen-no-bushi, warrior of the Western Guard (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). In the sixth year of Kenpō, when the Retired Emperor made a progress to the Hiyoshi shrine, someone wounded a Sentō-warabe, an attendant boy, and Hirotsuna shot the culprit dead. The Retired Emperor praised this and granted him Junior Fifth Rank Lower, and the Shōgun Minamoto-no-Sanetomo, hearing of it, rewarded him with the two villages of Matsubushi and Beppu in Ōmi (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Sasaki Keizu; the account of the Sentō follows the Azuma Kagami). In the third year of Jōkyū he was appointed Yamashiro-no-kami (Note: following the Sasaki Keizu). In the rebellion against Hōjō-no-Yoshitoki, he joined Fujiwara-no-Hideyasu and Nakajō-no-Moritsuna and others in resisting Hōjō-no-Yasutoki at Mamedo, but fled in defeat (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). When Yasutoki pressed on Kyoto, he guarded Uji together with Minamoto-no-Arimasa, but was again defeated, captured, and beheaded in Kyoto (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). His sons Koretsuna and Tametsuna all died (Note: following the printed edition of the Sonpi Bunmyaku). His youngest son Setaka was fourteen, of handsome appearance, and served Imperial Prince Dōjo, the monk-prince, at Ninna-ji. When Hirotsuna died, the monk-prince sent Setaka to Rokuhara and dispatched an envoy to beg that he be spared. His mother, too, followed and pleaded for him, and Yasutoki, taking pity, pardoned him. But his uncle Nobutsuna happened to be there just then, and because Nobutsuna was on bad terms with Hirotsuna, he argued strongly against it. In the end Yasutoki had Setaka killed (Note: compare the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki).

Miyazaki-no-Sadanori

¶Kagami-no-Hisatsuna was a son of Sasaki-no-Sadashige (Note: following the Sasaki Keizu). He became Emon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Gate Guards, and went to Mamedo under Fujiwara-no-Hideyasu. When Hideyasu heard that Ōido had fallen, he fled without fighting. Hisatsuna wrote his own surname and personal name on his banner and fought Mōri-no-Suemitsu, but he was outnumbered and could not prevail, and lamented: "Because I was with the cowardly Hideyasu, I could not use my strength to drive off the enemy. This too must be fate." He then killed himself (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Sonpi Bunmyaku).

Nishina-no-Morotō

¶Miyazaki-no-Sadanori (Note: the Jōkyū-ki writes this as "Chikanori," but the Azuma Kagami is followed here) was appointed Saemon-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Left Gate Guards, and led the imperial army in guarding the Hokurikudō (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). He set up camp at a place called Jōdo in Ichiburi, held the stronghold of Kanbara, felled trees to block the road, and lined crossbows along the mountainside to await the rebels. But he was defeated by Hōjō-no-Tomotoki. He again guarded Mount Tonami together with Nishina-no-Morotō, but was again routed (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). Nothing is known of what became of him afterwards.

Kōno-no-Michinobu

¶Nishina-no-Morotō (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki and the Nishina Keizu; the Azuma Kagami writes "Moritomo") was a descendant of Taira-no-Sadamori, Chinjufu-shōgun, Commander of the Pacification Headquarters, and his family lived in Shinano for generations (Note: following the Nishina Keizu). Once, in fulfillment of a vow made long before, he took his child on pilgrimage to Kumano, where Retired Emperor Gotoba happened also to have come; the Retired Emperor saw Morotō's clean and handsome appearance along the road, took a liking to him, and ordered him into the Saimen, the Western Guard. Morotō was greatly pleased and followed the Retired Emperor, serving as an attendant guard in Kyoto. Hōjō-no-Yoshitoki, angered, said: "That man has already received favor from the Kantō. Why does he presume to approach the Retired Emperor's residence on his own?" and confiscated Morotō's lands. The Retired Emperor had them returned by imperial command, and also, concerning the estates of his favorite dancer Kamegiku, issued a petition to Yoshitoki by edict, but Yoshitoki did not obey the edict. The Retired Emperor had long stored up resentment toward the Kantō, and at this point the decision to attack was finally made (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). Morotō guarded the Hokurikudō together with Miyazaki-no-Sadanori and Yusurugi-no-Arihisa (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). Morotō took position on Mount Tonami and Arihisa at Shio, and leading the powerful local families of Kaga and Etchū, the Hayashi, Togashi, Nojiri and others, they fought Hōjō-no-Tomotoki, but their troops were defeated (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki). Morotō died in battle (Note: following the Nishina Keizu).

Ōuchi-no-Korenobu

¶Kōno-no-Michinobu was called Shirō; his clan name was Ochi, and he was a man of Iyo. His father was named Michikiyo. His great-grandfather Chikatsune was called Shin-daibu. For generations his ancestors had administered the affairs of their home province and had become a distinguished house. Chikatsune fathered Chikakiyo, and Chikakiyo became Gon-no-suke, Provisional Assistant Governor, of the home province. Chikakiyo had no son, and prayed to the god of Mishima, and so obtained Michikiyo (Note: following the Kōno Keizu and the Yoshōki). When Michikiyo grew up he stood eight shaku tall and his bearing also differed from that of ordinary men; he was supreme in the martial arts and his name was known throughout his age. In the Hōgen and Heiji disturbances he sent troops to help Minamoto-no-Tameyoshi and his sons. Michikiyo fathered Michinobu, and Michinobu was bold and rich in strategy. When Minamoto-no-Yoritomo raised troops in Izu, Michinobu, together with his father, responded from afar and repeatedly defeated the armies of Taira-no-Kiyomori. He also fought in Yu district and was defeated (Note: following the Yoshōki), and shut himself up in Takanao castle. The enemy added the troops of Nukata-no-Saijaku, a man of Bingo, and surrounded the castle; some of the defenders went over to the enemy, and Michikiyo at last fell in defeat. Michinobu fled to Aki and asked his uncle Numata-no-Jirō for troops (Note: the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Nagato-bon Heike Monogatari write this as "Nuta-no-Tarō"). Leading more than thirty warships he went to Bingo, and, disguised as fishermen, spied out Saijaku's position. Saijaku was just then holding a banquet with courtesans aboard his ship, and Michinobu advanced with more than a hundred men resolved to die, took Saijaku alive and returned, and killed him as an offering at his father's grave (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari; compare the Yoshōki). In the third year of Juei, Taira-no-Munemori sent Taira-no-Michimori and Taira-no-Noritsune to attack him. Michinobu resisted but was at a disadvantage and again fled to the Numata, where he joined forces and held out stubbornly. They fought for a day and a night, and the Numata, their strength exhausted, surrendered, but Michinobu escaped with six of his retainers. Enemy soldiers pursued, and five of the six were struck by arrows and died; one remained, but he grappled with an enemy and fell. Michinobu cut the enemy down, helped his man, and left. He reached Bizen, and with Ogata-no-Koreyoshi, Usuki-no-Koretaka and others took position in Imaki castle. Taira-no-Noritsune attacked, and he was again defeated and returned to Iyo. When Taira-no-Munemori, escorting the Emperor Antoku, reached Yashima, he sent an envoy to summon Michinobu, but Michinobu did not respond. Munemori then sent Taguchi-no-Narinao to attack him, and Michinobu fled in defeat. Just then Yoritomo's younger brothers Noriyori and Yoshitsune arrived, and Michinobu led his troops to join them and followed them in attacking Munemori (Note: compare the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). When matters were settled he returned to Iyo. Yoritomo divided the administration of Iyo in two, giving Dōzen to Sasaki-no-Moritsuna and Dōgo to Michinobu (Note: following the Kōno Monjo and the Yoshōki). That land was far from Kamakura, and attending the shogunate every year was a heavy burden, so Yoritomo ordered that one of Michinobu's sons or close kin attend in his place, showing him special consideration. Michinobu later moved to Kamakura and, following the campaign to subdue Fujiwara-no-Yasuhira, won distinction in battle in Mutsu. Yoritomo gave him the two villages of Sanhasama and Kume in Mutsu. He fell victim to the slander of Kajiwara-no-Kagetoki and was deprived of the administration of Dōgo, but when Kagetoki was destroyed he was soon trusted again. Michinobu's ancestor Morioki had been exceedingly fond of wine and always used ceramic vessels for food and drink, and his descendants followed his example (Note: following the Yoshōki). In this campaign too Michinobu is said to have taken ceramic vessels on campaign with him, and the world made a tale of it. When Minamoto-no-Yoriie succeeded to the headship, he sent Michinobu back to Iyo, praising his old services deeply. As he departed, Yoriie granted him to his face: "In all matters of the province, great and small, handle them as you judge best. Continue to lead your kinsmen as before." He also attached to Michinobu thirty-two house retainers in that land, to follow his command (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Yoshōki). Minamoto-no-Sanetomo further added Nii and Saijō, and in the end granted him the office of Shugo, Protector. Michinobu later shaved his head and took the Buddhist name Kankō (Note: following the Yoshōki; this book places his tonsure at the time of his exile to Mutsu, but the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki are followed here). In the Jōkyū Disturbance Michinobu led more than five hundred men and hastened to join the Court's side (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki; the number of troops follows the Jōkyū-ki. The Yoshōki says: "Michinobu had taken a daughter of Hōjō-no-Tokimasa as his wife, and in the Jōkyū years they were living together in Kamakura. His wife said to Michinobu, 'You have obtained your rank and reputation because you allied yourself with my family.' Michinobu was ashamed and angry, and that very night fled to Kyoto and asked to serve the Court. At that time the Emperor Gotoba harbored the intention of subduing Yoshitoki, and was greatly pleased to obtain Michinobu; he bestowed a court lady to be married to Michinobu's son Michimasa, and his favor was exceptionally deep." This is not found in other books, so it is not adopted here). When Yoshitoki sent troops to attack Kyoto, Michinobu, together with his son Michimasa, took position at Hirose and resisted (Note: following the Jōkyū-ki; for Michimasa, the Kōno Keizu is followed). The imperial army was defeated, and Yoshitoki banished Michinobu to Hiraizumi in Mutsu. In the second year of Jōō he died in the place of exile, at the age of sixty-eight (Note: following the Yoshōki).

¶His sons were Michitoshi, Michimasa, Michihisa, Michihiro and Michiyasu. Michimasa was called Shin-daibu and was a Saimen-no-bushi of the Retired Emperor, but was implicated in his father's affair and killed. Michimi (called Hachirō) was likewise implicated in his father's affair and was banished to Tomono in Shinano (Note: following the Kōno Keizu). Michihisa was called Kurō-zaemon, joined Hōjō-no-Yoshitoki and led troops attacking the imperial army at Uji, and for that service was granted the village of Tomita in Awa (Note: following the Yoshōki and the Kōno Keizu). Michihisa's grandson Michiari was fierce and extraordinarily strong, and was appointed Tsushima-no-kami. In the Kōan era, when the Mongols attacked Chikuzen, Michiari led troops and held them off. He fought dozens of engagements and defeated them all. He took one enemy commander prisoner, cut off his head and presented it to the Court. The Emperor issued an edict commending him and granted him several estates (Note: the Hachiman Gudōkun attributes this to Rokurō Michimune). Michiari's son Michimori was at first named Michiharu (Note: following the Yoshōki); he was called Kurō-zaemon and served Hōjō-no-Takatoki. In the Genkō disturbance he was at Rokuhara. When Akamatsu-no-Norimura attacked, Michimori fought well with great valor. The Retired Emperor Kōgon praised his achievement and appointed him Tsushima-no-kami (Note: following the Taiheiki). Later he submitted to Ashikaga-no-Takauji and was appointed Shugo of Iyo. His grandson Michitaka succeeded him as Shugo. In the Shōhei era he was attacked by Hosokawa-no-Yoriyuki, fled to Tsukushi, submitted to Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi, the Seisei Shōgun, was appointed Gyōbu-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Justice, and was granted the name Michinao. Joining forces with Kikuchi-no-Takemitsu he resisted the enemy, and in the end defeated Yoriyuki and recovered Iyo. But later he was again attacked by Yoriyuki, lost in battle, and killed himself. Ashikaga-no-Yoshimitsu pitied him and gave the office of Shugo to his son Kameō, naming him Michiyoshi. Yoriyuki attacked again and again and drove him into difficulty, so Yoshimitsu ordered Yoriyuki to disband his troops and made a pact of father and son between the two (Note: following the Yoshōki).

¶Ōuchi-no-Korenobu was a man of Shinano. He was a son of Koreyoshi, Shuri-no-daibu, Master of the Office of Palace Repairs, was called Tachihaki-no-osa, Captain of the Crown Prince's Guard, was appointed Saemon-no-jō, and served as a Kebiishi (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). In the Genkyū era, when Hōjō-no-Yoshitoki killed Korenobu's uncle Tomomasa in Kyoto, Korenobu succeeded to his place and was appointed Shugo of Iga and Ise. When the Retired Emperor attacked Fujiwara-no-Mitsusue, Korenobu, together with the other commanders, led imperial troops and put him to death. When Hōjō-no-Yasutoki attacked Kyoto, Korenobu, together with Kasuya-no-Hisasue and others, led more than two thousand horsemen and guarded Ōido (Note: following the Azuma Kagami; the number of troops follows the Jōkyū-ki). Takeda-no-Nobumitsu cut across the river's current and advanced in a straight line, and his momentum was very keen. The imperial army was at a disadvantage and Korenobu fled in defeat (Note: following the Azuma Kagami and the Jōkyū-ki). He hid on Mount Hiei, became a monk, and later changed his name again. In the second year of Kangi he was discovered, captured, and sentenced to exile (Note: following the Meigetsuki; the exile follows the Takenouchi Keizu). His son Koretoki was Moku-no-suke, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Carpentry, of Junior Fifth Rank Lower (Note: following the Sonpi Bunmyaku). His descendants called themselves Takenouchi (Note: following the Takenouchi Keizu and the Shoke Den).