Taira Tadamori’s Family Line (5)---The Revolt of Minamoto Yoshichika (2)---

 

 

     The trend of local powerful families around Sanin-do Region in Western Japan along the Sea of Japan to follow Yoshichika frightened the central political circles. They might have been afraid of having an Otenmon Conspiracy in 866 again, which had been caused by the power games between the Silla connections and the Tang connections. Or they might have been scared of a second Fujiwara Sumitomo (?-941), the first pirate king in Japan. Or someone else might have wanted to be a second Sumitomo for himself, replacing Yoshichika.

     A royal order was issued to Taira Masamori to hunt down and kill Minamoto Yoshichika on December 19, 1107. He was given a station bell which enabled him to procure manpower and horses at stations on his way. His troops raised three battle cries in front of Yoshichika’s residence in Kyoto (which was, surprisingly enough, still owned by Yoshichika), and cut down (only) the gateposts as rituals. He left Kyoto on the day, went to Harima Province, went north through Mimasaka Province to Inaba Province, went west through Hoki Province, and got to Izumo Privince on January 6, 1108. His speedy military advance suggests he met no enemies nor battles on his way.

 

     Yoshichika held fort in Kumoto, the second easternmost port along the northern shore of the Shimane Peninsula in Izumo Province. Even today, you can find a cave in which Yoshichika shut himself up according to legend. Masamori attacked the port across hills and by sea. The victory was reported to Kyoto as early as on 19, informing that Masamori had beheaded Yoshichika and 5 others, and that he would return to Kyoto in the first ten days of the next month.