Prologue

JP

This time we will talk about the samurai leaders Genji and Taira.

お菊

Genji and Heishi?
Who were they and how did they become leaders?

JP

Their lineage has a lot to do with it.
With their appearance, the status of samurai improved.

お菊

You can’t talk about samurai without them.

JP

That’s how it is.
Let’s talk right away.

Genji and Heishi

Samurai born from military bureaucrats and local influential people.
Before long, someone will appear who will lead them.
They are “Genji” and “Heishi”.
This time, I will explain about the samurai leaders “Genji” and “Heishi”.

In the first place, what kind of people are “Genji” and “Heishi”?

Both the Genji and Heishi clans have their roots in the imperial family.
Descending from the Imperial Family to become a vassal of the Imperial Court is called “descendance from subject”.

When you are demoted from a noble to a vassal, you will be given a new “clan name” and “surname”.

Various “clan names” were given in ancient times.
However, in the Heian period, it became customary to give either Genji or Taira.
Therefore, neither the Genji nor the Taira clan is a clan that split from a specific person.

For example, Genji
Saga-Genji, a descendant of the 52nd Emperor Saga
Ninmyo-Genji, a descendant of the 54th Emperor Ninmyo
Montoku-Genji, a descendant of the 55th Emperor Montoku
Seiwa Genji, a descendant of the 56th Emperor Seiwa
And so on.

Heishi clan
Kanmu-Heishi clan, descendants of the 50th Emperor Kanmu’s sons, Prince Kuzuhara, Imperial Prince Manda, Imperial Prince Nakano, and Imperial Prince Kayo
Ninmyo-Heishi, descendants of Prince Masamochi, Prince Yukitada, and Prince Koretoki, grandchildren of the 54th Emperor Ninmyo
Montoku-Heishi clan, a descendant of Imperial Prince Korehiko, the son of the 55th Emperor Montoku.
Mitsukohei clan, descendants of the 58th Emperor Koko’s grandson, Prince Shikitsuki, Prince Koga, and Prince Tadamou
And so on.

There are various theories as to why even descendants of the same emperor have different names of Genji and Heishi.
There is a theory that the surname given by the first generation may have been different depending on the status of the first generation.

The Genji name can only be used if the emperor’s children or grandchildren are the first generation.
If the generation after that becomes the first generation, it is said to be named Heishi.
According to this theory, the authority of Genji is higher.

Why did you become a leader?

In the latter half of the Heian period, the deterioration of security progressed in various places.
Rebellions such as Taira no Masakado’s Rebellion, Fujiwara no Sumitomo’s Rebellion, and the Former Nine Year War broke out in various places.

The Imperial Court dispatches an army to suppress the attack.
Among the dispatched military commanders were the Genji and Heishi clans.
They gained strength in the process of suppressing these rebellions.
In addition, there was also a change in the relationship with the local feudal lords who accompanied the conquest.
By giving rewards for achievements in battle, a hierarchical relationship was naturally formed.

And their lineage was also well suited to be a leader.
Their family was imperial family.
Although he was demoted from nobility to subject, his authority far surpasses that of other local lords (descendants of the previous 1 and 2).
Their lineage made them perfect leaders for their local lords.

Breakthrough and Clash of the Genji and Heishi Clan

“Genji” and “Heishi” gradually became the two top samurai.
However, it is the norm of the world that no two people stand side by side at the top.
They will clash after this.

This is the Hogen-Heiji Rebellion that occurred at the end of the Heian period.
The Hogen Disturbance was directly caused by the confrontation between Emperor Sutoku and Emperor Goshirakawa after the death of Emperor Toba in 1156.
Genji and Taira clan sided with Emperor Goshirakawa.

As a result, Emperor Go-Shirakawa, who was on the side of the Genpei clan, won.
In this way, the Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa came to rule.
However, due to discord within the administration, it develops into a battle.
This is the Heiji War.
At this time, the Minamoto clan and the Heishi clan, who had fought together in the Hogen Disturbance, came into conflict with each other.

As a result, Heishi won.
The leader of the clan also died, and Genji temporarily fell into ruin.
On the other hand, the Heishi clan rose to prominence in the political arena by contributing to victory in the Hogen-Heiji War.
The head of the Heishi clan at that time was Taira no Kiyomori.
The heyday of the Heishi clan thus came, but this prosperity did not last long.

In the next installment, I will introduce the Genpei War, in which the Genji and Taira clans decided, and the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, a government led by samurai.

Epilogue

JP

The above is the explanation of “Genji” and “Heishi”!

お菊

Both “Genji” and “Heishi” have their roots in the imperial family.
The leader of “Genji” passed away at the end of this episode, but is Genji okay?

JP

ah.
From here, rebuild the Genji clan and fight the Taira clan again.
And a man who builds the world of samurai comes out.

お菊

very!
I wonder what kind of person he is

JP

I will talk about this man and the samurai world he built in the next installment.
Please look forward to it.

お菊

I’m really looking forward to it