Siege of Hōjūjidono

The siege of Hōjūjidono (法住寺合戦, Hōjūji kassen) was a siege that took place in Kyoto, Japan in 1184. It was part of the Genpei War and a key element of the conflict between Minamoto no Yoshinaka and his cousins Yoritomo and Yoshitsune for control of the Minamoto clan.

Siege of the Hōjūjidono
Part of the Genpei War

Current Hojuji (temple) at siege location
Date1184
Location
Hōjūji Palace, Kyoto
Result Siege succeeds; Minamoto no Yoshinaka victory
Belligerents
 Minamoto clan  Taira clan sympathizers, incl. court nobles and warrior monks from Enryakuji and Miidera
Commanders and leaders
Minamoto clan Minamoto no Yoshinaka Taira clan Taira no Tomoyasu

Overview

During the Genpei War (1180–1185), the retired and cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa supported the Minamoto clan, but got caught up in the internal power struggles.[1]

For some time, Yoshinaka had desired to seize control of the clan from his cousins. Upon returning to Kyoto from his victories at Shinohara and Kurikara, he decided to split from the clan, plotting with Minamoto no Yukiie to kidnap Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and establish a government of their own, in the provinces north of Kyoto. But Yukiie did not, in the end, aid Yoshinaka in this scheme. Yoshinaka attacked the Hōjūjidono (also known as the Hōjūji Palace), set it aflame, killed the defenders, and seized Emperor Go-Shirakawa.[2] Yoshinaka brutally attacked the emperor's troops in addition to gaining control over Shirakawa's Imperial Prison.[1]

He was opposed by a number of court nobles and warrior monks from Mount Hiei and Miidera,[3] but ultimately made it out of the city victorious, with the cloistered emperor as hostage.

However, at this point, the Minamoto armies, under Yukiie, Yoritomo, Yoshitsune, and Noriyori were surrounding the capital. Yoshinaka fled across the Bridge of Uji, where he fought the second Battle of Uji.

References
  1. Jacques, Tony. Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Press. p. 453. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5.
  2. Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press. p. 296. ISBN 0804705232.
  3. Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 203. ISBN 1854095234.

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