The , alternatively known as "Mochihitos Raising of an Army" in Japan is a battle which took place on June 20, 1180, following Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa's plan to raise an army to overthrow the Taira clan and the issuing of an edict urging the Minamoto clan, major temples, and shrines in the country to revolt.
Due to lack of preparation, the plan was discovered by the Taira, and Prince Mochihito and Yorimasa were defeated, dying at the battle. However, this triggered multiple anti-Taira forces to raise their armies. The battle is famous for having begun the Genpei War.
Background
Prince Mochihito, having been passed over twice in the succession of the Imperial Throne and believing Taira no Kiyomori was causing suffering in the country, coordinated with Minamoto no Yorimasa, who believed Mochihito to be the legitimate heir to the successors, and urged him to rebel. Minamoto no Yorimasa was an aristocrat, who dominated the Imperial Court in Kyoto. He was the most important Minamoto figure on the side of the Taira clan during the Heiji and Hōgen rebellion, leading to the Minamoto clan being banished and the Taira's domination over Japanese politics. Due to his connections to Kiyomori, who was the de facto leader of Japan at this point (see Daijō-daijin), he became a high-ranking official, even though he preferred staying out of politics and being in positions that did not require taking sides.</blockquote>After Yukiie set out, , who was under obligation of the Taira clan, had found out of Mochihito's Royal Order and that Yukiie is carrying it, although the way he found out is unknown. He then set out with around 1,000 men against Yukiie, who had 1,500. The battle would go on for 3 days until most of Tanzō's retainers were killed and he himself was injured.
thumb|318x318px|Nobutsura fighting the Taira army at Mochihito's temple
After the battle, Tanzō sent a courier to Kyoto, notifying them of the upcoming Rebellion. Once Kiyomori heard of this, he immediately ordered Mochihito be arrested and banished to Tosa Province on Shikoku. At first, no one suspected Minamoto no Yorimasa to be behind the plot, as one of entrusted samurais that were to carry out the order of arrest was one of Yorimasa's sons (Being Minamoto no Mitsunaga). Since his sword was only ceremonial, it soon broke, causing him to be captured and examined in which he did not give the whereabouts of Mochihito away, and was banished to Hōki Province.
Prelude
On the following morning, Mochihito arrived at Mii-dera, where the monks were extremely grateful for the prince's presence. On the evening of the next day, Yorimasa also arrived with his sons Nakatsuna, Kanetsuna, and about 300 men. Soon too the Watanabe clan assembled at the temple of Mii-dera, as they were vassals of the Minamoto. One of the Watanabe clan members (Watanabe Kiou) had been late, and was caught by Taira no Munemori, who tried convincing him to serve the Taira. Kiou tricked him into giving him a horse to go to Mii-dera to ambush the Minamoto, however he used it to meet up with the Minamoto forces and fight for them. Munemori was greatly angered by this, and requested he be taken alive and that Munemori be able to "saw" his head off.
Mii-dera, knowing they could not alone defend against a Taira force, sent a letter to Nara and Enryaku-ji for assistance, the one sent to Nara went as following:<blockquote>thumb|314x314px|Image of the [[Mii-dera temple.]]"A petition from Onjoji (Mii-dera) to Kōfuku-ji (A temple in Nara) to beg assistance that this monastery may not be destroyed. Know that the supreme excellence of Buddhism is to uphold the Monarchy; and the duration of the Throne therefore depends on the Law of Buddha. Now the Nyudo (someone who enteres priesthood), the former Daijō-daijin (Chancellor), Taira-no-Kiyomori Ko, whose priestly name is Jokai, does his will with the authority of the country and turns the government upside down, so that there is everywhere resentment and lamentation. And on the evening of the fifteenth day of this month the second son of the Ho-o (Emperor Takakura) hurriedly fled to our monastery to escape persecution, and though they have demanded repeatedly that we give him up, our priests unanimously refuse to do so, Therefore this Lay priest is collecting an army to enter our monastery, wishing to destroy at one time both Buddhism and the Monarchy. In ancient times in China, when the Emperor Bu-so attempted to destroy Buddhism by force of arms, the monks of Joryusen joined battle and repulsed him; if they thus upheld their rights against the monarch, how much more shall we not chastise this great rebel (Kiyomori), this transgressor of the first of the Eight Disobediences (Rebellion). Nara was the place where in unprecedented fashion the guiltless Kampaku was banished. If we do not act now, at what time shall we able to remove this reproach? Thus we pray you to lend us aid lest Buddhism be destroyed, and also that this evil revolt against the Monarchy may be put away. If we are of one mind we shall attain our object. Given at a council of the Chief Priests; eighteenth. day of the fifth month (12th of June) of the fourth year of Jisho (1180)."</blockquote>A similar letter was then also sent to Enryakuji.
The Enryakuji monks read the letter, however didn't give any response, as they had been bribed by Kiyomori so they stay by his side.
After this, the Mii-dera monks began fortifying the temple, and held another council, suggesting that they do a night attack , which was an important base for the Taira and where the , a major branch of the Taira, resided in. However soon an issue was faced, as when Mochihito had first entered the temple, Mii-dera had made a rampart, a moat, set up palisades, and thrown obstacles across the road, so the moat had to be bridged and the obstacles removed. It had taken the whole evening for it to be able to be crossed and the road be cleared.
They marched down to Uji, crossing the Uji River and tearing up the planks of the bridge behind them to prevent the Taira from following. As Mochihito hadn't gotten any sleep the night before, they entered the Byōdō-in temple to get some rest.
The two sides stood on opposite ends of the bridge, and they began an archery battle. The warrior monks were said to be very good archers, being able to shoot so powerfully that the arrow's shaft pierced the wooden shields of the Taira.
The fighting across the broken bridge continued until sunset, until it was littered with dead bodies. Some fought across to the other side of the bridge and returned with the spoils of who they slew. Some, after being wounded, cut themselves open and jumped into the river. A retainer of the Taira force, seeing this, said to the commanders "the battle on the bridge is very fierce; we ought to ford the river, but after the rains of this month, neither man nor horse can live in the stream" and suggested they take a large detour to cross to the other side. According to the Azuma Kagami, the 18-year-old Tadatsuna is supposedly remembered as having had the strength of one hundred men, a voice that echoed over 10 li (5 km), and teeth of 1 sun (3.03 cm) long. Kagami further stated that "there will be no warrior in future ages like this Tadatsuna."
Taira no Tomomori, the commander, seeing this, sent the entire Taira force to ford the river and caught up with the Minamoto. Soon the Taira force had made it to the gates of the Byodo-in, and Mochihito wanted to try and escape. Yorimasa tried to help the Prince get away, but was struck with an arrow in the right elbow.
With the main Minamoto leaders gone, the Taira quickly took control of the Temple. The Taira then went in pursuit of Prince Mochihito, who was trying to escape. With around 400-500 men they set off and found him at the Kōmyōzen torii and in a hail of arrows was thrown off his horse, and was afterwards decaptitated.