[Series 1: The role of the previous nine years and the role of the later three years] Why did the Ou War at the end of the Heian period take place?

Daiwa Consilio
2023.11.28
Last updated: 2024.09.12

table of contents

1 What are the roles of the previous nine years (zenkunen) and the latter three years (gosannen)?
- 1.1 Regarding the situation in the Tohoku region during the Heian period
- 1.2 This is how the role of the previous nine years happened.
2 The Battle of Onikiribe showed the strength of Abe's army
- 2.1 Onikiribe Castle Ruins＜Information＞
3 The appearance of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi
- 3.1 Who is the Kawachi-Genji clan that gave birth to Minamoto no Yoriyoshi?
- 3.2 Tsuboi Hachimangu Shrine＜Information＞
4 summary
5 Serialization: The role of the first nine years, the role of the second three years

Also known as the "Twelve Years of Oshu Battle," this battle, which took place in Mutsu and Dewa, present-day Iwate and Akita prefectures, took place at the end of the Heian period. This is a campaign that served as a bridge between the times.

The reason why these two battles were called ``Yaku,'' representing wars with foreign countries, was because the Imperial Court at the time called the residents of Tohoku who did not obey their wishes ``Emishi,'' and viewed them as ``foreign countries.''

Residents' dissatisfaction grew as their taxes were extracted by the Kokushi dispatched by the Imperial Court, and they were pillaged by the national army. You will be able to show your attitude.

What are the roles of the previous nine years (zenkunen) and the latter three years (gosannen)?

The roles of Zenkunen and Gosannen are from 1051 (Eisho 6) to 1062 (Kohei 5) and from 1083 (Eiho 3) to 1087 ( two campaigns fought in Tohoku (Iwate Prefecture and Akita Prefecture) during the first year of the Kanji era .

The Nine Years War refers to a campaign in which the Minamoto clan general dispatched from the imperial court, with the help of the Kiyohara clan, pacified the rebellion of the Abe clan, which was growing in power in Mutsu (Iwate Prefecture). I am.

After that role, an internal conflict arose in the Kiyohara clan, which had strengthened its control from Mutsu to Dewa Province, and the dispute over the family headship that started from there developed into a battle during the Go Sannen War, and the Genji clan was deeply involved in this as well. It will be.

These two campaigns led to the establishment of the Oshu Fujiwara clan in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, and the bond between the Minamoto clan and the samurai of the eastern region deepened, which eventually became the foundation for Minamoto no Yoritomo to open the shogunate in Kamakura.

Regarding the situation in the Tohoku region during the Heian period

At this time, most of the Tohoku region was subject to the Yamato court, but it was not fully incorporated into the Yamato court, and was treated as a vassal state, called Ezo.

Approximately 250 years before the War of Nine Years occurred in 1051, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was appointed by Emperor Kanmu as the Seii Taishogun and forced the Ezo chief Aterui to surrender.

Stone monument of Ami Ryume (Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera Temple)

However, even though they were defeated, the Yamato court was unable to completely subjugate the powerful Emishi, and because they were far away, they decided to leave local governance to the Emishi and make them pay taxes. to hold.

During this period, the Abe clan, which was entrusted with governance at the end of the Heian period, expanded its power to the point that it eventually crossed the fences built by the Imperial Court and invaded the areas under its control.

This is how the role of the previous nine years happened.

, who ruled the ``Okuroku-gun: Isawa-gun, Esashi-gun, Waga-gun, Shiwa-gun, Hienuki-gun, and Iwate-gun in Iwate Prefecture,'' It begins to show signs of enlarging the size of the print.

As a result, they often crossed the fences set up by the Imperial Court and headed south, leading to heightened tensions with the Mutsu Naval Base (Mutsu Chinjufu), which was set up by the Imperial Court.

Although no order had been issued by the Imperial Court to hunt down Mr. Abe, Mutsu no kami Fujiwara no Nato (Narito Fujiwara) regarded the situation as ``good'' as Mr. Abe continued to strengthen his influence while refusing to pay taxes. I didn't.

In 1051, the combined forces of Fujiwara Noboru and Taira no Shigenari, also known as Akita Josuke, set out to defeat Abe Yoriyoshi, far south of the Abe clan's sphere of influence. each other Onikiribe (Onikobe, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) , and the role of the previous nine years began.

The Battle of Onikiribe showed the strength of Abe's army

In Onikiribe, Abe Yoriyoshi built Onikiribe Castle, and the Abe army moved further south from this castle, which was a natural stronghold, and the imperial army, which had left Taga Castle in the Kokufu, joined up with Taira Shigenari, and moved to Onikiribe. They attack to take down the castle.

When they reached the peak of Mt. Arao-dake to the east of Onikiribe Castle, they attacked the imperial army that had set up camp at the base like an avalanche.

Surprised by the surprise attack from behind, the Imperial army retreated with heavy losses, Fujiwara no Nobuto barely escaped with his life, and Abe's army ended up with a great victory.

At this time, a detached troop of Abe Yoriyoshi's son, Abe Sadayto, and the Muneto brothers, ran from the fence of Koromogawa to Matsurube, Sukawa. ) and was approaching Mt. Kurikoma.

Onikiribe Castle Ruins＜Information＞

Historic site name: Onikiribe Castle Ruins
Location: Naruko Onsen Onikobe, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture

Google Map

The appearance of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi

Fujiwara, who was defeated by Abe's army, was dismissed due to his responsibility, and Minamoto no Yoriyoshi of the Kawachi Genji clan was appointed as his successor, Mutsu no kami, and he was also entrusted with military control by concurrently serving as the general of the military base. They head to suppress the situation.

However, when Yoriyoshi arrived at Taga Castle (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture), Abe Yoriyoshi expressed his obedience, and changed his attitude to obey him, saying that his nickname ``Yoriyoshi'' was frightening if it sounded the same. I showed you.

Picture scroll of the Battle of the Nine Years A scene in which Abe Yoritoki presents Minamoto no Yoriyoshi with gold and silver and pledges obedience. Tokyo National Museum Source
: ColBase ( https://colbase.nich.go.jp/ )

Furthermore, the Imperial Court announced a pardon for the Mother of the Nation, Jotomonin (daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga), who prayed for her recovery from her illness.The Abe clan was pardoned, and the conflict in Oshu was brought to an end. It was.

Who is the Kawachi-Genji clan that gave birth to Minamoto no Yoriyoshi?

``Genji'' refers to the imperial family that descended as vassals, and ``Taira'' is also the same, and there are various lineages.

The Kawachi-Genji clan is a branch of the Seiwa-Genji lineage that separated from the 56th Emperor Seiwa, and was founded by Yoriyoshi's father, Minamoto no Yoronobu, and was based in Tsuboi, Kawachi Province (Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture). It was called by this name.

Because Minamoto no Yorinobu subdued the ``Taira no Tadatsune Rebellion'' that occurred in Bando, it was considered a military family, and its military power is thought to have reached Ezo as well, and Abe Yoritoki bowed down to Yoriyoshi as ``no enemy.'' There is also a view.

The direct line of the Kawachi-Genji clan is connected to Minamoto no Yoritomo, and there are other branches of the Kawachi-Genji clan, such as the Takeda clan, Satake clan, Ashikaga clan, Nitta clan, and Imagawa clan, and among the samurai families in the Tohoku region, he is also the ancestor of the Nanbu clan.

Tsuboi Hachimangu Shrine＜Information＞

Facility name: Tsuboi Hachimangu Shrine
Location: 605-2 Tsuboi, Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture
Phone number: 072-956-2824
URL: Tsuboi Hachiman Shrine official website

Google Map

summary

With the appearance of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi of the Kawachi-Genji clan, known for his bravery, in 1052 it seemed that the ``Zenen no Eki'' would come to an end.

However, due to the ``Akuri River Incident'' that occurred four years later, the Kokufu army and the Abe army once again fell into a state of battle, and for a while the situation of the war continued in a state of ups and downs with neither side having an advantage (the first nine years of war and the second three years). (Continued to role ②).