Battle of Fujigawa

Battle of Fujigawa
Part of the Genpei War

Battle of Fujikawa by Utagawa Yoshitora.
Date9 November 1180
Location
Fuji River, beneath Mount Fuji
35°9′31.4″N 138°41′46.9″E / 35.158722°N 138.696361°E / 35.158722; 138.696361
Result Minamoto victory
Belligerents
Minamoto clan, with aid from Takeda clan of Kai Taira clan
Commanders and leaders
Strength
30,000
Battle of Fujigawa is located in Japan
Battle of Fujigawa
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Location within Japan

The Battle of Fujigawa (富士川の戦い, Fujigawa no tatakai) was a battle of the Genpei War of the Heian period of Japanese history. It took place in 1180, in what is now Shizuoka Prefecture.

Background

Minamoto no Yoritomo, using Kamakura as his headquarters, sent his counselor Hōjō Tokimasa in August 1180 to convince the warlords Takeda of Kai and Nitta of Kotsuke to follow Yoritomo's command as he marched against the Taira.[1]

As Yoritomo continued through the region below Mount Fuji and into Suruga Province, he planned a rendezvous with the Takeda clan and other families of the provinces of Kai and Kōzuke to the north. These allies arrived at the rear of the Taira army in time to ensure a Minamoto victory.[1]

Battle

During the night, Yoritomo launched an attack against the large Taira army camp. The Taira became alarmed when a flock of waterfowl flew over their camp, and the "small surprise became a rout".[attribution needed][2][3][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Sansom, George (1958). A history of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press. pp. 308–310. ISBN 0804705232.
  2. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1987). Battles of the Samurai. Arms and Armour Press. p. 11. ISBN 0853688265.
  3. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 200. ISBN 1854095234.
  4. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1977). The Samurai, A Military History. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 53. ISBN 0026205408.

Further reading

  • Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co.