Chapter 8 (Events of the latter months of 1183)

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8-[1] The Imperial Journey to the Enryakuji — Go-Shirakawa escapes to Mt. Hiei and then returns to set up government in the Capital. He designates a Crown Prince (future emperor Go-Toba), to succeed Antoku.

Character notes

Fourth Prince, now the Crown Prince and future Emperor Go-Toba (1180-1239, r. 1183-1189)

Section Summary

Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa takes refuge at Enryakuji, where a government begins to form around him.

He returns to the Capital on the 28th day of the 7th month of 1183, accompanied by Minamoto no Yoshinaka's forces.

Reading notes

<258> "Yet much time elapsed before the new Emperor [Go-Toba] . . ." — This is a flash forward, when this Fourth Prince/Crown Prince has ascended the throne with the name Go-Toba.

8-[2] Natora — Go-Shirakawa rewards the Minamoto with official appointments; Yoshinaka becomes a shôgun; the Taira are disenfranchised from government positions; they are in Kyûshû (Chikuzen Province, part of modern-day Fukuoka Prefecture). With Go-Toba's ascension, two hold the imperial office.

Reading notes

<259> "assumed the imperial dignity" — became emperor

8-[3] The Reel of Thread — Tells the incredible background of a local commander, Koreyoshi, whose mission it becomes to drive the Taira out of their current hiding place.

Character notes

Tadamori, of Kiyomori's generation, a younger brother

Tsunemori is brother of Tadanori and father of Tsunemasa

Tsunemasa is the poet-soldier of Chapter Seven, Section [3] " The Visit to Chikubushima", etc.

Section Summary

The Taira are checkmated, taking little action. Autumn seems to chill them.

They write poems about this.

A local commander, son of a serpent-god, is sent to destroy them.

8-[4] The Flight from the Dazaifu — The Taira, out-numbered, flee this Kyûshû post.

Character notes

Koreyoshi, a local commander. See the preceding section.

Section Summary

The Taira, who had planned on building a palace at Dazaifu, try to get Koreyoshi to switch to their side. It is impossible. Further, their 3,000 warriors are heavily outnumbered. Losing an initial battle, their hear that Koreyoshi plans to counter-attack with 30,000. They leave Dazaifu.

8-[5] The Retired Emperor Appoints a Barbarian-Subduing Commander — Minamoto no Yoritomo, the commander in the east based at Kamakura is appointed as shôgun (matching the office of Kiso no Yoshinaka).

Character notes

Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199), the primary Minamoto general, the one who was exiled rather than killed by the Taira after the Heiji Disturbance.

8-[6] Nekoma — Draws a contrast between the educated Yoritomo who knows the ways of aristocrats and the country-bumpkinish manners of Yoshinaka. While this is still very early in the game, we are beginning to see the early troubles among the Minamoto rather than focus solely on the fight between the Minamoto and the Taira.

Section Summary

Yoshinaka's ignorance, foolishness and crassness are described through anecdotes.

Reading notes

<268> "A cat wants to talk to a man?" — Because the individual in question, has the name Nekoma and "neko" means "cat."

8-[7] The Battle at Mizushima — The Taira win a long-awaited battle, this one a naval one in part. Mizushima was about half-way between where the Taira had ensconced themselves in Kyûshû and the Minamoto-controlled Capital. It is on Honshû, across the Inland Sea from Shikoku. It is a commander of Yoshinaka forces that loses this fight; thus the previous section drawing a negative picture of Yoshinaka works to introduce this unexpected defeat of Minamoto forces.

8-[8] The Death of Senô — Tells the moving story of Senô no Tarô Kaneyasu, once captured by Yoshinaka but released, only to fight again against Yoshinaka. Caught up in a battle that is lost, he fights fiercely but then returns to fight beside his out-of-shape son. He dies protecting him.

8-[9] Muroyama — The Taira advance closer to the Capital after their victory at Mizushima, and win again here at Muroyama. Further troubles among Minamoto are suggested.

Character notes

Minamoto no Yukiie, "our uncle" — younger brother to the two men who are respectively Yoshinaka's and Yoritomo's fathers. His alliance with Yoshinaka in the course of the story is not perfect, but not all that bad. See Chapter Seven, Section [1] and [6].

Section Summary

Yoshinaka (Lord Kiso) is preparing an attack on the successful Taira but returns to the Capital when he learns that Yukiie is exploiting his absence. Yukiie, for his part, attacks, as a gesture of good will meant to ameliorate Yoshinaka's displeasure.

The battle is fierce and Yukiie's troops are massacred; Yukiie makes a brave escape though he had been surrounded.

8-[10] The Tsuzumi Police Lieutenant — Yoshinaka insults an imperial messenger who has brought a request from the emperor for him to reign in his warriors, who are misbehaving in the Capital. A battle ensues on the outskirts of the Capital between forces loyal to Go-Shirakawa (includes many Minamoto, monks, and others) and those loyal to Yoshinaka.

Character notes

Tomoyasu (not part of the imperial family but marked with this color because of his loyalty to Go-Shirakawa) is the Tsuzumi Police Lieutenant who carries the imperial edict to Yoshinaka who rudely refuses it.

Reading notes

<276> "because he considered seven his lucky number" — This strategy is briefly discussed in these notes, in Chapter 7, Section [4].

<276> "Retired Emperor's Hôjûji Mansion" — located just at the edge of the Capital, to the east. Go-Shirakawa and Go-Toba are both there.

<279> "Emperor Go-Toba went out onto the lake in a boat," This would be the artificial lake that is part of the estate grounds, I'm reasonably sure. Go-Toba is still a toddler, by the way.

8-[11] The Battle at the Hôjûji — In a pivotal section, Kiso no Yoshinaka takes control of the Capital and hoists more than 600 heads of warriors his forces have killed. Among those dead are Meiun (the well-liked abbot of the Enryakuji that we read about in Chapter Two, Section [1] who was exiled by the gossip mongering of Saikô). Yoshinaka even considers making himself emperor. The famous Minamoto no Yoshitsune is called to arms. Yoshinaka invites the Taira to join him in battle against the emperor but is refused. Thus, as the chapter ends, "the Heike held the western provinces, Yoritomo the eastern provinces, and Yoshinaka the Capital."