Samurai Families of the Minamoto & Taira, War Nobility Signatures & many Seals - Manuscript Tactics & Warfare of Kublai Khan, Gempei War 1180-1185, 3 Battle Plans - 1650

Organization of the Samurai and Tactics against the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan

3 Original Battle Plans with Manuscripts and many seals
TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE

2 double sheets with 3 battle plans (1 battle plan hand-colored)
+ 1 double-sheet manuscript with signatures
+ + 1 double-sheet with signatures and many red seals

War Nobility
Muroyama, c. 1650-1680
Samurai families of the Minamoto and Taira

Content:
Genpei War: 1180-1185

Struggle for power in Japan between the respected Samurai families of the Minamoto and Taira. Organization of the Samurai and Tactics Battle Plan.

Samurai is the term commonly used in the West for a member of the warrior class in pre-industrial Japan. In Japan itself, the term Bushi is customary. Today, Samurai is used exclusively for the warrior nobility of that era and not, for example, for Ashigaru = “lightly armored foot soldiers.”

Rōnin, “wave men,” referred to Samurai who had become masterless.

A renewed clash between the Taira and the Minamoto in 1180 led to the Genpei War, which lasted until 1185. The victorious Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) went to Kyoto in 1190 and was appointed Seii-Tai-Shōgun (the full title Shōgun is long). He founded the Kamakura Shogunate (1192–1333).

The Mongol emperor Kublai Khan sent envoys to the Japanese imperial court during the early feudal period to demand the submission of the Japanese emperor. The Japanese emperor, however, refused to comply with Kublai Khan’s demands and sent the envoys back to their lord. In 1274, the Mongols under Kublai Khan attacked Japan with a fleet of 900 ships and 23,000 soldiers. The assault failed, and many ships were destroyed or badly damaged by the famous Kamikaze storm.

When Kublai Khan sent envoys again a few years later, the Japanese emperor had them beheaded. Years later, around 1281, the Mongols attempted again to conquer Japan in the Battle of Koan with an even larger army of 4,500 ships and 142,000 soldiers, but bad weather and the fierce resistance of the people caused it to fail.

With Kublai Khan’s death in 1294, invasion plans were abandoned.

Over time, powerful Samurai daimyō rose to war nobility (Buke) who were only nominally subject to the court aristocracy (Kuge). While the Samurai adopted courtly arts such as calligraphy, poetry, and music, the Kuge also adopted Samurai skills in return. Despite various intrigues and short periods under different emperors, real power lay in the hands of the Shōguns and warriors.

The conflict began in 1156. The deposed emperor Sutoku and the reigning emperor Go-Shirakawa had significant differences that led to a military confrontation. In this conflict, the Taira under Taira no Kiyomori supported the reigning emperor and prevailed. The Minamoto were on the losing side; their leader Minamoto no Tameyoshi was executed. This development pushed the Minamoto to the fringe. Dissatisfied with this situation, they conspired against Taira no Kiyomori, suffered defeat again, and in 1160 Minamoto no Yoshitomo, their leader, was killed. The Taira had seized power in Japan, both through court connections and military might. Kiyomori placed his grandson Antoku on the throne and became regent. His coercive measures led in 1180 to renewed conspiracy among Minamoto no Yorimasa and Prince Mochihito, which he crushed militarily in the First Battle of Uji.
This battle is considered the first of the Genpei War.
Far from the court, Minamoto no Yoritomo waited for his time. He had survived the Taira’s revenge as a child in 1160 and now joined the fight.

The five-year conflict began in the Kantō Plain, where Yoritomo, coming from Izu Province, advanced. By 1183, Yoritomo had succeeded in taking the Kantō Plain and Central- as well as Western Japan. The Taira stood with their backs to the sea at the Inland Sea of Japan. Yoritomo’s relative Yoshinaka held Heian-kyō. Fearing this successful general, Yoritomo sent an army under his brother Minamoto no Yoshitsune to confront him. Yoshitsune annihilated Yoshinaka and his troops. As Yoritomo’s new general advanced against the Taira, he drove them to the sea and decisively defeated them in the naval Battle of Dan-no-ura (1185).
Japan belonged to the Minamoto.

Battles of the Genpei War:
June 23, 1180: First Battle of Uji: Considered the first battle of the Genpei War, with the monks of Byōdō-in fighting on the side of Minamoto no Yorimasa.
1180: Siege of Nara: The Taira set temples and monasteries ablaze to cut off their enemies’ supply lines.
1180: Battle of Ishibashiyama: Minamoto no Yoritomo’s first battle against the Taira.
1180: Battle of Fujigawa: The Taira mistake a flock of waterfowl for a nocturnal surprise attack by the Minamoto and withdraw before fighting begins.
1181: Battle of Sunomata: The Taira prevent a nighttime surprise attack.
1181: Battle of Yahagigawa: The Minamoto, retreating from Sunomata in Gifu Prefecture, confront the enemy.
1183: Siege of Hiuchi: The Taira attack a Minamoto fortress.
1183: Battle of Kurikara: The tide of war turns in favor of the Minamoto.
1183: Battle of Shinowara
1183: Battle of Mizushima: The Taira intercept a Minamoto force heading to Yashima in Kanagawa Prefecture.
1183: Siege of Fukuryuji: The Minamoto attack a Taira fortress.
1183: Battle of Muroyama
1184: Battle of Hojujiden: Minamoto no Yoshinaka, feasting in Kyoto, is attacked by Taira sympathizers
1184: Second Battle of Uji: In response to Minamoto no Yoshinaka’s inappropriate behavior, his cousin Minamoto no Yoshitsune is compelled to attack him.
1184: Battle of Awazu: Minamoto no Yoshinaka is defeated and killed by Yoshitsune and Noriyori.
1184: Battle of Ichi-no-Tani: The Minamoto successfully attack one of the Taira’s main strongholds.
1184: Battle of Kojima: The Minamoto chase the fleeing Taira from Ichi-no-Tani to Yashima, where fighting ensues.
1185: Battle of Yashima: The Minamoto attack the fortresses of their enemies before Shikoku.
April 25, 1185: Naval Battle of Dan-no-ura:
This decisive naval battle ends the war.

I guarantee the age and originality.

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