Prince Mochihito as he appeared on the 2005 NHK Taiga, Yoshitsune

Prince Mochihito (以仁王, Mochihito-ō) (d. July, 1180), also known as the Takakura Prince, and as Minamoto Mochimitsu, was a son of Go-Shirakawa Emperor. He is noted for his role in starting the Genpei War. Image File history File links Mochihito File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Mochihito File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between... Emperor Go-Shirakawa (jp: 後白河天皇, Go-Shirakawa-tennō) (October 18, 1127–April 26, 1192) was the 77th imperial ruler of Japan, reigning from August 23, 1155 to September 5, 1158. ... The Genpei or Gempei War (源平戦争)(1180-1185) was a war of ancient Japan, fought between the Taira and Minamoto clans. ...

Believing that Taira no Kiyomori had denied him the throne, and that Kiyomori was causing suffering, despoiling graves and destroying Buddhist Law, Mochihito supported the Minamoto clan in their conflict against the Taira. At the same time, Minamoto no Yorimasa led the Minamoto clan in supporting Mochihito's bid for the Imperial Throne. In May of 1180, Yorimasa sent out a call to other Minamoto leaders, and to the monasteries (Enryakuji, Miidera and others) that Kiyomori had offended; he asked for aid against the Taira, in the name of Prince Mochihito. Taira no Kiyomori (平 清盛 1118 - 1181) was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... Taira (平) is a Japanese surname. ... Minamoto no Yorimasa (源頼政)(1106-1180) was the leader of the Minamoto armies at the beginning of the Genpei War. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... The Chrysanthemum Throne is the common name given to the Imperial throne of Japan. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between... Enryakuji (延暦寺), a monastery on Mount Hiei (比叡山) overlooking Kyoto, was founded during the late eighth and early ninth centuries by Saicho (最澄: 767-822 AD), also known as Dengyo Daishi (傳教大師), who introduced the Tendai (天台; Chinese tian1 tai2) sect to Japan from China. ... Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ...

Learning of this, Kiyomori sent men after Mochihito, who retreated to Miidera, at the foot of Mount Hiei, but discovered that the warrior monks of Miidera, for various political reasons, could not rely on the support of any other monasteries. Thus, he fled once more, along with a small Minamoto force, across the River Uji, to the Phoenix Hall of the Byodoin. There they were caught by the Taira forces, and the Battle of Uji was fought. The bridge was the site of much of the fighting, and the planks were famously smashed to help impair the ability of the Taira to cross, but eventually the Minamoto were forced back into the Phoenix Hall, where Yorimasa committed harakiri. Mochihito escaped to Nara, but was captured on his way and killed soon afterwards. Miidera (三井寺), also called Onjouji (園城寺), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, just outside the town of Otsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... Mount Hiei (Jp. ... Sohei (僧兵), lit. ... This article or section should be merged with Byodo-In Temple Built in 998 in the Heian period, Byōdōin (平等院) is a temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture in Japan. ... The First Battle of Uji is famous & important for having opened the Gempei Wars. ... Seppuku with ritual attire and second Seppuku (wiktionary:切腹, せっぷく, from the kanji cut and stomach) is a Japanese word that means ritual suicide by disembowelment. ...

Reference

• Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.