Battle of Uji
Uji River bridge, Uji, south of Kyoto, Japan
What happened
Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa fought a much larger Taira army under Taira no Tomomori and Taira no Shigehira. Prince Mochihito and the old warrior Yorimasa planned to overthrow the powerful Taira clan, but the plot was discovered. Fleeing toward Nara, their small force crossed the Uji River and pulled up the planks of the bridge behind them. The Taira army forded the river and caught them near the temple of Byōdō-in, and both Yorimasa and the prince died.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It is famous as the battle that began the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The defeat encouraged other enemies of the Taira to raise armies.
What came next
The Genpei War lasted five years and ended with the Minamoto victory at Dan-no-ura in 1185.
Did you know?
The Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in, built in 1053, appears on Japan's 10-yen coin.
Timeline
- 1053The Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in is built.
- 5 May 1180Prince Mochihito issues a call to rise against the Taira.
- 20 June 1180The Taira win at Uji.
- 1994Byōdō-in becomes part of a World Heritage Site.