The conflict between the Soga and Mononobe clans, who were related to the imperial dynasty, arose on religious grounds. The Soga supported Buddhism, which had come from Korea, while the Mononobe remained faithful to Shintoism and fiercely opposed the spread of “foreign teachings.” Tensions reached a peak after the death of Emperor Yomei in 587.
The struggle for the throne
At that time, the clans were led by Soga no Umako and Mononobe no Moria, both of whom held ministerial posts at the emperor's court. Moria was dissatisfied with Yomei's patronage of Buddhism and supported Prince Anahobe in his claim to the throne. When the emperor, who had reigned for only two years, suddenly died, rumors of his violent death spread among the Soga clan. Acting on behalf of the emperor's widow, Soga no Umako gathered his supporters and attacked Anahobe's residence. As a result of the attack, the prince was killed.
The first clashes
In early July, Soga's army marched against Mononobe, but was defeated in a series of skirmishes. According to the Nihon Shoki, Mononobe no Moriya used a ruse: his soldiers hid behind barricades made of rice straw sheaves, called inaki, from where they fired arrows. Under such cover, they inflicted serious damage on the enemy. Having suffered defeat, Soga retreated to Mount Shigi (Shigisan) to regroup.
Prince Umayado, the future Shotoku Taishi, also participated in this campaign. He decided to raise the morale of the warriors. The Nihon Shoki records his words: “We must not suffer defeat. But if we do not make a vow, we will not be victorious.”
He cut down a nuride tree, carved images of the Four Heavenly Kings from it, and attached them to the knot of his hairstyle. Then he made a vow: “If I defeat my enemies now, I will definitely build a temple for the Four Kings, the guardians of peace.”
Soga no Umako also offered a prayer: “If the Heavenly Kings and the Great God-Kings help me and protect me, if we win, I will build a temple in their honor and spread the Three Treasures.”
According to legend, that night, Bishamonten, the Buddhist god of war, appeared to the prince and promised to lead him into battle himself.
The Battle of Shigisan
The next day, another skirmish took place. A warrior named Tomi no Obito managed to strike Mononobe no Moriya with an arrow. Having lost their leader, Mononobe's army faltered and soon fled.
The defeat at Shigisan was fatal: the Mononobe clan was removed from the political arena, and its surviving members subsequently changed their surnames. The victory strengthened the position of the Soga clan, and Buddhism, supported by this clan, began to spread rapidly throughout the country.
Prince Shotoku kept his promise. In 593, he founded Shitennoji Temple, the Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings, in the Tennoji area, not far from modern-day Osaka. This temple has survived to this day and is considered one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan.
See also
-
First Battle of Azukizaka
In response to the Oda clan's advance into the western part of Mikawa Province, in August 1542, the combined forces of Imagawa Yoshimoto and Matsudaira Hirotada (father of the future shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu) advanced into the Ikutahara area.
-
Battle of Ankokuji
As a result of the summer campaign of 1542, the Suwa clan was completely defeated. Takeda Shingen stationed his military contingent at Uehara Castle. Takeda's army general, Itagaki Nobukata, subsequently became the commandant of this castle.
-
The Siege of Matsuyama Castle
In 1537, the head of the Ogigayatsu branch of the Uesugi clan, Uesugi Tomooki, died. He was succeeded by his son, the thirteen-year-old Uesugi Tomosada (1525–1546). Hojo Ujitsuna (1487–1541), who had long been planning to expand his holdings in Musashi Province, decided to take advantage of the new daimyo's inexperience. He assembled an army of 7,000 soldiers and marched on Kawagoe Castle.
-
The Siege of Unokuchi Castle
One of the important steps in the career of every Japanese commander was the uijin, the first military campaign in which he took part. For the legendary Takeda Shingen, according to some sources, this campaign was the siege of Unokuchi Castle.
-
Battle of Arita-Nakai
By 1517, Takeda Motoshige, lord of Kanyama Castle, was probably the most influential daimyo in Aki Province. Ten years earlier, he had served as a vassal of the Ōuchi clan and participated in Ōuchi Yoshiyuki's campaign in Kyoto. This campaign was part of an effort to support the deposed shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane.
-
The Siege of Arai Castle
Hojo Nagauji (Soun) (1432–1519) went down in Japanese history as one of the most notable figures of his time. He is considered a prime example of a gokoku-jo daimyo. The process of gokoku-jo literally means “the lower classes defeat the upper classes” and in Japanese history was expressed, among other things, in the elevation of minor samurai to the status of owners of entire provinces.
-
Battle of Sakai
Ōuchi Yoshihiro was an influential shugo of the provinces of Suō and Nagato and played an important role as a supporter of the Ashikaga clan during the war with the Southern Court. His greatest achievement was forcing the Southern Court emperor to surrender in 1392, which brought an end to the Nanboku-chō period. This victory strengthened the Ashikaga clan's position and marked the end of the long-standing rivalry between the two imperial lines.
-
Battle of Shijonawate
After Kusunoki Masashige's death in the Battle of Minatogawa, his son, Kusunoki Masatsura, continued his work supporting the Southern Imperial Court in the Nanboku-chō period war. He took on his father's legacy not only as a duty, but also as a way to remain faithful to the ideals for which Masashige had given his life.
