Kikuchi Takanao
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese warrior, nobleman (samurai
). He can also can be referred to as Kikuchi no Jiro Takanao or Kikuchi Higo-Gon-no-Kami Takanao.
When Kikuchi Takanao sided with Minamoto no Yoritomo
and began levying troops in Kyūshū
in 1180, at the beginning of the Gempei War, Sadayoshi marched against him and defeated Takanao. Kikuchi Takanao was present at the battle of Dannoura. Shortly after the battle in the same year, he was turned over to Minamoto Yoshitsune by his lord Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi
. He was taken to the Rokujo
riverbed and his head was cut off.
"One of your retainers, Kikuchi no Jiro Takanao, has been my enemy for years," ... "You may rely on me if you will turn Kikuchi over for execution."[3] -Minamoto no Yoshitsune
At the end of the twelfth century events far away in eastern Japan led to the establishment of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura Bakufu, which, during the initial stages at least, ran in tandem
with the old imperial administration. The wars surrounding the birth of this new regime saw the Kikuchi clan
coalesce into a powerful warrior league, or bushi
dan. In 1181/2, their leader Kikuchi Takanao, joined with Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi
of Bungo
, another important local warrior, in rebellion against the Taira, which converted them into de facto allies of Minamoto Yoritomo, founder of the Bakufu.
This rising was, however, crushed by Haruda Tanenao. Then, perversely, as the fighting drew to a close and the Taira star waned, the Kikuchi chose to align themselves with the erstwhile enemies and, together with the leading Kyūshū warriors including the Haruda, Yamaga, and Itai, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the now triumphant Bakufu. The battle took place off the coast of Kyūshū, at Dannoura, and it saw the emergence of Minamoto Yoritomo as Japan's unquestioned military leader. His forces were drawn largely from the east, while, in the dying moments, the Taira had relied almost exclusively on warriors from Kyūshū. The new military regime, therefore, titled decidedly toward the east and against the west, a fact that was to have profound consequences for the island's future.
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
). He can also can be referred to as Kikuchi no Jiro Takanao or Kikuchi Higo-Gon-no-Kami Takanao.
When Kikuchi Takanao sided with Minamoto no Yoritomo
Minamoto no Yoritomo
was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.-Early life and exile :Yoritomo was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto clan, and his official wife, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, who was a member of the...
and began levying troops in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
in 1180, at the beginning of the Gempei War, Sadayoshi marched against him and defeated Takanao. Kikuchi Takanao was present at the battle of Dannoura. Shortly after the battle in the same year, he was turned over to Minamoto Yoshitsune by his lord Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi
Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi
, nicknamed , is a Japanese nobleman, warrior who played a major role in the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate. His full name is .The "Tales of Genji" establish that Ogata commanded the largest armies on Kyūshū....
. He was taken to the Rokujo
Rokujo
-People:*Emperor Rokujō, the 79th Emperor of Japan*the Rokujō family, a poetically conservative faction in the Japanese Imperial court* Miyuki Rokujō, a fictional character in Strawberry Panic!—see List of Strawberry Panic! characters...
riverbed and his head was cut off.
"One of your retainers, Kikuchi no Jiro Takanao, has been my enemy for years," ... "You may rely on me if you will turn Kikuchi over for execution."[3] -Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...
At the end of the twelfth century events far away in eastern Japan led to the establishment of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura Bakufu, which, during the initial stages at least, ran in tandem
Tandem
Tandem is an arrangement where a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction....
with the old imperial administration. The wars surrounding the birth of this new regime saw the Kikuchi clan
Kikuchi clan
The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyo family of Higo, Kyūshū. The Kikuchi lineage was renowned for its valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. The clan first distinguished itself during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019...
coalesce into a powerful warrior league, or bushi
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
dan. In 1181/2, their leader Kikuchi Takanao, joined with Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi
Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi
, nicknamed , is a Japanese nobleman, warrior who played a major role in the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate. His full name is .The "Tales of Genji" establish that Ogata commanded the largest armies on Kyūshū....
of Bungo
Bungo Province
was a province of Japan in eastern Kyūshū in the area of Ōita Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Buzen Province. Bungo bordered Buzen, Hyūga, Higo, Chikugo, and Chikuzen Provinces.-History:...
, another important local warrior, in rebellion against the Taira, which converted them into de facto allies of Minamoto Yoritomo, founder of the Bakufu.
This rising was, however, crushed by Haruda Tanenao. Then, perversely, as the fighting drew to a close and the Taira star waned, the Kikuchi chose to align themselves with the erstwhile enemies and, together with the leading Kyūshū warriors including the Haruda, Yamaga, and Itai, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the now triumphant Bakufu. The battle took place off the coast of Kyūshū, at Dannoura, and it saw the emergence of Minamoto Yoritomo as Japan's unquestioned military leader. His forces were drawn largely from the east, while, in the dying moments, the Taira had relied almost exclusively on warriors from Kyūshū. The new military regime, therefore, titled decidedly toward the east and against the west, a fact that was to have profound consequences for the island's future.