Minamoto no Tametomo (源 為朝, 1139 – April 23, 1170), also known as Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo (鎮西 八郎 為朝), was a samurai who fought in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156. He was the son of Minamoto no Tameyoshi, and brother to Yukiie and Yoshitomo.
Minamoto no Tametomo | |
|---|---|
源 為朝 | |
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1139 A.D. |
| Died | 23 April 1170 (aged 30–31) Higo Province, Japan |
| Parent | Minamoto no Tameyoshi (father) Unknown (mother) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Minamoto clan |
| Battles/wars | Hōgen Rebellion, Siege of Shirakawa-den |
Tametomo is known in the epic chronicles as a powerful archer and it is said that he once sunk an entire Taira ship with a single arrow by puncturing its hull below the waterline. It is also added in many legends that his left arm was about 4 inches longer than his right, enabling a longer draw of the arrow, and more powerful shots.[1] He fought in the Siege of Shirakawa-den, along with his father, against the forces of Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshitomo, his brother. The palace was set aflame,[2] and Tametomo was forced to flee.
After the Hōgen Rebellion, the Taira cut the sinews of Tametomo's left arm, limiting the use of his bow, and then he was banished to the island of Ōshima in the Izu Islands. Tametomo eventually killed himself by slicing his abdomen, or committing seppuku. He is quite possibly the first warrior to commit seppuku in the chronicles.[1]
During the Edo period, a descendant of Tametomo named Kitō Heinai (鬼頭 兵内) was involved in the 1754 Hōreki River incident.[3]
He is the focus on Takizawa Bakin’s novel Chinsetsu yumiharizuki (Strange Tales of the Crescent Moon). Which was illustrated by famous artist Hokusai.
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Minamoto no Tametomo chasing away smallpox demons, in an 1890 print by Yoshitoshi -
Tametomo and Oniyashi on a beach -
Minamoto no Tametomo with a bow -
Minamoto no Tametomo with two islanders on a beach at Ashijima
See Also
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- ^ a b Turnbull, Stephen (1977). The Samurai, A Military History. MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 35,37. ISBN 0026205408.
- ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 199. ISBN 1854095234.
- ^ "鬼頭兵内氏神 Ujigami of Kitō Heinai". 岐阜県養老町の歴史文化資源 Gifuken Yōrōchō no Rekishi Bunka Shigen. Retrieved 17 July 2022.