Overview
, also known as , was a Japanese samurai lord in the late Heian period. A member of the Minamoto clan, shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo was his cousin and rival during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and the Taira clans. In The Tale of the Heike, he is known as Asahi Shogun (朝日将軍). His dharma name was Tokuon'in Gisan Senkō (徳音院義山宣公).
Early life
Yoshinaka was born in Musashi Province. His father, Minamoto no Yoshikata, was killed by Minamoto no Yoshihira in 1155. Yoshihira also sought to kill Yoshinaka who escaped to Shinano Province. He was raised by Nakahara no Kanetō, the father of Imai Kanehira, together with his milk-brother Imai Kanehira, who would later become his best friend and most loyal retainer. Yoshinaka later changed his name from Minamoto to , to reflect the Kiso Mountains where he was raised.
Genpei War
Yoshinaka accepted Prince Mochihito's call to the Minamoto clan to rise against the Taira in 1181. He entered the Genpei War by raising an army and invading Echigo Province. He then defeated a Taira force sent to pacify the area.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).