SS Japan project Minamoto no Yoshitsune

The most famous Samurai in Jpan,  Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経), born Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸), was a general of the Minamoto during early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune, the wing of Fujiwara no Hidehira (藤原 秀衡), the head of the Fujiwara. He was a famous samurai, as he defeated the Benkei (弁慶), who served under Yoshitsune after his loss. Yoshitsune was in the war known as the Genpei War (源平合戦). Yoshitsune then served the emperor until he was forced to flee back to Fujiwara for protection as he was being pursued by his third elder brother Yoritomo (源 頼朝) who saw him as a political threat. He was betrayed and suicide along with his wife and daughter by Hidehira's son who feared Yoritomo. 

 

(picture from Chusonji)

 

 

Tokugawa, Mitsukuni. Dai Nihonshi. Dai Nihon Yūbenkai, 1928.

周行 三浦. “源　義経.” 源 義經研究, 義経デジタル文庫, 2000, http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~success/miura_yositune.htm.