About the Battle of Dan-no-ura
The Battle of Dan-no-ura was fought in 1185 (24th day of the 3rd month, Genryaku 2) at Kanmon Strait, Nagato Province. Red and white fleets collide in the Kanmon Strait in the last battle of the Genpei War. The tide turns, a defection follows, and the Taira sink beneath the waves with the child emperor.
- Year
- 1185 (24th day of the 3rd month, Genryaku 2)
- Place
- Kanmon Strait, Nagato Province
- Era
- Late Heian period
How the battle unfolded
- Strait The Kanmon Strait
The 24th day of the 3rd month, Genryaku 2. The last battlefield of the Genpei War is the swift-flowing Hayatomo narrows. Five hundred Taira ships against 840 of the Minamoto. On land, Noriyori's 30,000 seal the Kyushu shore, and the Taira have nowhere left to retreat.
- Attack The Taira Ride the Tide
In the morning the tide runs east through the strait. Masters of naval warfare, the Taira attack with the current behind them. The fleets of Tomomori and Noritsune push the Minamoto back, and the archery duel goes in the Taira's favour.
- Foul Shoot the Oarsmen
Hard pressed, Yoshitsune gives an order that breaks the code of war: "Shoot the rowers and helmsmen." Stripped of their oarsmen, the Taira ships become mere targets drifting on the tide.
- Tide The Tide Turns
At midday the current in the strait reverses to the west. Now it is the Minamoto who have the tide at their backs. Eight hundred and forty ships push back all at once, and the battle turns over minute by minute.
- Turn Taguchi Raises the White Banner
Taguchi Shigeyoshi, commanding 300 ships of the Awa navy, suddenly raises the white banner. The Taira formation collapses from within, and even the whereabouts of Emperor Antoku's ship is betrayed to the enemy.
- Noritsune The End of Noritsune
Taira no Noritsune, the greatest archer in the land, closes on Yoshitsune's ship. But Yoshitsune escapes by leaping from ship to ship, eight boats in all: the famous "eight-boat leap." Noritsune seizes two Minamoto warriors in his arms and vanishes into the sea.
- Waves A Capital Beneath the Waves
The Nun of the Second Rank takes the eight-year-old Emperor Antoku in her arms and enters the sea, saying, "There is a capital beneath the waves too." Tomomori follows, shouldering an anchor: "I have seen all that I needed to see." The Taira, who had gloried in their splendour, perish at Dan-no-ura.
Generals and units
- Minamoto (Genji) Minamoto no Yoshitsune Commander-in-chief
- Minamoto (Genji) Kumano Navy (Tanzō)
- Minamoto (Genji) Kōno Navy (Michinobu)
- Minamoto (Genji) Minamoto no Noriyori
- Taira (Heike) Taira no Tomomori Commander-in-chief
- Taira (Heike) Taira no Noritsune
- Taira (Heike) Yamaga Hidetō
- Taira (Heike) Taguchi Shigeyoshi
- Taira (Heike) Imperial Ship (Emperor Antoku)
FAQ
- What was the Battle of Dan-no-ura?
- Red and white fleets collide in the Kanmon Strait in the last battle of the Genpei War. The tide turns, a defection follows, and the Taira sink beneath the waves with the child emperor.
- When and where did the Battle of Dan-no-ura take place?
- It took place in 1185 at Kanmon Strait, Nagato Province (24th day of the 3rd month, Genryaku 2).
- Who fought in the Battle of Dan-no-ura?
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune of the Minamoto (Genji), Taira no Tomomori of the Taira (Heike) were among the commanders.
- Can I watch the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 3D?
- Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.