About the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani
The Battle of Ichi-no-Tani was fought in 1184 (7th day of the 2nd month, Juei 3) at Ichi-no-Tani, Settsu Province. Yoshitsune's cavalry plunge down the cliff at Hiyodorigoe. Struck from behind, the Taira crumble toward the sea, and the young Atsumori dies.
- Year
- 1184 (7th day of the 2nd month, Juei 3)
- Place
- Ichi-no-Tani, Settsu Province
- Era
- Late Heian period
How the battle unfolded
- Lines Between Mountain and Sea
The 2nd month of Juei 3. The Taira, rallied from Yashima, base themselves on the old capital of Fukuhara and build a strong position at Ichi-no-Tani. The Rokkō mountains to the north, the Harima Sea to the south. With the eastern and western gates held, it was a stronghold that should not easily fall.
- Ikuta The Main Attack: Ikuta Forest
Minamoto no Noriyori's main army of 50,000 presses on the Ikuta forest to the east. The gate held by Taira no Tomomori is firm, and arrows fly like rain. But this is a decoy. The Minamoto's real aim lies at the rear, where no one believed anyone could come.
- Climb Into the Hills at Hiyodorigoe
Yoshitsune, leading the flanking force, has pushed into the steep hills during the night. Asking the way of local men, he stands on the cliff at Hiyodorigoe looking down on the Taira headquarters. Below is a sheer drop. But Yoshitsune declares they will go down here.
- Plunge The Plunge at Hiyodorigoe
"If deer can pass, so can horses." Yoshitsune is first to send his horse leaping over the edge. Seventy riders plunge down the cliff in a single rush amid a landslide of earth. At the white banners pouring in from an impossible direction, the Taira headquarters falls into chaos.
- Atsumori To the Sea: The Death of Atsumori
Broken by the pincer, the Taira race for the ships offshore. At the water's edge the young Taira no Atsumori is called back by Kumagai Naozane, who weeps as he takes the head of a boy the age of his own son. The pathos of war is carved into Ichi-no-Tani.
- Yashima The Red Banners Put to Sea
Tadanori and other Taira nobles are killed one after another, and the survivors flee by ship to Yashima. Ichi-no-Tani, which had seemed impregnable, was overturned by the idea of a single horseman. The tide of the Genpei War turns ever more toward the Minamoto.
Generals and units
- Minamoto (Genji) Minamoto no Yoshitsune Commander-in-chief
- Minamoto (Genji) Musashibō Benkei
- Minamoto (Genji) Minamoto no Noriyori
- Minamoto (Genji) Kumagai Naozane
- Taira (Heike) Taira no Tomomori Commander-in-chief
- Taira (Heike) Taira no Tadanori
- Taira (Heike) Taira no Atsumori
- Taira (Heike) Taira no Noritsune
- Taira (Heike) Taira Fleet
FAQ
- What was the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani?
- Yoshitsune's cavalry plunge down the cliff at Hiyodorigoe. Struck from behind, the Taira crumble toward the sea, and the young Atsumori dies.
- When and where did the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani take place?
- It took place in 1184 at Ichi-no-Tani, Settsu Province (7th day of the 2nd month, Juei 3).
- Who fought in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani?
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune of the Minamoto (Genji), Taira no Tomomori of the Taira (Heike) were among the commanders.
- Can I watch the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani 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.