The alternatively known as the Nanto Arson Campaign in Japan is an event which took place on January 15th 1181 (December 28th 1180 in the Jishō calendar), following Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa's defeat and subsequent death to the

Taira clan The was one of the four most important Japanese clans, clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period, Heian period of History of Japan, Japanese history – the others being the Minamoto clan, Minamoto, the Fujiwara clan, Fuji ...

, after which the Taira forces burnt down the Miidera temple (which had sheltered the anti-Taira forces), before moving on to Nara, where they "''set fire to the monastic complexes of Kōfuku-ji and

Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Nanto Shichi Daiji, Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Nara, Nara, Japan. The construction of the temple was an attempt to imitate Chinese temples from the much-admir ...

.''"

Background

In June, after the suppression of Mochihito's army, the Taira clan punished Mii-dera Temple, which had been involved in the rebellion, by prohibiting it from participating in court sessions, dismissing its priests, and confiscating the temple's territory. Kōfuku-ji (one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in Nara) was not punished as severely as Mii-dera. At the end of the year, the people of Mii-dera and Kofuku-ji joined the uprising of the Ōmi

Minamoto clan was a Aristocracy (class), noble surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the Imperial House of Japan, imperial family who were excluded from the List of emperors of Japan, line of succession and demoted into the ranks of Nobili ...

and others in the , which finally led the Taira to turn the tables on Kofuku-ji when Taira Shigehira attacked and burned down Mii-dera. Nara was regarded as a rebel against the throne because it had sided with Miidera and received Prince Takakura when he led the revolt. Once the temples at Nara had heard of this, they rose up like "a swarm of angry bees".

Battle

Taira no Kiyomori first sent with 500 soldiers to Nara. Kiyomori instructed Kanayasu to settle the matter in as peaceful a manner as possible and sent him off lightly armed. However, the monks of Nara captured and beheaded over 60 of Kaneyasu's men and lined them up at the edge of Sarusawa Pond, causing Kanayasu to return to Kiyomori. A now infuriated Kiyomori sent

Taira no Shigehira (1158–1185) was one of the sons of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders during the Heian period of the 12th century of Japan. Famous battles Following the Battle of Uji (1180), Battle of Uji in 1180, Shigehira fo ...

and Tomomori, both sons of Kiyomori, to siege Nara with "about 40,000 horsemen" (However,

The Tale of the Heike is an epic account compiled prior to 1330 of the struggle between the Taira clan and Minamoto clan for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War (1180–1185). It has been translated into English at least five times. ...

is known for exaggerating numbers). The monks, numbering around 7,000 men, began digging ditches in the roads, and built many forms of improvised defenses. They fought primarily with bow & arrow, and ''

naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

'', while the Taira were on horseback, giving them a great advantage. Soon the Taira forces arrived, after which they divided into two, attacking the two defensive positions the monks had built. By nightfall, both positions had been broken through. Despite the monks' strategic defenses, their enemy succeeded in defeating even the best monks of Nara, and Shigehara ordered nearly every temple in the city to be lit, and the fire spread quickly due to the winds at the time. Soon the elderly and young (numbering roughly 1,000) began to flee into the , but soon it was destroyed by fire too, with the Kofuku-ji falling as well. Only the

Shōsōin The is the wikt:treasure house, treasure house of Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara, Nara, Nara, Japan. The building is in the ''azekura'' (log-cabin) style with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Great Buddha Hall. The Shōsō-in houses arti ...

survived.

The Heike Monogatari laments the destruction of the Tōdai-ji's ''Daibutsu'' (Great Buddha statue) and Nara:

Aftermath

In all, 3,500 non-combants died in the burning of Nara, with another 1,000 warrior monks, some of whose heads where hung on the gates of the Hannya-ji, while some were carried back to Kyoto. Kiyomori alone was greatly rejoiced at the news, while the Empress, and the Retired Emperor all sorrowed at the destruction of so many temples, though somewhat pleased that the rebellious monks of Nara were exterminated. The courtiers had decided that the heads of the monks should be displayed on public scaffolds as punishment. However, they did not go through with any decisions regarding the tragic destruction of the Nara temples. In the writings of the

Emperor Shōmu was the 45th Emperor of Japan, emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 聖武天皇 (45)/ref> according to the traditional List of Emperors of Japan, order of succession. Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 749, duri ...

it says:

"When my temple of Kofukuji is prosperous the whole Empire shall be prosperous, and when my temple falls to ruin the Empire will decline also"

Due to this, many now believed the fall of the Empire was inevitable.

References

* Azuma Kagami * Turnbull, Stephen (2003). 'Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603'. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. {{DEFAULTSORT:Nara 1180 Sieges of the Genpei War Nara, Nara 1180s in Japan 1180 in Asia Conflicts in 1180 Persecution of Buddhists Buddhism in the Heian period Urban fires in Japan Massacres in religious buildings and structures Religious building and structure arson fires in Japan Massacres in Japan 12th-century massacres Arson deaths Deaths from fire in Japan Military history of Nara Prefecture