Minamoto no Yoshiie

Minamoto no Yoshiie
Minamoto no Yoshiie, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Bornc.1039
Died4 August 1106(1106-08-04) (aged 66–67)
Native name源義家
Other namesHachimantarō Yoshiie (八幡太郎義家) Most Valorous Warrior in the Land (天下第一武勇之士)
ResidenceJapan
NationalityJapanese
TeamMinamoto clan

Minamoto no Yoshiie (源 義家; Japanese pronunciation: [mʲi.na.mo.to no (|) jo.ɕiꜜ.i.e], 1039 – 4 August 1106), also known as Hachimantarō Yoshiie (八幡太郎義家) and his title Most Valorous Warrior in the Land (天下第一武勇之士), was a Minamoto clan samurai of the late Heian period, and Chinjufu-shōgun (Commander-in-chief of the defense of the North).

The first son of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, he proved himself in battle with the Abe clan in the Zenkunen War (Former Nine Years' War) and the Kiyohara clan in the Gosannen War (Later Three Years' War). Subsequently, he became something of a paragon of samurai skill and bravery. Oe no Masafusa was his teacher for the art of war. He was the third generation leader of the Kawachi Genji.

In legends, such as The Tale of the Heike, Yoshiie is thought to be the son or avatar of Hachiman. After his death, he was elevated to Kami status and renamed 'Hachimantaro', which means 'son of Hachiman', the Shinto god of war. The Minamoto clan made him their Patron Ancestral Kami. He is worshipped as a god of victory.

Yoshiie was also a great-great-great-grandson of Prince Sadasumi, a son of Emperor Seiwa, through a junior line.