Kugyo Minamoto

Background

Kugyo Minamoto was born in 1200. He was the second son of the second Kamakura shogun of Japan, Minamoto no Yoriie and the grandson of Yoritomo Minamoto.

Education

After his tonsure, boy was given the Buddhist name "Kugyo" replacing his childhood name Yoshinari. He then went to Kyoto to take his vows, coming back at age 18 to become Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū's new betto, the shrine's fourth.

Career

In 1219, Kugyo Minamoto murdered his uncle Sanetomo on the stone stairs at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in the shogunal capital of Kamakura, an act for which he was himself slain on the same day. He was under the belief that his father had been killed under orders of Shogun Sanetomo (his uncle). So when the latter visited the Shrine one night, Kugyo attacked and stabbed him to death. Having killed his uncle, Kugyō took his head, left the temple and went to hide temporarily at the home of its guardian in Yukinoshita. From there Kugyo Minamoto sent a messenger to Miura Yoshimura's home in Nishi Mikado, explaining that he was now the new shogun and wanted to talk to him as soon as possible about what was to be done. Yoshimura and his family had an extremely close relationship with Kugyo, whose wetnurse had been a Miura. To buy time, Yoshimura sent back a message in which he asked Kugyo to stay where he was because he would send some soldiers to pick him up. While Kugyo waited, Yoshimura sent a messenger to Yoshitoki's residence in Komachi. Yoshitoki immediately sent back the order to execute the assassin. Yoshimura gathered the family council to decide how to do that. Nagao Sadakage, a samurai known for his strength and reliability, was then entrusted with the task. He left with a group of five men, and on the way they met Kugyo himself who, unable to contain himself and wait for Yoshimura's escort, had left his refuge and was already in Nishi Mikado on his way to Yoshimura's mansion. While one of the five men engaged him, Nagao Sadakage beheaded him. His head was then brought to the Regent's residence in Komachi for identification.

Connections

Father:

Yoriie no Minamoto

Grandfather:

Yoritomo MINAMOTO

Uncle:

Sanetomo Minamoto