How Did The Minamoto Clan Support The Control Of Political Power?

Kamakura bakufu was a Japanese feudal military government that was led by the shoguns. Before the Kamakura Period, which is the late Hein Period, the rise of samurai and their control of political power played an important role in shaping the Japanese history. The two most powerful samurai clans were the Taira Clan and Minamoto clan. However, they both favored a different political leader. The Minatomo clan favored Nijo Tenno whom was the current emperor at the time, and the Taira clan favored Goshirakawa whom was the retired emperor. Goshirakawa did not like how his son, Nijo, turned out to be too great because he still wanted to manipulate his son and control the government. Therefore, both of the clans were involved in a civil war between the father and the son emperor. In the end, the Minamoto clan won against
After the battle of Dan no Ura, Yoshitsune became a favorite of the emperor, Go-Shirakawa, and his court. Moreover, Yoshitsune was proved to be a military genius in the revolt Yoritomo had against the Taira clan by winning battles and the hearts of the citizens. Because Yoritomo had getting more powerful, Go-Shirakawa ordered Yoshitsune and Yukiie to punish Yoritomo. Both of them failed to punish Yoritomo and fled away from Kyoto. Yoritomo raised a jealousy and anger of this attack. To maintain local orders, he immediately sent troops to Kyoto and forced Go-Shirakawa to cancel his order and issue an order to punish Yoshitsune and Yukiie. Go-Shirakawa was surrounded with Yoritomo’s troops, and he had lost all of this power due to the failure of punishing Yoritomo. Go-Shirakawa had no choice but to agree to Yoritomo’s request. In 1189, Yoritomo found Yoshitsune hiding in northern Mutsu and had him killed. After the death of Yoshitsune, Go-Shirakawa lost all of his hope in regaining his power. He had the title as an emperor, but all of the power was in Yoritomo’s