User:CSUF Kit/sandbox

Intro
Was the last leader of the Northern Fujiwara clan in the late Heian (794–1185) and early years of the Kamakura (1185-1333) period of Japan, and the son of Fujiwara no Hidehira, before the clan was over taken in 1189 by Minamoto no Yoritomo of the Minamoto, or Seiwai Genji, clan. The Seiwa Genji clan was a descendent clan from the Emperor Seiwa. They grew in power and became well known due to the many famous Minamoto warriors that eventually would belong to this line. Many samurai families were a part of the Minamoto clan. The lineage comes from the grandfather of Minamoto no Tsunemoto, who is its name sake. Before being taken over by the Seiwa Genji, the Northern Fujiwara clan gained gradual power through political and religious means and relationships with the imperial government. The Fujiwara family controlled the Japanese Imperial government from the 9th century until the 12th century. Through the Buddhist hierarchy, the Fujiwara increased its influence and control. Yasuhira took the role of head of the Northern Fujiwara clan when his father (Fujiwara no Hidehira) passed away in 1187. The title of head of the clan wasn’t the only responsibility Hidehira passed down to his son, he also passed down the task of taking care of a swordsmen and general by the name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. A man who had been on the run in the past and Hidehira had been sheltering in the final years of his life.

Affiliation with Minamoto clan
Yoshitsune had a bad falling out with his half-brother (Minamoto no Yoritomo). Yoritomo, the leader of the Minamoto (or Seiwai Genji) clan at the time, wanted Yoshitune’s head and thusly Yoshitsune was on the run. For a brief time Yasuhira honored Hidehira’s promise of shelter to Yoshitsune, and allowed him to live freely. But eventually, Yasuhira gave into the outside pressures he was receiving from Yoritomo and helped Yoritomo in his pursuit of Yoshitsune. Yasuhira sent soldiers to Yoshitsune’s house forcing Yoshitsune to commit seppuku also known as hara-kiki, the act of committing suicide by self-disembowelment to regain ones honor. This act was rare and original only practiced by samurai military men in feudal Japan. There was only one proper way of committing this act. It was to take a short, dagger like sword and shove it into the abdomen on the left side of one’s body, then pulling the sword across to the right of the body, next turning it upward. After committing seppuku, Yoshitsune is said to have been beheaded by his prosecutors as a form of proof that the act had been done. His head was said to have been preserved in a jar of pure sake. There has been some speculation on whether or not Yoshitsune had actually survived. Some believed that he may have instead moved on to China to eventually become Chinggis Khan, but these claims have been seen to be inconclusive by literary scholars. (The Japanese Origin of the Chinggis Khan Legends)

Death
Yasuhira’s attempt to appease Yoritomo was a failure for, after the persecution of Yoshitsune, Yoritomo turned his attention to Yasuhira. Yoritomo started a war with the Northern Fujiwara clan which was devastating to their clan. Their military forces were eventually overwhelmed by the powerful Minamoto clan. Yasuhira fell in 1189 and with him so did the Northern Fujiwara clan. Yasuhira was also said to have been beheaded after his death. The Japanese Origin of the Chinggis Khan Legend & Primary Structure of Archaeological Silk and Ancient Climate.