Genpei War
The Genpei War (源平合戦 Genpei kassen, Genpei gassen) (1180–1185) was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192.
The name "Genpei" (pronounced and sometimes romanised as Gempei) comes from alternate readings of the kanji "Minamoto" (源) and "Taira" (平). The conflict is also known in Japanese as the Jishō-Juei War (治承寿永の乱 Jishō-Juei no ran), after the two eras between which it took place.
It began with Minamoto support for a different candidate to take the throne, in conflict with the Taira's nomination. The ensuing Battle of Uji took place just outside Kyoto, starting a five-year-long war, concluding with a decisive Minamoto victory in the naval Battle of Dan-no-ura.
Background
The Genpei War was the culmination of a decades-long conflict between the two aforementioned clans over dominance of the Imperial court, and by extension, control of Japan. In the Hōgen Rebellion and in the Heiji Rebellion of earlier decades, the Minamoto attempted to regain control from the Taira and failed.
Podcasts:
Juniper
by: Noe VenableMama, oh mama, I don't wanna come down
Not if it's all like it was on the ground
Hiding my feet 'cause I'm too shy to dance
Hiding my face behind both of my hands
Mama, oh mama, don't make me come down
'cause I don't know what will come out of my mouth
People will hear they won't know who I am
People will hear and they won't understand
Mama, I've seen them, the others like me
Once I could see it was all I could see
The silent procession that crosses the snow
In which skeleton ladies like skeletons go
Mama, oh mama, up here where I'm free
I have seen beauty you wouldn't believe
Juniper's ledges and Juniper's birds
Where Juniper's edges and mine become blurred
Mama, oh mama, if you only heard
The reasons for living, the freedom of words
The blooming balloon of a thought being born
Safe in the branches of Juniper's arms
Mama, oh mama, I'm not like you think
Some harrowing walker down narrowing streets
If I had my way I would bring the whole world
Every sleepwalker and each hungry girl
Mama, oh mama, and old uncle Tom
My father the thinker, my daughter the song
Tell every bell to just wake up and ring
Tell this whole choir to just shut up and sing
Mama, oh mama, I'm holding your hand
In these glorious dreams in which you understand
Mama, oh mama, we're spinning around