Keywords
Heian Period, political conflict, Genji, Heike, samurai, Hōgen Rebellion, Heiji Rebellion, Genpei War, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Taira no Kiyomori, Kamakura Shogunate
Abstract
The late Heian period marked a critical turning point in Japanese history, as internal political struggles and the rise of the warrior class led to the collapse of aristocratic rule. This paper explores the factors that caused the Genji (Minamoto) and Heike (Taira) rivalry, leading to major conflicts like the Hōgen and Heiji Rebellions, and culminating in the Genpei War. These events marked the beginning of samurai-led governance and the eventual founding of the Kamakura
Shogunate.