ENGRAVING: HALL OF BYODOIN TEMPLE (1052), AT UJI
To that end, brief study may be given to the principal campaigns of the eleventh century, namely, the century immediately preceding the establishment of military feudalism. It must be premised, however, that although the bushi figured mainly on the provincial stage, he acted an important part in the capital also. There, the Throne and its Fujiwara entourage were constrained to enlist the co-operation of the military nobles for the purpose of controlling the lawless elements of the population. The Minamoto family were conspicuous in that respect. Minamoto Mitsunaka—called also Manchu—served at the Court of four consecutive sovereigns from Murakami downwards, was appointed governor of several provinces, and finally became commandant of the local Government office. Yorimitsu, his son, a still greater strategist, was a prominent figure at five Courts, from the days of Enyu, and his brothers, Yorichika and Yorinobu, rendered material assistance in securing the supremacy of the great Fujiwara chief, Michinaga. Indeed, the Minamoto were commonly spoken of as the "claws" of the Fujiwara. It was this Yorinobu who won such fame by escalading the castle of Taira Tadatsune and who established his family's footing in the Kwanto. His uncle, Yoshimitsu, had a large estate at Tada in Settsu, and this branch of the family was known as Tada Genji.*
Then there were:
The Yamato Genji descended from Yorichika
" Suruga " " " Mitsumasa
" Shinano " " " Mitsunaka
" Uda " of Omi, called also the Sasaki family
" Saga " of Settsu " " " Watanabe
" Hizen " of Hizen " " " Matsuura
The Taira family became famous from the time of Sadamori, who quelled the insurrection of Masakado. Of this clan, there were these branches: