| Minamoto no Yorimitsu | |
| Birth Date: | Monjumaru 948 |
| Native Name: | 源 頼光 |
| Native Name Lang: | Japanese |
| Father: | Minamoto no Mitsunaka |
| Mother: | Daughter of Minamoto no Suguru |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Relatives: | Minamoto no Tsunemoto (grandfather) Minamoto no Yorichika (brother) Minamoto no Yorinobu (brother) |
| Office: | Head of Settsu Genji |
| Successor: | Unknown |
| Spouse: | Daughter of Fujiwara no Motohira Daughter of Taira no Koretaka Daughter of Yoshishige no Tamemasa |
| Children: | Minamoto no Yorikuni Minamoto no Yorimoto Eiju Minamoto no Yoriaki Fujiwara no Michitsuna's wife |
| Nickname: | Minamoto no Raikō |
| Allegiance: | Minamoto clan |
| Branch: | Minamoto clan |
, also known as Minamoto no Raikō, was a Japanese samurai and folk hero of the Heian period, who served the regents of the Fujiwara clan along with his brother Yorinobu, taking the violent measures the Fujiwara were themselves unable to take. He is one of the earliest Minamoto of historical note for his military exploits, and is known for quelling the bandits of Ōeyama.
His loyal service earned him the governorships of Izu Province, Kozuke and a number of others in turn, as well as a number of other high government positions. Yorimitsu served as commander of a regiment of the Imperial Guard, and as a secretary in the Ministry of War. When his father Minamoto no Mitsunaka died, he inherited Settsu Province.[1]
Yorimitsu is usually accompanied by his four legendary retainers, known as the Shitennō (The Four Heavenly Kings). They were Watanabe no Tsuna, Sakata no Kintoki, Urabe no Suetake, and Usui Sadamitsu.[2]
Yorimitsu is featured in a number of legends and tales, including the legend of Kintarō (Golden Boy a.k.a. Sakata no Kintoki), the legend of Shuten Dōji, and the legend of Tsuchigumo. The tachi (long sword) 'Dōjigiri' owned by Tokyo National Museum and selected as a National Treasure and Tenka-Goken ("Five Swords under Heaven"), and 'Onikirimaru' owned by Tada Shrine, have a legend that Yorimitsu beheaded Shuten Dōji.[3] [4] Also, three swords of the same name, 'Hizamaru' owned by Daikaku-ji Temple, Hakone Shrine and an individual, have a legend that Yorimitsu beat off Tsuchigumo.[5]
The Karatsu Kunchi festival in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, features a large float inspired by the helmet of Minamoto, being partially devoured by the oni Shuten Douji. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:DoujiMinamotoKabuto.jpg
Yorimitsu wrote a renga with his wife, which appears in the Kin'yō Wakashū (nos.703-704):
tade karu fune no suguru narikeri
asa madaki kararo no oto no kikoyuru wa
This translates as:
a boat harvesting smartweed is passing by
I thought I heard someone rowing smartly before dawn[2]
