The rise of the mounted warrior

Guards for the nobility

In 792 the court largely gave up its conscript army. Keeping order in the provinces fell to governors and landowners, who came to rely on local armed men. These men served noble patrons — and the verb for "to serve," saburau, gave us the word samurai.¹

The way of horse and bow

Warriors of this age fought first as mounted archers. Their ideal was called kyūba no michi, "the way of horse and bow." Their large, box-like armour, the ō-yoroi, was built for shooting from the saddle, and their long bow was gripped below its centre.²

Taira and Minamoto

Two warrior houses rose above the rest. Both the Taira and the Minamoto descended from imperial princes who had been given surnames and sent out of the royal line. After clashes at court in 1156 and 1160, Taira no Kiyomori dominated the capital — until the Genpei War of 1180–1185 ended with the Taira defeated at sea at Dan-no-ura.³

Timeline

1. 792 The court largely abolishes its conscript army.
2. 939 Taira no Masakado rises in revolt in the east.
3. 1156 The Hōgen disturbance draws warriors into court politics.
4. 1160 The Heiji disturbance leaves Taira no Kiyomori dominant.
5. 1185 The Taira are defeated at Dan-no-ura, ending the Genpei War.