Mori Motonari
Encyclopedia : M : MO : MOR : Mori Motonari
was a prominent daimyō in the west Chugoku region. He was born as Shojumaru in a small domain of Aki province. His father, Mōri Hiromoto, died when he was nine, leaving the clan in the hands of Motonari's older borther, Mōri Okimoto. Okimoto held an alliance with Ouchi Yoshioki (a powerful daimyō to the west of the Mori lands) founded by Hiromoto and assisted Ouchi in Kyoto. In 1516 Okimoto died and Motonari became the guardian of Okimoto's son, Komatsumaru. After Komatsumaru died, Motonari became the head of Mōri clan.Sandwiched between the powerful Amago and Ouchi clans, Motonari led the clan by carefully balancing actions and diplomacy. Eventually, Motonari succeeded in defeating both and controlled the entire Chugoku area. In his late years, he crushed the Otomo clan of Fungo province.
He had three sons whom he encouraged to work together for the benefit of the Mori clan. In one instance, he is said to have handed each of his sons an arrow and asking each snap it. After each snapped an arrow, he produced three arrows and asked them to snap them. Unable to snap them, Motonari told how one arrow could be broken easily but three arrows could not.
His eldest son, Mōri Takamoto died of a sudden disease, some say poisoning, while enroute to attack the Amago clan. Saddened and angered by his death, Motonari ordered all those responsible to be punished.
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