The First Battle of Uji (宇治平等院の戦い, Uji Byōdō-in no Tatakai), alternatively known as "Mochihitos Raising of an Army" in Japan is a battle which took place on June 20, 1180, following Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa's plan to raise an army to overthrow the Taira clan and the issuing of an edict urging the Minamoto clan, major temples, and shrines in the country to revolt.

Due to lack of preparation, the plan was discovered by the Taira,[2] and Prince Mochihito and Yorimasa were defeated, dying at the battle.

Due to his connections to Kiyomori, who was the de facto leader of Japan at this point (see Daijō-daijin), he became a high-ranking official, even though he preferred staying out of politics and being in positions that did not require taking sides.

On the 5th of May he set out with Mochihito's Royal Order, which went as follows:'The pronouncement of His Excellency the Prince declares that Kiyomori, Munemori and others, using the prestige of their office and their influence, have invited rebellion and have overthrown the nation.

They have despoiled the graves of Princes and cut off the head of one, defied the Emperor and destroyed Buddhist law in a manner unprecedented in history.

If there be those who perform meritoriously, despatch missions to me and inform me of their names and deeds, I shall, without fail, following my enthronement, bestow rewards upon them according to their wishes.

He was told by his samurai that it would be easier to escape in women's attire, so he let his hair loose, put on female clothing, and wore a wide straw hat, similar to one a townswomen would wear.

[8][9] Since his sword was only ceremonial, it soon broke, causing him to be captured and examined in which he did not give the whereabouts of Mochihito away, and was banished to Hōki Province.

Know that the supreme excellence of Buddhism is to uphold the Monarchy; and the duration of the Throne therefore depends on the Law of Buddha.

Now the Nyudo (someone who enteres priesthood), the former Daijō-daijin (Chancellor), Taira-no-Kiyomori Ko, whose priestly name is Jokai, does his will with the authority of the country and turns the government upside down, so that there is everywhere resentment and lamentation.

And on the evening of the fifteenth day of this month the second son of the Ho-o (Emperor Takakura) hurriedly fled to our monastery to escape persecution, and though they have demanded repeatedly that we give him up, our priests unanimously refuse to do so, Therefore this Lay priest is collecting an army to enter our monastery, wishing to destroy at one time both Buddhism and the Monarchy.

In ancient times in China, when the Emperor Bu-so attempted to destroy Buddhism by force of arms, the monks of Joryusen joined battle and repulsed him; if they thus upheld their rights against the monarch, how much more shall we not chastise this great rebel (Kiyomori), this transgressor of the first of the Eight Disobediences (Rebellion).

[5] Nara temple however, did reply on the 15th of June, accepting Mii-deras call to arms, telling them that they "will await your sign to advance".

[4][5][16] As soon as the Taira at Rokuhara learnt of Mochihito's escape to Nara, they immediately sent an army of roughly 28,000 men in pursuit.

The vanguard alerted the rest of the army that the bridge had been destroyed by the Mochihito forces, the rearguard however, ignored this, and called for an advance into the river.

The warrior monks were said to be very good archers, being able to shoot so powerfully that the arrows shaft pierced the wooden shields of the Taira.

[5][19] A retainer of the Taira force, seeing this, said to the commanders "the battle on the bridge is very fierce; we ought to ford the river, but after the rains of this month, neither man nor horse can live in the stream" and suggested they take a large detour to cross to the other side.

[5][19] Ashikaga Tadatsuna [ja], who led a contingent of 300 samurai, disagreed with this plan, stating that if they do not confront the enemy force here, the Prince will escape to Nara, and suggested trying to ford this river instead.

Tadatsuna was the first warrior on the frontline and following a custom of the period is said to have proclaimed his name and lineage before charging his enemies.

[20] According to the Azuma Kagami, the 18-year-old Tadatsuna is supposedly remembered as having had the strength of one hundred men, a voice that echoed over 10 li (5 km), and teeth of 1 sun (3.03 cm) long.

[5][22] His younger son, Kanetsuna was holding off a group of Taira soldiers who had wanted Yorimasa's head, but he was hit by an arrow.