[1] In 1183, the Taira clan had made the decision to flee the Kyoto before the Minamoto no Yoshinaka led attack on the capital.
Therefore, Koremori left his wife and children in the capital and fled with the rest of the Taira clan to the western part of Japan.
The great monk Mongaku, feeling sorry for the poor child, rode to the capital, Kamakura, and successfully pleaded mercy and that Rokudai placed in his custody.
It is commonly thought that Rokudai's mother, after the death of Koremori, remarried Minamoto no Yoritomo's trusted confidant Yoshida Tsunefusa to help spare the life of her precious son.
In 1194, making a request through Ooe no Hirotomo, Rokudai was able to speak to Minamoto no Yoritomo and tells him that he is escaping treachery and is becoming a monk.