Mōri Motonari

He was born at Suzuo Castle in Aki Province (his mother's home). His father Mōri Hiromoto retired in 1500 and died in 1506; after his elder brother Okimoto's death, Motonari succeeded as head of the clan in 1523 following the death of his nephew Kōmatsumaru. His base was Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle (present-day Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture). In 1540 he defeated the Amago army at Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle; in 1555 he defeated Sue Harukata at Itsukushima, inheriting the Ōuchi domains at a stroke; in 1566 he captured Gassantoda Castle and destroyed the Amago clan. In the end he controlled about ten provinces — Aki, Suō, Nagato, Bitchū, Bingo, Inaba, Hōki, Izumo and Iwami, plus parts of Buzen and Sanuki. In his later years he made peace with the Ōtomo and gave up control of Hakata, and refused to join the anti-Nobunaga encirclement (declining even Ashikaga Yoshiaki's invitations after 1570). He died of illness at Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle in 1571, the cause given variously as oesophageal cancer or old age.

• Birthplace: Suzuo Castle, Aki Province (present-day Hiroshima Prefecture area).
• Places of activity: Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle (present-day Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture), Itsukushima (present-day Miyajima, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture), Gassantoda Castle (present-day Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture).
• Place of death: Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle.
• Burial place: Near the Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle ruins (the grave of Mōri Motonari).
• Further reading places: Itsukushima Shrine, the Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle ruins, Hiroshima Castle (built by Motonari's descendant Terumoto and connected with the Motonari era).

Cultural significance

Motonari is the symbol of the strategist: the victory against the odds at Itsukushima and the "Three Arrows" teaching story (a father showing his three sons that three arrows together cannot be broken, symbolising unity — a famous later teaching tale, to be marked as legend, not confirmed fact) are told to this day. The nickname "Beggar Prince" appears in fan sources and is used with caution; this text does not adopt it. Akitakata City brands itself as the Mōri homeland, and the Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle ruins and Motonari's grave are associated sites.