Murakuni Oyori

Who was Murakuni Oyori?

Murakuni Oyori was a military commander of ancient Japan, who fought in the Jinshin War as a servant of Prince Ō-ama. His kabane, or family title, is muraji. He was given the rank of Shōshi after death.

The Murakuni clan was influential in Mino Province. Oyori was a servant of Prince Ō-ama. When Emperor Tenji became ill in 671, his brother Ō-ama decided to retire from political life in order to evade successor rivalry with Prince Ōtomo, the emperor's son. But the retirement was a fake. He later plotted a revolt called the Jinshin War.

Six months after the death of Tenji, on June 22, 672, Prince Ō-ama sent three messengers to Ō Honji, the administrator of the prince's domain of Ahachima in Mino Province. This was the first action of the revolt. The messengers Murakuni Oyori, Wanibe Kimite, and Mugetsu Hiro incited the province to rebellion against the government of Prince Ōtomo. Then Oyori returned to report. Ō-ama started Yoshino to Mino on June 24 and met with Oyori on June 26 near the district office of Asaake District in Ise Province. Oyori informed that 3,000 soldiers of Mino occupied Fuwa, a narrow point between the eastern provinces and Ōtsu, the capital of Japan at the time. Content with the success of the first critical action, Ō-ama praised Oyori.