Aristocratic succession disputes in the Heian period (1130s)

Timeline

1. 1131–1135Kujō residence · KyotoDuring Fujiwara no Tadazane's tenure as regent, the branches of the sesshō-kampaku house openly vied for succession and household headship. Unclear order of succession among adopted, illegitimate, and legitimate sons caused factional splits among house officials and estate administrators, and court appointments were also affected.
2. 1133–1138Grand Council of State · KyotoCourtier families brought lawsuits before the Grand Council of State over estate honke and ryōke rights and the inheritance of subordinate cultivators' rights. The In no Chō often intervened in judgments through imperial edicts from the cloister, and losing parties sometimes sought help from temple-shrine forces; disputes dragged on unresolved.
3. 1136–1140Provinces of the Kinai · KinkiAs estate inheritance disputes intensified, courtiers and temples-shrines often hired Taira and Minamoto warriors as keigo-shi or administrators to secure holdings by force. By the late 1130s, aristocratic society's ability to maintain order on its own further weakened, and the depth of warrior involvement increased.