The Gosannen War was part of a long struggle for power within the warrior clans of the time. The
Gosannen kassen arose because of a series of quarrels within the
Kiyohara clan (sometimes referred to as "Kiyowara"). The long-standing disturbances were intractable. When
Minamoto no Yoshiie, who became Governor of Mutsu province in 1083, tried to calm the fighting which continued between
Kiyohara no Masahira,
Iehira, and
Narihira. Negotiations were not successful; and so Yoshiie used his own forces to stop the fighting. He was helped by
Fujiwara no Kiyohira. In the end, Iehira and Narihira were killed. ==In art==