Mortal-floor ninth son of Yoshitomo by Tokiwa Gozen. Childhood at Kurama-dera with the canonical tengu supernatural-training narrative. Field commander of the Minamoto armies during the Genpei War (1180-1185); the canonical military victories at Ichi-no-Tani (the Hiyodori-goe cliff-descent), Yashima (the Nasu no Yoichi fan-shooting), and Dan-no-ura (the decisive sea-battle) made him the canonical-Japanese tragic-hero figure — the foundation of the Hōgan-biiki ("sympathy for the Hōgan") sentiment-tradition. After Dan-no-ura, accepted court honors without Yoritomo's permission; declared an outlaw; fled to Hiraizumi under Fujiwara no Hidehira. Died by seppuku at Koromogawa-no-tate in 1189 at age 30 after Hidehira's successor Yasuhira betrayed him; the canonical "standing-death-of-Benkei" gate-defense scene closed the tragic frame. The Edo-period legendary tradition added the coda "Yoshitsune is Genghis Khan" — the Hokkaido-and-beyond escape-sequence.