Samurai of the West

Japanese: 西面の武士 - さいめんのぶし

During the Heian and Kamakura periods, these warriors were in charge of guarding the Imperial Court. They were also called the "In's West Side." They were newly established during the time of the retired Emperor Gotoba. Along with the previously existing Kitamen warriors (the Imperial Court's North Side), they were assigned to guard the Imperial Court and served on the Imperial Court's West Side. They were appointed from among brave warriors from the Kinai and neighboring provinces, and from among the vassals in Kyoto, but some were children of Kanto warriors recommended by the shogunate. These West Side warriors were a powerful military force on the Imperial Court's side during the Jokyu War, but were abolished after the Imperial Court's defeat.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

平安，鎌倉時代，院の警固にあたった武士。「院の西面」とも称する。後鳥羽上皇のとき新設された。従来からおかれていた北面の武士 (院の北面) とともに，院の警衛に任じ，院の西面に伺候した。武勇にすぐれた畿内近国の武士や，在京御家人のなかから任命されたが，幕府が推薦した関東武士の子弟もいた。これら西面の武士は承久の乱の際，院側の有力な武力となったが，院側の敗北によって廃止された。

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