In February, 1184, MINAMOTO no Yoshinaka, who had defeated the Taira family and been dominated Kyoto, came into conflict with Yoritomo, and Yoritomo sent his younger brothers MINAMOTO no Noriyori and MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune to Omi Province.
寿永3年（1184年）正月、平家を打ち破って京を支配していた源義仲と頼朝が対立し、頼朝は弟の源範頼と源義経を近江国へ派遣。