In January, 1160, the anti-Shinzei faction took advantage of the sudden vacuum in military forces in the capital created by Kiyomori's departure on a pilgrimage to Kumano to launch a coup d'etat.
平治元年（1159年）12月、清盛が熊野参詣に赴き京都に軍事的空白が生まれた隙をついて、反信西派はクーデターを起こした。