History has proven that wars are either of political or of religious nature. Wars of religious nature push for a particular ideology, particularly that which is dictated by the constructs of their religion or god.

Religious wars include the Crusades in the Dark Ages and the Jihad. Political wars, on the other hand, are motivated by the need to control a particular government or group. It can be said that religious wars are also of political nature, as whoever it is who has control over religion ultimately has control over a majority.

The Genpei war will prove history once again. It is the result of decades long conflict between the Taira and the Minamoto clans. The word Genpei (or Gempei for some) is a combination of the words Genji and Heike, Genji being the alternate reading for the kanji character for Minamoto and Heike for the kanji for Taira.

The war was prompted by the need of both clans to take control over the Japanese Imperial Court, consequently the whole of Japan.

The Genpei war spanned over 5 years, ending in the decisive naval battle of Dan-no-Ura.

The Genpei war resulted to a dispersal of power in Japan, leading to a long civil war until Oda Nobunaga had united the Japanese empire through the Tokugawa Shogunate.