The Jōkyū War was a conflict in Japan that took place from 1180 to 1181. It was fought between the forces of the Minamoto clan and the Taira clan, two powerful families vying for control during the late Heian period. The war was marked by a series of battles and skirmishes, ultimately leading to the decline of the Taira clan's influence. The conflict is named after the Jōkyū era, which was the period during which the war occurred. The Jōkyū War is significant as it set the stage for the eventual rise of the Minamoto clan, leading to the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate and a new era in Japanese governance.