中国地方
was a prominent "daimyō" (feudal lord) in the western Chūgoku region of Japan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century. The Mōri clan claimed descent from Ōe no Hiromoto (大江広元), an adviser to Minamoto no Yoritomo. Motonari was called the "Beggar Prince". He was known as a great strategist who began as a small local warlord ("jizamurai") of Aki Province and extended his clan's power to nearly all of the Chūgoku region through war, marriage, adoption and assassination.