Sadatoshi, Katsura Motozumi, Kodama Naritada, Kokushi Motosuke, Hiraga Hirosuke, and Ichikawa Tsuneyoshi assisted Mōri Motonari in his rule. His greatest generals, however, were his own sons Kobayakawa Takakage and Kikkawa Motoharu, the 'Two Rivers' (a play on the 'kawa' characters in their names). The well known "one line, three stars" emblem of the Mōri was inherited from the family's ancestor, Ōe no Hiromoto. In addition to being a gifted general Motonari was also a noted poet and patron of the arts. Surviving letters written by his grandson Mōri Terumoto describe Motonari as a strict and demanding man with a sharp eye. He was succeeded by his grandson Terumoto, who was the son of the late Takamoto. Family In all, Motonari had nine sons and three daughters; five children were by his wife, three by a consort from the Nomi clan, and four by a consort from the Miyoshi clan. There is also speculation that Ninomiya Naritoki (二宮就辰, 1546–1607) was Motonari's son with a woman from the Yada clan (矢田氏). Father: Mōri Hiromoto (毛利弘元, 1466–1506) Mother: name unknown, daughter of Fukubara Hirotoshi (福原広俊). Brother: Mōri Okimoto (毛利興元, 1492–1516) Brother: Aiō Mototsuna (相合元綱, d. 1524) Brother: Kita Narikatsu (北就勝, d. 1557) Brother: Mitsuke Motouji (見付元氏) Wife: Lady Myōkyū (妙玖夫人, 1499–1546), daughter of Kikkawa Kunitsune (吉川国経). 1st son: Mōri Takamoto (毛利隆元, 1523–1563) Grandson: Mōri Terumoto (毛利輝元, 1553–1625) 2nd son: Kikkawa Motoharu (吉川元春, 1530–1586) 3rd son: Kobayakawa Takakage (小早川隆景, 1533–1597) 1st daughter: name unknown, died young, taken hostage by the Takahashi clan (高橋氏) and later killed. 2nd daughter: Goryū no Tsubone (五龍局, d.1574), wife of Shishido Takaie (宍戸隆家). Concubine: Nomi no Ōkata (乃美大方, d. 1601), daughter of Nomi Takaoki (乃美隆興). 4th son: Hoida Motokiyo (穂井田元清, 1551–1597) 7th son: Amano Motomasa (天野元政, 1559–1609) 9th son: Kobayakawa Hidekane (小早川秀包, 1567–1601) Concubine: name unknown, daughter of Miyoshi Masataka (三吉致高) of the Miyoshi clan. 5th son: Suginomori Motoaki (椙杜元秋, 1552–1585) 6th son: Izuha Mototomo (出羽元倶, 1555–1571) 8th son: Suetsugu Motoyasu (末次元康, 1560–1601) 3rd daughter: name unknown, wife of Uehara Motomasa (上原元将). Honours Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade (Ju go-i-no-ge, 従五位下), Aryō (右馬頭) Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade (Ju shi-i-no-jō, 従四位上), Aryō (右馬頭) Jibu-shō (治部少輔) - Second assistant to the Minister of Ceremonies Mutsu-no-kami (陸奥守) Junior Third Rank (ju san-mi, 従三位) Senior First Rank (shō ichi-i, 正一位) - April 2, 1908; posthumous The 18 Generals of Mōri (毛利十八将) Kikkawa Motoharu (吉川元春, 1530–1586), second son of Motonari, with his brother