About The Tale of the Heike - It is a military history depicting the rise and fall of the Heike clan, believed to have ended in the Kamakura period.
１１５６年、朝廷の皇位継承問題などの内紛に源氏と平家の武力が加わり起こった政変（保元・平治の乱）を制した平清盛は、後白河法皇の覚えもめでたく官位を上り詰め、武士として初めて太政大臣となった。嚴島神社の社殿の造営、日宋貿易で国を富ませ、大和田の泊を開港し現在の神戸港の礎を築くなどの功績を上げる一方で、一族の者を次々と朝廷の要職につけ、国の約半分を平家一門の領地とした。
これを快く思わない旧勢力である公卿や、新たに力をつけつつあった各地の武士らが平家の打倒（鹿ケ谷の陰謀・以仁王の挙兵）を企てるも、清盛の娘、徳子の産んだ皇子が安徳天皇として即位するなど平家一門の栄華は続き、その不満は高まっていく。１１８０年、争いのさなか平家は東大寺大仏殿を焼き、多くの民や僧侶たちが犠牲となった。翌年に清盛は熱病を患い６４歳で没。その後、清盛を失った平家一門は木曽義仲に都を追われ、源義経の無双の活躍でもって、一ノ谷の戦、屋島の戦と敗走し、ついに１１８５年、壇ノ浦で最期を迎える。
その後、平家を討った義経も兄、源頼朝に討たれ、その頼朝もまた、鎌倉幕府成立からわずか４年で世を去った。
平家物語は私たちに語りかける。清盛の生きた平安末期は日本の王朝文化の極まれる頃であった。その中に育った平家の公達らは姿優しく、音楽を愛し、心のままに歌を詠んだ。そして、４００年の平安の世を打ち破る戦。平家物語の合戦シーンは、まるでそこに息遣いが聞こえるかのような臨場感で、血で血を洗う哀しみと、人が生きる力強さを語りかける。
貴族の世から武士の世へ…移りゆく激流のなかを生きた人間のドラマ。いつの世も変わらない諸行無常の理をリアルに描き出す。
(English) In 1156, Taira no Kiyomori won a battle in the political upheaval (Hogen-Heiji Rebellion) between the Minamoto clan, which had internal disputes over succession to the imperial throne, and the armed forces of the Heike clan. He was recommended by Emperor Go-Shirakawa Hōhō for the title of Grand Minister of State, becoming the first samurai to hold the post. He enriched the country by constructing Itsukushima Shrine and trade between Japan and the Sung Dynasty. He also opened the port of Owada and laid the foundations for the present port of Kobe. In addition to these achievements, he placed his family members in important positions at the imperial court. As a result, about half of the country became the fiefdom of the Heike clan.
The old court nobles do not like this, and the samurai, gaining power in various places, plot to overthrow the Heike (Shishigaya conspiracy). A prince born to Tokuko, the daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, is crowned Emperor Antoku. However, the Heike family's prosperity continued, and their discontent grew. In 1180, amid a conflict, the Taira clan burned down the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, killing many people and priests. Taira no Kiyomori contracted a fever the following year and died at 64. After losing Kiyomori, the Taira clan was driven out of the capital by Yoshinaka Kiso and defeated at the Battle of Ichinotani and the Battle of Yashima by Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Finally, in 1185, he met his end at Dannoura.
Yoshitsune, who had killed the Heike, was then killed by his older brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo. Yoritomo also died just four years after the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate.
The story of the Heike speaks to us. The late Heian period in which Kiyomori lived was the height of Japanese dynastic culture. The Heike princes who grew up there was kind, loved music and wrote poetry to their hearts' content. And there was a battle to break 400 years of peace. The battle scene in The Tale of the Heike speaks of the sorrow of washing one's blood and the strength of living, with a sense of realism as if you could hear breathing.
It is a drama about people living in the torrent of transition from the world of the aristocrats to the world of the samurai. It realistically depicts the impermanence of all things.
The Tale of the Heike in 5 minutes! An easy-to-understand explanation of the author, synopsis, writing, etc.
A) What is Heike Monogatari? Introduction to periods, authors and features
It is a war chronicle said to have been completed in the Kamakura period. A war chronicle is a work based on a historical battle and could be called a "battle story" in modern terms.
It depicts the rise and fall of the Heike, the samurai aristocracy that emerged during the Heian period. It is also notable for being almost historically accurate. You can see the rapid development of the script of a historical drama.
There are various theories about the author of the Heike story, and the exact place is unknown. However, there is a description in Kenko Yoshida's "Tsurezuregusa" that a person named Shinano Zenji Yukinaga was the author, and this is a leading theory.
The story of the Heike was popularised by Biwa Hoshi, a blind monk who was active in the Heian period. They were present all over the country, so the story is believed to spread all over the country.
Taira's obvious rival is Genji, but The Tale of Genji, with Hikaru Genji as the main character, is not a war chronicle. Instead, it is characterised by the fact that many love affairs are depicted.
B) Synopsis of The Tale of the Heike
1: Through the 'Hogen War' and the 'Heiji War', the Taira family gained great power and came to rule almost half of the country. In particular, Taira no Kiyomori became the first samurai to become Dajodaijin.
2: But the world's discontent explodes with the overbearing Heike. On the orders of Prince Mochihito (the third son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa), MINAMOTO no Yoritomo defeats the Taira family at the Battle of Fujikawa. As a result, Yoritomo becomes head of the eastern provinces in Kamakura.
3: The rapid advance of Minamoto no Yoshitsune begins. They cornered the Heike at the Battle of Ichinotani and the Battle of Yashima and finally settled at the Battle of Dannoura. The Taira clan perished, leaving behind Tokuko (Kiyomori's daughter).
4: Yoshitsune Minamoto, who played an active role in the Battle of Dannoura and contributed significantly to the destruction of the Heike clan, was hated and killed by Yoritomo.
The Tale of the Heike ends with Yoshitsune, portrayed as a heroic existence, destroying the Heike clan and ending without "and they all lived happily ever after", so he is killed by his brother Yoritomo.
This also expresses the view of impermanence and proves that this story is not a heroic story of defeating the Heike, the villains who tormented the people but is based on a Buddhist view.
C) The original text and translation of "Gion Shoja", the beginning of the Heike story
"The sound of the bell of the Gion Shosha represents the impermanence of all things. The colour of the flowers of the Sal trees represents the principle of the inevitable decline of prosperity. Now I miss the arrogant Heike clan. It's like a dream on a spring night. It's as if, no matter how strong a man is, the way he ends up is like 'dust blown by the wind'."
This is the beginning of the Heike story. Many of you must have memorised it when you were a student. It's easy to read aloud, and it's no wonder that the Biwa Hoshi told it and spread it.
Seeing how the Heike era ended and the world changed in the blink of an eye expresses "All things are not permanent", which means that the world is constantly evolving, and "the prosperity, the decline", that all people will inevitably decline.
Both "impermanence" and "the impermanence of prosperity" are Buddhist values, and the story of the Heike was based on this" Buddhist view".
D) Commentary on the famous scene "Genji no Soldiers."
In the Tale of the Heike, a chapter called "Sentei Minage: Former emperor's throw" begins with the sentence, "Genji soldiers, if you have already boarded the Heike ships...".
It describes how Genji's soldiers, having won the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, boarded the Heike ships individually and killed the sailors. Then, he decided to drown himself and tried suicide with Emperor Antoku, who was eight years old.
Emperor Antoku, held by Tokiko, asks, "Where are you taking me?" Tokiko tells the young Emperor that her luck has run out and cries, "This is a hard place. Let's go to paradise. There is a capital beneath the waves."
Then, while holding Emperor Antoku, he jumped off the ship, and they both died. Emperor Antoku is the grandson of Taira no Kiyomori, and this scene symbolises the end of the Heike family.
The Heike may have been a hateful existence, but the fact that an 8-year-old child was forced to die by suicide leaves a strong impression that transcends dimensions such as the victory or defeat of the Genpei.
E) The Tale of the Heike (Kadokawa Sophia Bunko - Beginners Classics)
平家物語 (角川ソフィア文庫―ビギナーズ・クラシックス)
The "Beginner's Classics" series is billed as an introduction to ancient texts. In addition to the original text, a modern language translation and commentary are included, so you can read while checking the meaning, so it is recommended for beginners.
The whole story is compactly summarised, and it is the perfect book to understand the flow of the story.
F) The story of Heike read in manga - Read in Manga The Tale of the Heike (Gakken Manga Japanese Classic) Gakken Kyoiku Shuppan
まんがで読む 平家物語 (学研まんが日本の古典) 学研教育出版
If you are not good at reading ancient texts, how about trying The Tale of Heike through manga first? Even though it is a manga, the "view of impermanence" is powerfully drawn, and you can enjoy the real pleasures of this work, such as the fragility and emptiness of the world.
There is also a column that complements the content, so it is a book that adults can also enjoy.
G) Reading the story of the Heike as a historical novel - New Tale of the Heike (1) (Eiji Yoshikawa historical period library) Kodansha
新・平家物語(一) (吉川英治歴史時代文庫) 講談社
The author is Eiji Yoshikawa, a historical novelist whose "Miyamoto Musashi" became an enormous bestseller. This work is a masterpiece that took about seven years to complete.
Rather than simply translating the original text into modern language, it depicts the drama of the rise and fall of the Genpei samurai while also focusing on the lives of ordinary people. As a result, you will be able to feel complete.
It's 16 volumes in paperback, but there's no doubt you'll be satisfied after reading it. Please try the challenge.
The Tale of the Heike in 5 minutes! An easy-to-understand explanation of the author, synopsis, writing, etc.
https://honcierge.jp/articles/shelf_story/5823
About "The Tale of the Heike"
https://heikemonogatari.net/heikemonogatari.html
[Classical reading] Modern translation The Tale of the Heike (10) / Shiro Ozaki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIDYCBppKOI&list=RDCMUCBJZQkervvdsOwQc8pDUHAg&index=2
The heads of the Heike samurai killed in the Battle of Ichinotani are displayed in Kyoto.
Lieutenant General TAIRA no Shigehira, who was captured alive, also suffered from being pulled around in front of the crowd.
On the other hand, TAIRA no Koremori, who had been confined in Yashima, was deeply saddened by his longing for his wife and children.
Shigehira sent to Kamakura. Koremori enters the water at Nachi.
The fate of the Heike clan, which once enjoyed the spring of our world and reached its peak of prosperity, is now in danger.
[Classical reading] Modern translation The Tale of the Heike (11) / Shiro Ozaki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCsDc2wwAV8&t=119s
The Taira clan was defeated in the Battle of Ichinotani, and Koremori, the lieutenant general, drowned and died, and the decline of the Taira clan's power was remarkable.
On the other hand, the Genji side also lacked an offensive force, and the year began without the Taira clan being able to destroy them.
The next stage of the battle is Yashima and then Dannoura.
Now the final battle of Genpei was about to begin.