The Tale of the House of Taira

Having rapidly risen to the heights of power, the powerful Taira clan ruled Japan for twenty years. Prince Kiyomori Taira controlled the fates of the noblest feudal lords and even the emperor himself. One day, Prince Motohito attempted to overthrow the dominion of the self-governing feudal lord, but this ended tragically for both the prince and the warriors of the Minamoto clan, on whom he relied, and even for the holy abode of Mii-dera, which was burned by the vengeful Kiyomori because the monks had given refuge to the rebel. But the fierce reprisals did not stop Taira's enemies; they only fueled their rage. Soon a real war erupted, which fundamentally changed the political structure of the country and left a lasting mark in the national memory. For centuries, blind biwa storytellers sang of the tragic confrontation between the Taira and Minamoto clans. But 'The Tale of the House of Taira' is not just a tale of events from the 12th century in the popular genre of 'gunki,' glorifying samurai valour and adorned with poignant verses. The internal civil war is depicted in 'The Tale of the House of Taira' without the slightest sympathy for either of the warring sides, mourning the destroyed sanctuaries, lives, families, and loves. 'The Tale of the House of Taira' is Japan's 'Iliad.' It is one of the texts that nourishes the roots of national culture. Without acquaintance with it, it is impossible to approach an understanding of Japan: its literature, as well as its visual art, is saturated with plots and reminiscences referring to this epic. The illustrations in this edition are drawn from old printed and manuscript books and scrolls, as well as woodblock prints by ukiyo-e artists and images from Japan's decorative-applied arts.