Today, scholars identify approximately eighty discrete variant lines of the tale – some short, others voluminous – that are fairly readily categorized into two general lineages: the kataribonkei (recitational lineage) of texts derived from the repertoire of the biwa hōshi, and the yomihonkei (read lineage) of texts originally intended to be read rather than heard. The read-lineage texts are culturally important, although they generally have received less attention in the West as they do not conform as easily to our notions of “epic.” The oldest dated Heike variant is in fact a read-lineage text, the Engyōbon, whose colophon dates it to 1309. Another well-known read lineage text is the very long Genpei jōsuiki, which most likely reached its current form in the 15th century and was a very important source for noh playwrights during that same period.

The final phrase is from a gāthā (a Buddhist text in verse), containing the following quatrain: All is vanity and evanescence. When it’s clear the Heike have been utterly defeated at Dan-no-Ura, the redoubtable Lady Nii takes her grandson, the child emperor Antoku, in her arms, telling him, “Down there, far beneath the waves,/ another capital awaits us,” and leaps into sea. TV Anime The Heike Story and The SAMURAI - Samurai and the World of Beauty Collaboration". Okada Museum of Art (in Japanese). December 23, 2021. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022 . Retrieved January 4, 2022. McCullough, Helen Craig. The tale of the Heike. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, 1988. ISBN 0804714185 The story of the Heike was compiled from a collection of oral stories recited by travelling monks who chanted to the accompaniment of the biwa, an instrument reminiscent of the lute. [2] The most widely read version of the Heike monogatari was compiled by a blind monk named Kakuichi, [3] in 1371. The Heike is considered one of the great classics of Medieval Japanese literature.CONCLUSIONThe Tyler translation is the most accurate, but the Kitagawa–Tsuchida translation is more useful for its academic value. The McCullough translation is a close second to both in terms of accuracy and academic value. Burton Watson’s translation is abridged and not very accurate; Sadler’s is readable but not accurate, in no small part due to its age. My personal favourite translation is this one, Kitagawa–Tsuchida. The bell of the Jakkō-in sounds (parallel to the bells of the Gion monastery in the first lines of the Tale) and the Retired Emperor leaves for the capital. Misfortunes of the Taira are blamed on Taira no Kiyomori (his evil deeds caused the suffering of the whole Taira clan). In 1191, Tokuko falls ill, dies invoking Amitābha's name and is welcomed by Amitābha to Sukhavati.

Kenneth Dean Butler, "The Heike monogatari and The Japanese Warrior Ethic", Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 29, (1969), 108. Coats, Cayla; Cardine, Kyle; Luster, Joe; Burke, Carolyn; Vaca, Sergio; Sassi, José; Höpfler, Melanie; Ghrenassia, Guillaume; Ali, Nada; Ventura, Francesco; Zabolotskaya, Asya (January 6, 2022). "FEATURE: Crunchyroll Editorial Staff's Top Anime Of 2021". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022 . Retrieved February 20, 2022. There are 192 numbered titles/episodes in this formidable 13-book epic, possibly second to "The Tale of Genji", so there are too many characters, battles, defeats, etc. for its readers to remember or even recall without confusion. It is no wonder that its literary stature has been rightly compared to "The Iliad" by Homer since both describe their conflicts, campaigns, victories, etc. essential to impress and instruct their posterity and the world in this 21st century and beyond to learn from their mistakes and glory. In 1181, Retired Emperor Takakura dies, troubled by the events of the last several years. Kiso no Yoshinaka (cousin of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the northwestern provinces) plans a rebellion against the Taira and raises an army. Messengers bring news of anti-Taira forces gathering under the Minamoto leadership in the eastern provinces, Kyūshū, Shikoku. The Taira have trouble dealing with all the rebellions.Komatsu Shigemori (Heike monogatari), from the series Twenty-Four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety for the Honchō Circle (Honchōren honchō nijūshikō), with poem by Kanenoya Arizumi. It is one of those eerie moments when you find yourself alone with the enemy, while the battle is still going on just a distant away. Kumagai hesitates momentarily, but the young man urges him to go ahead; they fought a fair duel, and he lost. If he had won, he would have no problem killing his opponent. So what is this hesitation Kumagai is showing?

Kiyomori moves the capital from Kyoto to his stronghold Fukuhara-kyō in 1180. Strange ghosts appear to Kiyomori (a face, laughter, skulls, ominous dreams). News of unrest in the eastern provinces (controlled by the Minamoto) reaches the new capital. The Heike Story, Heike Monogatari, or more objectively documented in Japanese history books as: The Tale of the Heike. No matter what you call this show, I see it as 3 words: a cult following. Tokuko goes into a difficult and prolonged labor causing fears for the life of her and the child. Saiko and the other conspirators are exiled by Kiyomori to Kikaigashima against Shigemori's advice. Shigemori comes to believe that Tokuko's problems are related to the mistreatment of the Kikaigashima exiles and proposes a compensatory ceremony. Kiyomori releases some of the exiles, who show remorse by sending a thousand sotoba into the sea, but he refuses to forgive Shukan and leaves him on the island. Tokuko successfully gives birth to a baby boy; however, Moriko dies at the age of 24, and rumors spread that it is punishment for the Taira gaining control of Fujiwara lands. Shigemori goes on a pilgrimage to Kumano and prays that he not live to see the Taira fall because of his father. Shortly after his return, Shigemori takes ill, and he has a vision of the Heike being punished for the actions of Kiyomori. Not long afterwards, he passes away, with Biwa beside him.Watson, Burton and Haruo Shirane. The Tales of the Heike (abridged). Columbia University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-231-13802-4 The series was directed by Naoko Yamada, written for television by Reiko Yoshida, and featured music by Kensuke Ushio. The trio previously collaborated on A Silent Voice (2016) and Liz and the Blue Bird (2018) at Kyoto Animation, while Yoshida and Ushio had worked with production studio Science SARU. [1] Hitsujibungaku performed the opening theme "Hikaru Toki" (When the Light Shines), while Ani from Scha Dara Parr and Agraph performed the ending theme "unified perspective". [5] Episode list [ edit ] No.