CNE120 10 29 04

Tales of the Heike: 

Tales of the Heike CNE/ENG 120 10/29/04

Tales of the Heike: 

Tales of the Heike Author:A. Kakuichi Culture: Japanese Time: 14th c. CE Genre: prose epic Names/terms to know: Heike, Genji, Kiyomori, Kiro, Atsumori, samurai. Themes: samurai code, impermanence of life (mujo).

Important Elements: 

Important Elements Like Greek and Roman epic, this Japanese epic helped to create a warrior ideal: the samurai code of death before dishonor. The epic’s strong depiction of the impermanence of life is very important in the Japanese view, a concept imported from Buddhism. Change is a major theme of the work. We are “but dust before the wind.”

Historical Background: 

Historical Background The epic recreates events of the late 12th c. (late 1100s) which brought vast change to Japanese political life. As we discussed last class, at this time the aristocracy was eclipsed (became culturally less important) and military clans rose to power. In 1156 civil war ignited (the Genpei War) in a dispute over royal succession.

Heike vs. Genji, Part I: 

Heike vs. Genji, Part I The winner in the royal succession war got help from two warrior clans, the Genji (Minamoto) and the Heike (Taira), who then turned against one another. The Heike won this first war, remaining in the captial for 20 years living it up while the Genji withdrew to the eastern provinces and planned their revenge.

Heike vs. Genji, Part II: 

Heike vs. Genji, Part II Renewed fighting between the clans began in 1180 and last five years. In the end, the Heike were annihilated while the Genji established a 200 year military dictatorship. In the Tales of the Heike, the decline of the Heike is implicitly linked with their loss of military discipline and moral righteousness, brought upon by decadent living in the capital.

Narrative Structures: 

Narrative Structures It begins, like epic poetry, with a statement of the work’s theme. 3 narrative units: Brief heydey of the Heike. Fall of the Heike The Genji prevail.

Chapter Themes: 

Chapter Themes Chapters 1-6: The history and character of Kiyomori, head of the Heike clan and the reason for its downfall (the sins of the fathers . . .) Chapters 7-12: Focus on different samurai from both clans, the 3 important Genji leaders (Yoritomo, Yoshinaka, and Yoshitsune) and the defeats of Kiyomori’s sons.

What You Haven’t Read: 

What You Haven’t Read In the course of the Heike heydey, Kiyomori undermines the goodwill of the emperor and the entire capital, which his father had cultivated as the keystone of Heike dominion. Finally, his own sons grow repulsed by his behavior. The virtuous son, Shigemori, confronts Kiyomoi, urging restraint.

Shigemori’s Quest: 

Shigemori’s Quest Shigemori makes a pilgrimage to pray for a solution to what is happening. He calls on Buddhist deities, asking for: relief for his family from his father’s sins, or Death & deliverance from the wheel of suffering beyond. In a few days, he dies. The gods show their displeasure with the Heike through the death of Shigemori, a series of natural disasters and other portents.

Political Repercussions: 

Political Repercussions The retired emperor doesn’t support the Heike. Former allies go over to the house of Genji. Buddhist temples unite their armies against Kiyomori. Yoritomo, head of the Genji, cuts a deal with the retired emperor, who pardons his past offenses. War begins, rages a year before the death of Kiyomori.

Samurai: 

Samurai Warriors, hereditary retainers (they serve as their fathers did before them). Must fight for the Heike now in return for what the Heike had done for them in the past. [must honor obligations] Death/suicide before dishonor.

The Bells of Gion Monastery: 

The Bells of Gion Monastery This opening section sets up the theme of the work, the impermanence of life and the need for morality. As flowers bloom and die, so the proud flourish then ‘vanish like a spring night’s dream.’ Introduces Kiyomori.

Gio: 

Gio Characterizes Kiyomori for us. The tale of Gio and her relatives and friends personalizes the consequences of Kiyomori’s immoral behavior. Reflects the Buddhist idea of karmic causality (evil actions are appropriately punished, good ones, rewarded). The virtuous gain reward in the afterlife, having suffered under Kiyomori but having chosen the moral path.

Death of Kiyomori: 

Death of Kiyomori Describe Kiyomori’s character. How does Kiyomori treat people? How does he die? What do you think his affliction means?

The Flight From Fukuhara (Ch. 7, you didn’t read this): 

The Flight From Fukuhara (Ch. 7, you didn’t read this) “They spent a night at the old Fukuhara capital. It was late in the first autumn month . . . As the lonely, quiet night deepened, dew and tears mingled on the travelers’ grass pillows, and every aspect of the surroundings became a source of misery. Feeling that they might never return, they gazed at the buildings Kiyomori had erected.

Slide17: 

Everything had fallen into decay within the space of 3 years - the Hill Palace for spring blossom-viewing, the Beach Palace for autumn moon-viewing, the Bubbling Spring Hall, the Pine Shade Hall . . . the two-storied Viewing-stand Hall, the Snow-viewing Palace, the Reed-Thatched Palace, the noble residences, the roof tiles shaped like Mandarin ducks, the fine stone pavements. Thick moss covered the roads; autumn grasses obstructed the gates. Ferns sprouted from the roof tiles; ivy overran fences. . .

Slide18: 

“Only the pine wind visited the sagging, mossy halls; only the moonlight entered the exposed bedchambers with their tattered blinds.”

Death of Lord Kiso (a Genji): 

Death of Lord Kiso (a Genji) This episode expresses warrior values: devotion, concern for family name, acceptance of death at any moment, courage. Focuses on the relationship between master and retainer. Bonus: the woman warrior Tomoe! Lord Kiso fails in his quest for a noble death (he allows himself to be killed by an unknown warrior); his retainer, Kanehira, succeeds. When his master dies, he immediately kills himself.

Death of Atsumori: 

Death of Atsumori Conflict betweet the warrior and Buddhist spirits: the warrior must kill without hesitation; the Buddhist abhors killing, focuses on the next world. Kumagae, who once served the Heike but who switched over to the Genji, captures Atsumori but hesitates to kill him (reminds him of his own son). Regret for the sin of killing leads Kumagae to renounce the warrior path.

The Dying Aristocracy: 

The Dying Aristocracy The fall of the Heike is represented in the work as the fall of aristocratic society - they are the last of them. This lends poignancy to the tale. The Genji represent a new class of warrior. Atsumori reflects a courtly ideal that is dying: blackened teeth, beautiful face, the ability to play the flute. In his regret, Kumagae takes the flute with him.

The Drowning of the Emperor: 

The Drowning of the Emperor Exemplifies the samurai code. In the capital, the heads of slain Heike are paraded around like those of common criminals. The Heike flee, Yoshitsune the Genji pursues them to the sea. In the Inland Sea, the Heike are trapped by tides. Antoku, the young emperor and his grandmother commit suicide by drowning. His moral behavior in a past life won him his crown; but what this great good was fleeting (he only enjoyed it for 8 years!).

6 Paths of Existence & the Death of the Imperial Lady: 

6 Paths of Existence & the Death of the Imperial Lady The death of Kiyomori stands in contrast to the death of his daughter Kenreimon’in. He dies a fiery, tortured death & goes to hell for his sins; she dies peacefully & is rewarded for her devotion to Buddhist law by being reborn in the Pure Land.

Tales of the Heike’s Influence: 

Tales of the Heike’s Influence Inspired noh plays, was constantly performed by minstrels Also impacted science, as we’ll see in this clip from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos series. For Monday, excerpts from 1,001 Nights.