The Tale of the Heike 's origin cannot be reduced to a single creator. Like most epics (the work is an epic chronicle in prose rather than verse), it is the result of the conglomeration of differing versions passed down through an oral tradition by biwa-playing bards known as biwa hōshi. The sense of "mono no aware" (the sorrow which results from the passage of things; see Motoori Norinaga) pervades the narrative and alongside the tales of bravery in battle, there are references to Chinese and Japanese legends, poignant recitations of poetry, and frequent "drenching of sleeves" with tears. The excitement of Yoshitsune's military exploits are balanced by the sad experiences of Koremori, the Imperial Lady, Shigehira, and various lesser characters during their flight from the capital, and subsequent wandering throughout Japan. Kitagawa, Hiroshi and Bruce T. Tsuchida, eds. (1975). The Tale of the Heike. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press. ISBN 9784130870245; ISBN 9784130870238; ISBN 9780860081883; ISBN 9780860081890; OCLC 193064639

The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo II as Imperial Guard Watanabe Kiso in the four-act play Onna moji Heike monogatari.The Taira clan, also known as the Heike, holds immense authority over Japan. When a young girl, gifted with an odd eye that allows her to see the future, foolishly disrespects the clan, her father pays the price of her crime with his life. Soon after, as fate would have it, Taira no Shigemori—the eldest son of the clan leader—stumbles upon the same unfortunate girl, who now calls herself "Biwa." Biwa informs him that the downfall of the Heike is imminent. After learning of the great injustice Biwa suffered at the Heike's hands, Shigemori vows to take her in and care for her rather than let her be killed. Well, that was some light reading... there's way too much to review specifics. I loved the translation, I compared a few passages to the Sadler version and there was no comparison. However, for better or worse, reading Royall's translation and with his layout, I felt like I the 'Tale of Heike' was constantly in comparison to the Illiad. It had a more epic vibe to it then from skimming through Sadler's translation where it read a lot more like the 'Tale of Genji'. I do feel like it helped the flow of this volume, the 'tale of genji' was a hard bank of snow to plow through at times but I never really had that in this one.

Sadler, A.L. "The Heike Monogatari", Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan. 46.2 (1918): 1–278 and 49.1 (1921): 1–354. PREFACE: Since around two weeks ago I’ve enjoyed watching a YouTube series of the NHK Taiga Drama entitled “Yoshitsune” with English subtitles; therefore, we can follow all episodes conveniently and subsequently by visiting the first one at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F_rg... I hope watching the series should help us better understand the story and enjoy reading the story more.Meanwhile, the Taira regain their strength and assemble a strong army. Yoshinaka sends forces against them, but this time the Taira are victorious in the battle of Mizushima. Their influence grows even more after the victory at the Battle of Muroyama. Egan, Toussaint (December 9, 2021). "The best anime of 2021". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021 . Retrieved January 4, 2022. The story of the Heike Monogatari was compiled from a collection of oral stories composed and recited by traveling monks, who chanted them to the accompaniment of the biwa, a four-stringed instrument reminiscent of the lute. Around 1240 the stories were gathered together into an epic by an unknown author. The most widely read version of the Heike monogatari was compiled by a blind monk named Kakuichi in 1371, and includes later revisions glorifying military valor. We don’t have many occasions to think about a female version of nobility and civility since so many of the canonical texts of the past are centered around male figures, so please pay special attention to the dialogue and actions of the female characters, starting with Lady Gio and Hotoke but also the Nun of the Second Rank (the young emperor’s grandmother) and her daughter Kenreimon’in, the Imperial Lady. Is there a particular conception of nobility/civility demonstrated by these women? 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.

Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 10, 2021). "The Heike Story TV Anime Reveals Theme Song Artists". Anime News Network . Retrieved September 10, 2021. As she remembers past glory of the Taira and their fall, she makes parallels between the events in her life and the six realms of rebirth. She also mentions a dream in which she saw the Taira in the dragon king's palace asking her to pray for their salvation. Cimi, Chris (December 7, 2021). " The Heike Story: A 13th Century Epic Turned Modern Anime Triumph". Metropolis. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021 . Retrieved February 20, 2022. Kiyomori and the Taira even dare to conflict with the powerful Regent, Fujiwara no Motofusa. Angered by the Taira dominance, Major Counselor Fujiwara no Narichika, Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, Buddhist monk Saikō and others meet at Shishigatani (the villa of the temple administrator Shunkan) and plot a conspiracy to overthrow Kiyomori. Because of the conflict between Saikō's sons and sōhei of Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei, the plot has to be postponed. The great fire of May 27, 1177 burns the Imperial Palace in the capital, of Heian-kyō. Sadler, A. L. "The Heike Monogatari", Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan. 46.2 (1918): 1–278 and 49.1 (1921): 1–354.

The story is roughly divided into three sections. [ citation needed] The central figure of the first section is Taira no Kiyomori who is described as arrogant, evil, ruthless and so consumed by the fires of hatred that even in death his feverish body does not cool when immersed in water. The main figure of the second section is the Minamoto general Minamoto no Yoshinaka. After he dies the main figure of the third section is the great samurai, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a military genius who is falsely accused of treachery by his politically astute elder brother Minamoto no Yoritomo. [ citation needed] A magnificent modern translation of the rise and fall of the Taira (Heike) clan in 12th century Japan. The Heike and the Genji clans have always served the Emperor and the realm between the four seas, but with the Heike controlling a majority of the 66 provinces in Japan, a prominent, ambitious and influential Heike begins a reign of terror that lasts twenty years. In the spring of 1186, Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa makes a visit to the mountain retreat. She talks with the Retired Emperor about human miseries and Buddhist ideas of suffering and rebirth in the pure land. In the famous and tragic passage, Kiyomori's widow, holding young Emperor Antoku in her arms, commits suicide by drowning. Many Taira are killed or commit suicide at Dan-no-ura. Tomomori (Kiyomori's son) drowns himself. Taira no Noritsune, Kiyomori's nephew and a strong warrior, fails to have a fight with Minamoto no Yoshitsune and dies fighting bravely. Taira clan head Taira no Munemori, Taira no Tokuko, Kiyomori's daughter, are captured alive. The epic account of the Genpei War. Animosity that had been building between the Taira and Minamoto clans ever since the end of the previous two conflicts leads to this, the war that sees the Taira, who had control over most of the important positions at the court, who previously wielded the power from behind the throne, reduced to nothing.