Taiheiki
Encyclopedia
The is a Japanese historical epic (see gunki monogatari
), written in the late 14th century. It deals primarily with the Nanboku-chō
, the period of war between the Northern Court of Ashikaga Takauji
in Kyoto
, and the Southern Court
of Emperor Go-Daigo
in Yoshino
.
's Hōjō clan
), through Takauji's betrayal of the Hōjō
, and Go-Daigo's fall and expulsion by Takauji in 1333, to his return to Kyoto in 1338. Go-Daigo, unlike many of the emperors
before him, sought to supersede the power of the shogun
s, and to actually rule in addition to reigning in name. Thus began a series of battles, both military and political, as the Fujiwara family
, who dominated the Imperial regency following the fall of the Hōjō
, sought to retain influence. These battles, political maneuvers, and other developments of the time are related in the Taiheiki.
s. One Southern Court descendant, Kumazawa Hiromichi
, proclaimed himself Japan's Emperor after World War 2, calling Emperor Hirohito
a fraud, as Hirohito's entire line is descended from the Northern Court. Despite this, he was not arrested for lèse majesté
, even when donning the Imperial Crest, because he had a koseki
detailing his bloodline back to Go-Daigo in Yoshino
, but has been unsuccessful at creating any political change other than sympathy.
.
's 1991 taiga drama
Taiheiki was noted for its portrayal of Ashikaga Takauji as an agent of change against the decadent Hōjō, rather than a national traitor as generally viewed by Japanese historians.
Gunki monogatari
, or “war tales,” is a category of Japanese literature written primarily in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods that focus on wars and conflicts, especially the civil wars that took place between 1156 and 1568...
), written in the late 14th century. It deals primarily with the Nanboku-chō
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
, the period of war between the Northern Court of Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, and the Southern Court
Southern Court
The were a set of four emperors whose legitimate claims were usurped during the Nanboku-chō period spanning from 1336 through 1392. In spite of the legitimacy of its claims to the throne, the Southern Court was permanently replaced in 1392 by the illegitimate Northern Court.-Nanboku-chō overview:...
of Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
in Yoshino
Yoshino
Yoshino may refer to:* Somei Yoshino, a flowering cherry tree Prunus × yedoensis* Japanese cruiser Yoshino- Places :* Yoshino, Nara, a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan...
.
Original Work
The latest English translation consists of 12 chapters of the 40-chapter epic, and spans the period from Go-Daigo's accession in 1318 (when Takauji was still a minor vassal of the Kamakura shogunateKamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
's Hōjō clan
Hojo clan
See the late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of the Sengoku Period.The in the history of Japan was a family who controlled the hereditary title of shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate. In practice, the family had actual governmental power, many times dictatorial, rather than Kamakura shoguns, or the...
), through Takauji's betrayal of the Hōjō
Hojo
Hōjō may refer to:*Hōjō clan, a family of regents of the Kamakura Shogunate*Late Hōjō clan, daimyo in the Sengoku Period*Hōjō, Ehime, a city in Japan*Hōjō, one of the five kata of Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū...
, and Go-Daigo's fall and expulsion by Takauji in 1333, to his return to Kyoto in 1338. Go-Daigo, unlike many of the emperors
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
before him, sought to supersede the power of the shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
s, and to actually rule in addition to reigning in name. Thus began a series of battles, both military and political, as the Fujiwara family
Fujiwara family
The Fujiwara clan , descending from the Nakatomi clan, was a powerful family of regents in Japan.The clan originated when the founder, Nakatomi no Kamatari , was rewarded by Emperor Tenji with the honorific "Fujiwara", which evolved as a surname for Kamatari and his descendants...
, who dominated the Imperial regency following the fall of the Hōjō
Hojo
Hōjō may refer to:*Hōjō clan, a family of regents of the Kamakura Shogunate*Late Hōjō clan, daimyo in the Sengoku Period*Hōjō, Ehime, a city in Japan*Hōjō, one of the five kata of Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū...
, sought to retain influence. These battles, political maneuvers, and other developments of the time are related in the Taiheiki.
Historical significance
These battles are historically very important as they led to the extinction of the Southern Court of the Japanese Imperial Line, which to this day is seen as legitimate. In fact, Northern Court members are officially called pretenderPretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
s. One Southern Court descendant, Kumazawa Hiromichi
Kumazawa Hiromichi
, also known as the "Kumazawa emperor," was a Japanese businessman and Buddhist priest from Nagoya who publicly disputed the legitimacy of Emperor Hirohito's bloodline in the period shortly after the end of the Second World War...
, proclaimed himself Japan's Emperor after World War 2, calling Emperor Hirohito
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
a fraud, as Hirohito's entire line is descended from the Northern Court. Despite this, he was not arrested for lèse majesté
Lèse majesté
Lese-majesty is the crime of violating majesty, an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.This behavior was first classified as a criminal offence against the dignity of the Roman republic in Ancient Rome...
, even when donning the Imperial Crest, because he had a koseki
Koseki
A is a Japanese family registry. Japanese law requires all Japanese households to report births, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, disruptions of adoptions, deaths, marriages and divorces of Japanese citizens to their local authority, which compiles such records encompassing all Japanese...
detailing his bloodline back to Go-Daigo in Yoshino
Yoshino
Yoshino may refer to:* Somei Yoshino, a flowering cherry tree Prunus × yedoensis* Japanese cruiser Yoshino- Places :* Yoshino, Nara, a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan...
, but has been unsuccessful at creating any political change other than sympathy.
Analysis
Like most Japanese historical epics, the Taiheikis tendencies towards drama and exaggeration are acknowledged, but the text is regarded as remaining mostly accurate. It is the primary source on many of the warriors and battles of this period, and also documents elements of the fall of the powerful and historically important Hōjō clanHojo clan
See the late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of the Sengoku Period.The in the history of Japan was a family who controlled the hereditary title of shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate. In practice, the family had actual governmental power, many times dictatorial, rather than Kamakura shoguns, or the...
.
Remakes
NHKNHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
's 1991 taiga drama
Taiga drama
is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white Hana no Shōgai, starring kabuki actor Onoe Shōroku and Takarazuka star Awashima Chikage, the network has hired a producer, director, writer, music...
Taiheiki was noted for its portrayal of Ashikaga Takauji as an agent of change against the decadent Hōjō, rather than a national traitor as generally viewed by Japanese historians.
External links
- Complete text (in Japanese)
- Japan's Other Emperor
- Manuscript scans at Waseda University LibraryWaseda University LibraryThe library of Waseda University is one of the largest libraries in Japan. It was established in 1882, and currently holds some 4.5 million volumes and 46,000 serials.-History:...
: 1603, 1698