Biographies LXXIX: Taira-no-Kiyomori, Part I

¶Taira-no-Kiyomori was the eldest son of Taira-no-Tadamori, Gyōbu-kyō, Minister of Justice (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Heishi Keizu). His mother was a palace woman of Emperor Shirakawa. The emperor bestowed her upon Tadamori, and Kiyomori was born (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari. According to these two works, when the emperor gave the palace woman to Tadamori she was already with child. The emperor told Tadamori, "If it is a girl, I shall take her back; if it is a boy, you are to raise him as your own son." In due course a child was born to Tadamori, and he wished to report the circumstances to the throne but found no opportunity. In the year the child turned three, Tadamori attended the emperor on a pilgrimage to Kumano, and as they passed Mount Itokaya he picked mukago (the small bulbs that form on the vines of the wild yam) and presented them. The emperor then composed a poem on the spot, playing on the mukago, which sprout and grow as they creep along the vine, and likening them to the child of the woman who had been given away; and he continued it with a second part bidding Tadamori take the child and rear him. Thus Tadamori came to raise Kiyomori as his own son. The Konjaku Monogatari, on the other hand, says that when the wife of Mitsukiyo, Hachiman Bettō, gave birth, she happened to notice some mukago and composed a poem about them, and the wife then capped it with a poem of her own. Because the stories resemble one another, it is suspected that people of the time, seeing how great Kiyomori's power had become, mistakenly attributed the words to Emperor Toba in support of this account and attached Mitsukiyo's poem to it. Moreover, as to the birth mother of Kiyomori as told in the two works, the Jōsuiki names her as Hyōe-no-suke-no-tsubone, while the Heike Monogatari names her as Gion-no-Nyōgo. The Heishi Keizu, for its part, does not record Kiyomori's mother, and states only that the mother of Norimori was a lady-in-waiting of Taikenmon'in. The lady-in-waiting of Taikenmon'in was presumably Gion-no-Nyōgo, but whether the two sons shared a mother or not still cannot be made clear. Furthermore, these accounts are so lavish in detail that they are themselves open to suspicion, and so they are not adopted here). When he grew up he was intelligent and handsome in appearance (Note: following the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). Because Tadamori later took a daughter of Fujiwara-no-Munekane as his wife and had children by her, Kiyomori relied on Fujiwara-no-Ienari, a nephew of Munekane, to make his way in the world (Note: compare the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Sonpi Bunmyaku). In the fourth year of Daiji (1129) he was granted Junior Fifth Rank Lower and appointed Sahyōe-no-suke, Assistant Captain of the Left Gate Guards (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Chūyūki). During the Hōen era (1135–1141) he was transferred to Nakatsukasa-no-taifu, Senior Assistant Minister of Central Affairs, concurrently held the governorship of Higo, and rose step by step to Junior Fourth Rank Upper (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin. The Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari both relate that the people of the day gossiped, asking how Kiyomori, so young and not of a distinguished house, had come by such exalted rank, and that the Retired Emperor Toba, hearing this, said, "How could Kiyomori's family be inferior to anyone's?" which, it is said, pointed to the fact that Kiyomori was in truth a son of Emperor Shirakawa. This is not adopted here).

¶In the second year of Kyūan (1146) he advanced to Senior Fourth Rank Lower and was appointed governor of Aki (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). When he was about to make a pilgrimage to the Kumano shrines and passed through Anotsu in Ise, a sea bass leapt into his boat. The people congratulated him, saying, "Long ago a white fish entering the boat of King Wu of Zhou was taken as an auspicious omen; may not your catching this fish also be a sign of the gods' protection?" Kiyomori was delighted, prepared the fish with his own hands, and ate it together with his attendants (Note: following the Heike Monogatari). In the first year of Hōgen (1156), the Retired Emperor gathered troops at the Shirakawa Kitadono, and Kiyomori's uncle Taira-no-Tadamasa, Umanosuke, Assistant Captain of the Horse Bureau, and Minamoto-no-Tameyoshi answered his summons. Emperor Toba had at first foreseen that disorder would break out, and had himself written down the names of ten men, beginning with Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo, governor of Shimotsuke, and set them to stand guard. Because Kiyomori's father (Tadamori) had once, on the Retired Emperor's order, had his wife serve as wet nurse to Imperial Prince Shigehito, Kiyomori was at first not among those called up; but since his family had been powerful commanders for generations, Bifukumon'in summoned him, claiming that it was the late emperor's dying wish. Kiyomori therefore led troops together with Yoshitomo and attacked the Kitadono. When the Kitadono side was defeated, an imperial command ordered Kiyomori to arrest Minamoto-no-Tameyoshi. Kiyomori searched, but for a long time could not find him. Tameyoshi and Tadamasa were run to ground and surrendered, and Tadamasa begged Kiyomori to spare his life. Kiyomori had never been on good terms with Tadamasa, and he reasoned, "If I put Tadamasa to death, the court will surely make Yoshitomo put Tameyoshi to death as well. If the court deliberations permit this, I alone will be accused of having slain my uncle." In the end he killed Tadamasa. Yoshitomo likewise killed Tameyoshi (Note: following the Hōgen Monogatari). For this service Kiyomori was appointed governor of Harima and was subsequently made Dazai-no-daini, Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Heike Monogatari).

¶In the winter of the first year of Heiji (1159), Fujiwara-no-Nobuyori, Uemon-no-kami, Commander of the Right Gate Guards, raised a rebellion. Noting that Yoshitomo was on bad terms with Kiyomori, he drew Yoshitomo in and made him a ringleader. Nobuyori and his confederates waited for Kiyomori to go on pilgrimage to Kumano, then mobilized the soldiers of the capital and attacked the palace. When Kiyomori had reached Kiribe (Note: the Gukanshō gives Tanabe), his sons and younger kinsmen at Rokuhara in the capital sent messengers racing to tell him of the disturbance. Kiyomori meant to turn back to the capital, but, anxious that his own following was small, he sent messengers to Tanzō, Kumano Bettō, and to Yuasa Munoshige to have them raise troops. The Ise, Itō, and Katō kinsmen came out leading soldiers to meet him, and joined him at Abeno. All were roused to high spirits, and at last they entered the capital. First they worshipped at the Inari shrine, where Kiyomori had the soldiers break off cedar branches and stick them in the sleeves of their armor. When he arrived at Rokuhara, Nobuyori had already entered the palace and had divided his officers and men to guard the palace gates (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari. "Katō" follows various variant texts). Kiyomori presented Nobuyori with his myōbu (a name tag signifying submission), feigning that he harbored no other intent. Fujiwara-no-Koretaka, Kebiishi-no-bettō, Chief of the Imperial Police, sent Fujiwara-no-Tadaaki, a hikurōdo, Supernumerary Chamberlain, to confer secretly with Kiyomori. At night, fire was set at Nijō-Ōmiya, and the rebel soldiers abandoned the palace gates to go and put it out (Note: following the Gukanshō). The emperor then secretly disguised himself in a woman's carriage and slipped out through the Sōheki Gate, proceeding to Kiyomori's residence at Rokuhara (Note: compare the Gukanshō and the Heike Monogatari). Kiyomori sent more than three hundred cavalry to meet the imperial palanquin, and the court nobles and the hundred officials gathered one after another at Rokuhara (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari). The Kampaku, Regent, Fujiwara-no-Motozane also came. Because Motozane was Nobuyori's brother-in-law (the husband of his sister), everyone regarded this with suspicion. Fujiwara-no-Kinnori glanced back at Kiyomori and said, "The Regent has come; what is to be done?" Kiyomori answered, "A minister who is Sesshō or Kampaku ought, if he does not come, to be summoned by us. Now that he has come of his own accord, surely that is only proper." Everyone praised the reply (Note: following the Gukanshō). The emperor summoned Kiyomori and instructed him: "The Imperial Palace has only just been newly completed. Have your officers and men pretend to be defeated and flee, so as to show weakness. The rebels will surely sally out with their whole force, and in that moment you must swiftly enter the palace and seize it, so that it does not suffer from the flames of war." Kiyomori replied, "A rebel like Nobuyori is already in your servant's grasp. If the palace should come to suffer from fire, there would be nothing to be done about it; but since Your Majesty's command is so strict, I cannot but do my utmost." He therefore sent Shigemori, Yorimori, and others to lead troops against Nobuyori's side. When the battle was at its height he had them withdraw, and the rebels, just as expected, pursued with their whole force; in that interval the imperial army at last seized the palace. Nobuyori fled in confusion, and Yoshitomo turned his troops back and attacked Rokuhara in turn. Kiyomori hastily put on his helmet, but by mistake put it on back to front. When those around him pointed this out, Kiyomori covered himself with an excuse, saying, "Since the Supreme Person (the emperor) is here, I simply do not wish to turn my back." Then he climbed to a high place to the north and directed his officers and men. The rebel soldiers pressed the attack fiercely and arrows fell like rain, and the imperial army shrank back. Kiyomori rebuked them: "To let the rebels come this close to this very spot, what shamelessness!" He rallied his forces, advanced gradually, and himself met the enemy. He had his officers and men take turns advancing to fight, and the rebel army at last broke and fled (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari). Kiyomori entered the palace, took back the myōbu he had given Nobuyori, and said, "Yesterday I gave you this; today I take it back." He laughed heartily and withdrew (Note: following the Gukanshō). Nobuyori having already been put to death, the emperor advanced the court ranks and offices of Kiyomori's sons and younger kinsmen (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Yoshitomo fled to Owari but was killed by Taira-no-Tadamune. Kiyomori searched for Yoshitomo's sons, and having seized Yoritomo, Yoshitsune, and the others, meant to have them beheaded, but in the end pardoned them all (Note: following the Heiji Monogatari). In this year Hyūga-no-Tarō Michiyoshi rebelled in Hizen (Note: following the Hyakurenshō and the Genpei Jōsuiki), and Kiyomori, receiving an imperial command, sent his retainer (kenin) Taira-no-Iesada to suppress him (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki).

¶In the first year of Eiryaku (1160), in recognition of his earlier services, he was granted Senior Third Rank and then appointed Sangi, Consultant. During the Ōhō (1161–1163) and Chōkan (1163–1165) eras he concurrently served as Uemon-no-kami and Kebiishi-no-bettō, and became Gon-no-chūnagon, Provisional Middle Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Genpei Jōsuiki). He was granted Junior Second Rank and concurrently served as Kōtaigōgū-gon-no-daibu, Provisional Steward to the Empress Dowager, and Hyōbu-kyō, Minister of Military Affairs. In the first year of Eiman (1165) he was appointed Gon-dainagon, Provisional Major Counsellor (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the autumn of this year the two temples Enryaku-ji and Kōfuku-ji took up arms, and a rumor ran through the capital that the Retired Emperor had secretly issued an edict to destroy Kiyomori. Kiyomori assembled troops and strengthened his defenses, and the Retired Emperor was greatly alarmed (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). The Retired Emperor went in person to Rokuhara and tried to explain matters to Kiyomori directly, but Kiyomori feigned illness and did not come out to receive him (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). When the Retired Emperor returned to his palace, he said to his close attendants, "That a single groundless rumor should shake the capital so! I do not know who started it." His favorite Saikō stepped forward and said, "Heaven does not speak; it makes the people speak. Those who are arrogant and neglect propriety are hated by Heaven. Will not the Taira too perish in time?" All who were present fell silent. When Emperor Takakura ascended the throne, he was still young, so the Retired Emperor took up the conduct of government once more. Kiyomori's wife Taira-no-Tokiko was an elder sister of the Empress Dowager, and so Kiyomori's influence grew greater still. The Retired Emperor came gradually to hate this but could not restrain it; his indignation mounted, and he shaved his head and devoted himself wholly to the Buddhist Way. Kiyomori was secretly delighted (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). In the first year of Nin'an (1166) he was granted Senior Second Rank (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin) and was appointed Naidaijin, Minister of the Interior (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Hyōhanki). In the second year (1167) he was promoted to Junior First Rank and Daijō-daijin, Chancellor, and was granted zuijin (guards) and hyōjō (armed escort), and permission to enter and leave the palace by hand-drawn carriage. Before this, the only man ever to become Chancellor directly, without passing through the offices of Minister of the Left or Right, had been Fujiwara-no-Nobunaga (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Genpei Jōsuiki). Before long he submitted a memorial asking to decline the Chancellor's armed escort and carriage. When this was granted, he was given as taikōden (lands of great merit) Inaminō in Harima, Kishima District in Hizen, Mishiro Nangō and Dobi-gō in Higo, and other holdings, to be handed down to his descendants without end (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin). In the third year (1168) he fell ill, and by imperial edict an extraordinary amnesty (a pardon distinct from the ordinary kind) was proclaimed (Note: following the Hyakurenshō). Kiyomori shaved his head and took the Buddhist name Seiren, soon changing it to Jōkai (Note: following the Kugyō Bunin and the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari. In the current printed texts of the Heike Monogatari, Jōkai is in some places written with different characters). He was known in the world as the Daijō-nyūdō, the Lay-Monk Chancellor (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). Earlier he had built a separate residence at Nishi-Hachijō, sparing nothing in its construction (Note: following the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). Because mugwort grew thickly in the grounds of the mansion, it was named Hōko, the Mugwort Jar. He also built a villa at Fukuhara in Settsu, furnished with pavilions and lofty towers, so as to command the finest views in every season (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). All the affairs of the realm came to issue from Kiyomori's hand, and high and low alike suffered from his arbitrary rule. When Kiyomori learned that there were those who criticized him, he chose three hundred boys to serve as his eyes and ears. They cut their hair short and wore strange clothing, carried sprigs of plum in their hands, perched small birds on their arms, and wore red badges as they came and went through the palace gates; without giving their names they filled the city, spying out people's hidden movements. Everything they saw and heard was reported to Kiyomori. Kiyomori took their words at face value and often imposed punishments recklessly, and for a time people trembled before them. Anyone in the capital riding a horse or carriage, it is said, would give way and pass by whenever he saw them (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). Kiyomori's grandson Sukemori met the procession of the Regent, Fujiwara-no-Motofusa, on the road and did not get down from his carriage. Motofusa's attendants rebuked him for the discourtesy and humiliated Sukemori. Kiyomori was greatly enraged and said, "Even one of such lofty rank as Sesshō or Kampaku, how dare he show me no deference?" He stationed armored soldiers in ambush on the road to wait for Motofusa to come out, smashed his carriage, and cut off the topknots of his attendants in revenge. In the first year of Jōan (1171), Kiyomori had his daughter Tokuko enter the palace as a nyōgo, and she was soon established as Chūgū, Empress. This was Kenreimon'in (Note: following the Gyokukai, the Genpei Jōsuiki, and the Heike Monogatari).

¶In the first year of Jishō (1177), the brothers Shigemori and Munemori together became Konoe-no-taishō, Generals of the Left and Right Palace Guards. At that time all those of higher standing than they felt resentment. Fujiwara-no-Narichika, Gon-dainagon, who was steward to the Retired Emperor (Go-Shirakawa), had also coveted this post and had not obtained it; so he conspired with Saikō and, feigning a secret intention of the Retired Emperor, joined with Minamoto-no-Yukitsuna, Taira-no-Yasuyori, and Shunkan, Shikkō, Administrator of Hōshō-ji, and they gathered at Shunkan's mountain villa at Shishigatani to plot the destruction of the Taira. The Retired Emperor himself was about to attend the gathering, but Hōin Jōken remonstrated with him and made him give up the idea (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki. The Heike Monogatari and the Gukanshō say that the Retired Emperor went to the place in person, which is mistaken. The dating is discussed in detail in the notes to the annals). Now, when Saikō's son Fujiwara-no-Morotaka was deputy of the governor of Kaga, his subordinate Morotsune burned the temple Yusen-ji. The monks of Hakusan appealed to Enryaku-ji, and the Retired Emperor tried to have the Tendai abbot (zasu) Meiun bring about a settlement, but the monks would not listen, and the court deliberations were obliged to send Morotaka and others into exile. The Retired Emperor was displeased by this, and Saikō, taking advantage of the opening, slandered Meiun and had him sentenced to exile (Note: compare the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). Kiyomori had once received the bodhisattva precepts from Meiun and had formed with him the bond of master and disciple, so the monks of Enryaku-ji sought Kiyomori's help. Kiyomori meant to petition that Meiun's exile be halted, but though he went to the palace he was not permitted an audience with the Retired Emperor, and Meiun was finally sent off toward his place of exile. The monks pursued and took him back. The Retired Emperor, angered, ordered his officers and men to attack Enryaku-ji, but Kiyomori would not consent. The Retired Emperor then specially ordered Narichika to gather troops. Narichika secretly plotted to destroy Kiyomori, but before he had acted, Minamoto-no-Yukitsuna broke the agreement, galloped to Fukuhara, and told Kiyomori (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki. The Heike Monogatari and the Hōryaku Kanki say Kiyomori was at that time at his Nishi-Hachijō residence, which is mistaken; here this work and the Gyokukai and the Akihiro-ō Ki are followed). Kiyomori was greatly startled and hurried back to the capital. He sent Abe-no-Sukenari, Kebiishi, Police Commissioner, to the Hōjūji Palace, and had Fujiwara-no-Nobunari, Daizen-no-daibu, Master of the Palace Kitchens, report: "Narichika and the others intend to destroy my house and throw the realm into disorder. This, I take it, is something Your Majesty did not know. I intend to arrest these men and thoroughly investigate the circumstances." The Retired Emperor was alarmed and flustered, and after some time answered, "It is no concern of mine." Kiyomori then seized Saikō and had him tortured, and uncovered the whole truth of the affair. He sent a messenger to lure Narichika in, and, himself wearing armor and holding a bisentō (a glaive), he spoke to Taira-no-Sadayoshi. "That I am envied by others is, perhaps, because my court rank and office exceed my station. Yet the sons of Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro and Karitamaro rose to be Generals of the Palace Guards on account of their merit in the eastern campaigns. There are many besides who have won rewards for military service; why should I alone be censured? In the Hōgen disturbance, many of my kinsmen, from the Umanosuke (Tadamasa) down, answered the summons of the Retired Emperor Sutoku, and the First Prince (Imperial Prince Shigehito) was one whom my late father Tadamori had served, so I could hardly be indifferent. Nevertheless, in accordance with the dying wish of the late Retired Emperor Toba, I was the first to lead the imperial troops and quell the calamity. In the Heiji disturbance too, when the savage might of Nobuyori and Yoshitomo was at its height, had I not given myself to the service of the throne, the state would surely have been in peril. Whose strength was it that put down the disorder and brought the state to what it is today? If this service were to be rewarded, the favor ought properly to extend to my descendants, and all the more to myself. Yet now, trusting wholly in the slanders of Narichika and the rest, His Majesty means suddenly to destroy my whole house. Had it not been for Yukitsuna's secret report, how could I have remained at ease? If the Retired Emperor acts so rashly, then whenever another schemer arises hereafter, I could be branded a rebel by a single order of the Retired Emperor, and it would be too late for regret. It would therefore be best to take the initiative and deal with it first. I now intend to move the Retired Emperor to the Toba Palace; failing that, I shall bring him to my own residence. Some among the guards on night duty may resist. You are to give the command to the officers and men and have them stand guard." Thereupon the whole clan put on armor, and officers and men gathered in numbers. Kiyomori, reckoning that Shigemori would surely not follow him, at first did not wish to summon Shigemori, but because they were father and son he at last confided the plan to him. Shigemori remonstrated earnestly, and the plan was in the end abandoned. Saikō was beheaded; Narichika and his son and their party were sentenced to exile, and all were placed in remote places. Soon after, Kiyomori sent men to kill Narichika (Note: compare the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari).

¶In the second year (1178), the Chūgū (Tokuko) conceived. Before this, Kiyomori, hoping for the birth of a boy, had been making a pilgrimage once a month to the Itsukushima shrine. One night Kiyomori dreamed that the god bestowed a precious sword upon the Chūgū, had her tuck it into her bosom, and then gave one to his wife Tokiko. Kiyomori was overjoyed, but the world, detesting his greed for advancement, wrote slanderous words on the gate placards. Kiyomori, supposing this the work of someone with literary skill, had a list drawn up of more than thirteen hundred suspects and had them questioned before the Kitano shrine, but in the end the culprit could not be found (Note: following the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). In the winter of this year a prince (later Emperor Antoku) was born. Kiyomori shed tears for joy, but people took this as ill-omened. The Chūgū's delivery had in fact been difficult; the Retired Emperor, who was about to make a pilgrimage to Imakumano, first entered the birthing chamber, recited sutras and gave his protection, and she was safely delivered (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). As a token of thanks Kiyomori presented a thousand ryō each of gold dust and Fuji floss silk (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). The Retired Emperor was angered that this resembled alms-giving and said, "I did it merely as one who works efficacious rites of prayer. That alone is enough to support my one body" (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). In the third year (1179), Shigemori died. The Retired Emperor, in consultation with the Kampaku Fujiwara-no-Motofusa, confiscated Echizen, which had been Shigemori's holding (Note: following the Gyokukai and the Genpei Jōsuiki). When the wife of the late Regent Motozane died, her estates too were confiscated (Note: following the Gyokukai and the Sankaiki). Motofusa petitioned that his own son Moroie be made Chūnagon, Middle Counsellor, out of turn (Note: following the Gyokukai and the Kugyō Bunin). Motofusa's elder brother's son Motomichi was Kiyomori's son-in-law, and so Kiyomori too earnestly requested the Chūnagon post for Motomichi, but was not heard (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). In the winter of this year Kiyomori, leading several thousand horsemen, came up to the capital from Fukuhara, and the capital was thrown into alarm (Note: following the Gyokukai, the Sankaiki, and the Genpei Jōsuiki). Kiyomori sent his son Shigehira to say to the emperor: "Looking at the temper of the times, I cannot be at ease. Should I be charged with some offense, regret would be useless. Now I wish to resign my offices and hide myself in some remote place. I wish to go and guard the Crown Prince (Antoku)." The emperor was greatly alarmed and sent a chūshi, an imperial messenger, to console and instruct him (Note: following the Gyokukai). On that very day Motofusa and his son were deprived of their offices and Motomichi was made Kampaku (Note: following the Gyokukai, the Kugyō Bunin, and the Hyakurenshō). When Motofusa heard that Kiyomori had come to the capital, he had an audience with the Retired Emperor and said, "I once incurred Kiyomori's anger over the Himori affair (Note: the source reads "Himori"; presumably a slip for Sukemori, referring to the incident described above), but escaped misfortune through Shigemori's intercession. Now Shigemori is dead, Kiyomori has no more scruples, and means to treat me as he pleases. I shall surely be driven far away and never again be able to serve at the Retired Emperor's side." He wept. The Retired Emperor said anxiously, "I too cannot be at ease" (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). He then sent Jōken to admonish Kiyomori and to convey that from now on he would say nothing at all concerning government (Note: following the Hyakurenshō). Jōken, through a retainer of Kiyomori, conveyed the following: "In recent years the court has been unsettled and people's hearts disturbed, yet high and low alike have relied on you, my lord. If you were unable to control men, that would be one thing; why do you yourself do what stirs unrest? I hear that you bear me a grudge, but is that not the work of slander? I do not understand the reason you came up to the capital leading troops. I wish you to make your true intent plain. If there is no other reason, I shall issue an order to quell this commotion." Kiyomori did not come out to receive the command. As dusk was falling, Jōken made to leave. After a while Kiyomori sent his son Tomomori to answer, "Jōkai (Kiyomori) has grown old and decrepit and thinks that he can no longer serve the Retired Emperor." As Jōken was about to withdraw, Kiyomori called him back and said, "A wise councillor, a renowned minister, who takes such care as to fear Heaven and respect Earth!" Having had Jōken summoned back, he spoke indignantly: "When Narichika plotted rebellion, you perceived the subtleties of the matter and stopped the Retired Emperor's visit to Shishigatani. That is why I am willing to meet you. Now in the Hōgen and Heiji disturbances, it is known to all that I set my own house aside and served the court, struck down rebels and quelled calamity. Yet the old services are cast aside, I am suspected at every turn, and, lightly trusting the words of his close attendants, His Majesty seeks to destroy my whole house. My destiny had not yet run out, and fortunately I escaped the calamity. That, before even forty-nine days had passed since Shigemori's death, he should suddenly hold an excursion at Hachiman and a banquet at the Hōjūji Palace: is that not heartless in the extreme? And Shigemori's loyalty was known to all in his day. When Echizen was granted to him, the word was that it should be handed down to his descendants, yet the moment he died it was taken away. What offense had the dead man committed that he should be so treated? Again, when a vacancy arose among the Chūnagon, I asked on behalf of Motomichi, but Moroie took the post in his place. My request, even had it not rested on precedent, ought to have been granted as a special favor; how much more so, since Motomichi is of the main line and has risen in court rank as far as Chūjō, Middle Captain. I hear in secret that the close attendants within the Retired Emperor's palace are conspiring together for no good, and that this surely comes from the Retired Emperor's own mind. Even if I were guilty, I ought to be forgiven to the seventh generation, yet I, now close on seventy years of age, have repeatedly come near to being put to death. If I cannot even preserve myself, how can my descendants ever again stand in court? To lose a son in old age is like a rotten tree without branches. Since Shigemori died, I have known that my fortune has declined. It is only natural that I have lost favor and turned men's hearts against me; even if I were to give all my loyalty, how could it accord with the sacred will? In the little life I have left, I have cut off all hope in this world. Even an unfilial child is pitied by his parents; how much more Shigemori, who combined loyalty, filial piety, and talent! Though I am old and have suffered the utmost pain, why is no pity shown me at all? That is why I say there is now no point in serving at the Retired Emperor's side." When he had finished he wept, and Jōken sobbed as well. After a while Jōken set out the reasoning of the matter and exhorted him with many words, and Kiyomori's feelings gradually eased, and he sent Jōken back with full courtesy (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Before long he stripped thirty-nine persons close to the Retired Emperor, from court nobles down to the Hokumen guards, of their offices. He sent Motofusa out of the capital as Dazai-no-gon-no-sotsu, Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu; exiled the former Chancellor Fujiwara-no-Moronaga to Owari; and expelled Gon-dainagon Minamoto-no-Sukekata from the capital. He then ordered Munemori to surround the Hōjūji Palace, and confined the Retired Emperor in the Toba Palace (Note: compare the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari. The figure of thirty-nine persons differs among the various books; here the Gyokukai, the Hyakurenshō, and the Jichū Hongi are followed). He also had Munemori tell the emperor, "From now on, whether a matter be great or small, let everything be decided by Your Majesty's own mind alone." On that day Kiyomori set out for Fukuhara (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Hōryaku Kanki). Soon afterward he returned to the Hachijō mansion. When the Crown Prince (Antoku) stayed at the Hachijō mansion to avoid an inauspicious direction, Kiyomori presented him with the three hundred volumes of the Taiping Yulan brought by a man of Song (Note: following the Sankaiki and the Hyakurenshō. The Hyakurenshō attributes this to a visit by the emperor himself, but no other book records an imperial visit on that day, and it is probably mistaken, so it is not adopted here).

¶In the fourth year (1180), Kiyomori had the Crown Prince enthroned. This was Emperor Antoku. The retired emperor (Takakura) was still young and there was no particular circumstance, yet he abruptly gave up the throne, so people detested Kiyomori's high-handedness. Knowing that Kiyomori was devoted to the god of Itsukushima, the Retired Emperor thought to win his favor by making a progress there, and informed Kiyomori of this beforehand. Kiyomori was greatly pleased, and the Retired Emperor in the end made the progress to Itsukushima (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). In the fourth month, Minamoto-no-Yorimasa urged Prince Mochihito to destroy the Taira. He then had Minamoto-no-Yukiie carry the prince's ryōji (princely edict) around the eastern provinces to secure the cooperation of the Minamoto kinsmen. Yukiie went first to Izu and urged Minamoto-no-Yoritomo to raise troops (Note: following the Azuma Kagami, the Genpei Jōsuiki, and the Heike Monogatari). Yukiie had originally been lying in hiding at Shingū in Kumano, and when he set out for the east he had agreed with the monks of Nachi and Shingū that they would rise in answer to the uprising. Tanzō, the Hongū Bettō, who was on friendly terms with the Taira, led his men to attack Nachi, but was defeated instead, and sent a messenger to Fukuhara to report it. When Kiyomori returned to Rokuhara he conferred with the courtiers and sent Kebiishi to attack Prince Mochihito. Kiyomori at first did not know that the plot came from Yorimasa, and had even included Yorimasa's son Kanetsuna among the envoys sent to pursue the prince. Yorimasa therefore detected it at once and helped the prince escape to Onjō-ji. The two temples Enryaku-ji and Kōfuku-ji rose in response. Kiyomori gathered officers and men in great numbers and took counsel, and, using a stratagem of Fujiwara-no-Tadakiyo, Kazusa-no-suke, gave rice and silk to Enryaku-ji to win it over. The monks of Enryaku-ji did indeed change sides (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Yorimasa escorted the prince toward Nara, but Kiyomori sent his sons and younger kinsmen with more than twenty thousand horsemen to pursue them at the Byōdō-in. The prince and Yorimasa were defeated and died (Note: following the Gyokukai, the Sankaiki, the Genpei Jōsuiki, the Heike Monogatari, and the Azuma Kagami). Kiyomori had long hated the way the monks of Mount Hiei and Nara repeatedly encroached upon the capital, and wished to avoid them by moving the capital to Fukuhara (Note: following the Heike Monogatari and the Hōryaku Kanki). In the sixth month of this year the capital was at last moved. As the palace buildings were not yet complete, the villa of his younger brother Yorimori was temporarily used as the imperial residence (Note: following the Gyokukai and the Genpei Jōsuiki). Soon after, the imperial residence was moved again, to Kiyomori's own mansion (Note: following the Gyokukai). Men's hearts were thrown into turmoil, and public opinion was in confusion (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). At this time the Retired Emperor (Go-Shirakawa) was confined in a plank-walled house of three bays. Earlier, on Munemori's remonstrance, he had been moved from the Toba Palace to Hachijō-Karasuma and his confinement had been somewhat relaxed, but when the affair of Prince Mochihito arose the watch was made stricter still, and food was brought only for morning and evening. People called it the "Prison Palace." Kiyomori meant to build a Daidairi, Great Imperial Palace, in the new capital, and had the Dainagon Fujiwara-no-Sanesada and the Sangi Minamoto-no-Michichika and others inspect the land at Wada and survey its extent. But as the land was narrow, some among those who discussed it proposed building at Koyano and others said that Inaminō would be good, and no decision was reached. Kiyomori therefore had the former Gon-dainagon Fujiwara-no-Kunitsuna levy the cost on the province of Suō and build a provisional imperial residence, which was called the Sato-dairi, the Satellite Palace (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). In this month Kiyomori and his wife Tokiko received the treatment of Junsangū, Honorary Third Rank Princes, and were granted nenkan and nenshaku (annual appointments and annual rank nominations). Though Kiyomori remained in his own residence, his dress and ornaments were the same as those for the jōnichi (days of attendance) of retired emperors and princes (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki. The year and month follow the Kugyō Bunin). Since the move of the capital, the court and the countryside had been filled with voices of resentment, and groundless rumors circulated constantly. One account said that Minamoto-no-Nakatsuna and others, escorting Prince Mochihito, had fled to Izu and were in hiding in Kai (Note: following the Gyokukai). Thereupon the estates of Onjō-ji were confiscated, Imperial Prince Enkei was relieved of the post of Tennōji Kenkō, Inspector of Tennōji, which he held, thirteen persons beginning with the Sōjō Bōkaku were investigated, and the kujō (court summons) of Enzen and others, lecturers of the two Ni-e assemblies, were suspended (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Nagatobon Heike Monogatari). More than thirty dōshū, temple retainers, beginning with Tsutsui Akihide, were also sentenced to exile (Note: following the Heike Monogatari).

¶In the ninth month, Ōba-no-Kagechika, a man of Sagami, reported: "Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, an exile in Izu, claiming to have received an edict of the Retired Emperor (Go-Shirakawa) and the ryōji of the Takakura Palace (Prince Mochihito), has raised troops, killed the mokudai (deputy governor) Taira-no-Kanetaka, and taken position at Ishibashiyama. I, Kagechika, gathered troops and broke him. Yoritomo fled into Sugiyama and his whereabouts are unknown. Some say he threw himself into the water; others say he buried himself in the earth and died." Kiyomori was greatly pleased and rewarded Kagechika and the others. Before long, however, members of Kiyomori's clan in the east reported one after another: "The report that Yoritomo died at Ishibashiyama is false. The Hōjō, Sasaki, Miura, and other clans have all followed Yoritomo, and warriors of Izu, Suruga, Kai, and Shinano are gathering like clouds, and his strength is very great. If he is not struck down quickly, it will be too late." Kiyomori said with regret, "Most of the warriors of the east were originally of the house of Minamoto-no-Tameyoshi or were his followers. My thinking did not extend so far; I let Yoritomo loose in the east, and now they will make him their banner and destroy my house. It is like handing a thief the key and releasing a tiger into the fields. Though Yoritomo was fortunate to keep his life through the intercession of Ike-no-Zenni, he has now suddenly forgotten that old kindness and drawn his bow against me." He therefore asked the retired emperor (Takakura) to issue an imperial command to attack Yoritomo, but the Retired Emperor replied, "That is a matter to be reported to the Cloistered Emperor (Go-Shirakawa)." Kiyomori said, displeased, "Now the emperor is still a child and all affairs of government must be decided by Your Majesty; why must the Cloistered Emperor be consulted? Can it be that your heart leans toward the Minamoto?" The Retired Emperor laughed and complied, and issued kanpu, official orders, to the two circuits Tōkaidō and Tōsandō, directing the attack on Yoritomo. Kiyomori's grandson Koremori, his younger brother Tadanori, and his son Tomonori were made envoys for the pursuit and suppression. Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka also raised troops in Shinano and responded to Yoritomo. In this month the Retired Emperor again made a progress to Itsukushima, with Kiyomori in attendance. Having cleared the room, Kiyomori pressed him: "Now that you have issued the edict to attack the rebels, I have no further reason to doubt Your Majesty. But I beg you to grant a written oath making clear that you will not side with the Minamoto. Otherwise I shall have to keep Your Majesty in this place." The Retired Emperor said, "For many years I have committed no fault against you; why are you so suspicious? If that is what you wish, what difficulty is there?" Munemori brought paper and brush, and Kiyomori dictated the wording and had the Retired Emperor write it. When it was written, he handed it to Kiyomori. The Retired Emperor spoke privately to an attendant, sobbing and shedding tears. When Kiyomori returned from Itsukushima to the capital, his heart was somewhat eased; he built a palace at Yumeno and moved the Cloistered Emperor there. In the tenth month Koremori advanced as far as the Fuji River, but his army, fearing a night attack, took fright and scattered in rout. In the eleventh month the palace in the new capital was completed and the emperor moved into it. Enryaku-ji repeatedly petitioned the throne asking for the return of the capital to the old city. Kiyomori gathered the hundred officials and had them debate which was more advantageous, the new capital or the old. Everyone, reading Kiyomori's wishes, loudly proclaimed the advantages of the new capital, and only Fujiwara-no-Nagakata, Sa-daiben, Major Controller of the Left, dissented, holding that the new capital was inconvenient. Kiyomori, displeased, dismissed him from the place (Note: this work writes "Nagakata" as "Munefusa," which is mistaken; here it is corrected on the authority of the Zoku Kokon Dan). Before long he had the court nobles return to the old capital (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Earlier, strange occurrences had happened repeatedly at the Fukuhara mansion. At night something like a human face appeared and grew until it filled a whole room. Again, in the night there was a sound as of a great tree falling, and loud laughter rang out in the air. Again, on the tail of the splendid horse "Mochizuki" which Kiyomori loved, rats made a nest and bore young in a single night. Again, several hundred skulls appeared in the garden, whirled and tangled together into one enormous head more than ten jō high, and suddenly sprouted thousands upon thousands of eyes. Kiyomori loathed this (Note: following the Heike Monogatari). Since the defeat of Koremori and the others, the strength of the Minamoto along the Tōkaidō and the Hokurikudō had grown ever greater. Yamamoto-no-Yoshitsune, former Uhyōe-no-jō, Lieutenant of the Right Gate Guards, and his younger brother Kashiwagi Yoshikane also raised troops in Ōmi and responded to Yoritomo (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Azuma Kagami).

¶In the twelfth month he sent Tomomori and others to attack them (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Azuma Kagami). Yoshitsune (Yamamoto Yoshitsune) fled to Kamakura (Note: following the Azuma Kagami). At this time the monks of Enryaku-ji had allied with Onjō-ji and responded to Yamamoto Yoshitsune, holding Onjō-ji as their base, so troops were sent to attack it. The monks of Enryaku-ji met them in battle at Yamashina (Note: following the Gyokukai and the Hyakurenshō). He also sent his son Kiyofusa to attack Onjō-ji, and it was set on fire and burned down. The halls and buildings were burned to nothing (Note: following the Gyokukai, the Sankaiki, and the Hyakurenshō. "Kiyofusa" follows the Hyakurenshō. The Heike Monogatari gives Tomomori and Tadanori). Now the monks of Kōfuku-ji, wishing to receive Prince Mochihito, had advanced their troops as far as the Kizu River, but on hearing that the prince had been defeated they had turned back. The Regent Motomichi sent Fujiwara-no-Tadanari, Yūkan-no-bettō, Official Administrator of the clan temple, to admonish the monks, but the monks insulted Tadanari, stripped him of his clothing, and drove him away. He then sent Fujiwara-no-Chikamasa, Uemon-no-kami, to learn how matters stood (Note: "Uemon-no-kami" follows the Heike Monogatari), but Chikamasa took fright and fled home. After that the monks' unruly stirrings did not cease. When the court sent a messenger to ask how matters stood, the monks replied, "We have no other intention; we merely wish to destroy Kiyomori" (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Hearing this, Kiyomori appointed Seno-no-Kaneyasu as Yamato Kebiisho, Police Commissioner of Yamato, and sent him with several hundred horsemen (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). On departure he warned them: "You must not put on armor and take up bows and arrows and so cause the monks to harbor suspicion" (Note: following the Heike Monogatari). When the monks heard that Kaneyasu was coming, they led their troops and attacked him, and many of Kaneyasu's soldiers were killed in battle. The monks displayed the heads they had taken on the shore of Sarusawa Pond (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari). Kaneyasu barely escaped with his life (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Earlier, in its reply to Onjō-ji, Kōfuku-ji had mocked the lowly origins of Kiyomori's forefathers, writing that the Taira were "dregs and chaff, the dust and rubbish of the warrior houses"; Saijōbō Shingu had written this. Kiyomori was furious and had a strict search made, and Shingu, taking fright (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari), smeared his body with lacquer to feign leprosy and ran away (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki). Later Shingu became the secretary of Minamoto-no-Yoshinaka; he is the man known as Taifubō Kakumyō. The monks of Kōfuku-ji also made a head of wood, named it "the head of the Lay-Monk Chancellor," and beat and trampled it. Kiyomori grew yet more enraged (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari), and had Shigehira lead several thousand troops to attack Kōfuku-ji, and burned down the two temples Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji (Note: following the Sankaiki and the Azuma Kagami). At this time, in the provinces of the realm, those who turned against the Taira were appearing day after day, many soldiers deserted, and Kiyomori's spirits sank considerably, so he asked the Cloistered Emperor to resume the conduct of government. The Cloistered Emperor firmly declined and would not listen (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki), but when Kiyomori asked repeatedly, again and again, he finally consented. Kiyomori presented the two provinces of Mino and Sanuki to be the Cloistered Emperor's own provinces (gobunkoku), and entrusted the affairs of government of the realm entirely to Munemori (Note: following the Gyokukai). By this time regret had arisen even in Kiyomori, and, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Cloistered Emperor, he sent his own daughter into the Cloistered Emperor's household. Only a little more than ten days had passed since the Retired Emperor (Takakura) had died, yet the Cloistered Emperor could not refuse (Note: following the Genpei Jōsuiki and the Heike Monogatari).