Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Heike monogatari

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French version

Heike monogatari

平家物語
alternative words: Tale of Heike, Tale of the Heike, Heikemonogatari
keywords: book
related topics: Taira no Kiyomori , Heishi , Genji , Kamakura period
related web sites: http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~mh23/
explanation: War tale written by an unknown author at the beginning of Kamakura period. It tells the history of the emergence of Heike to become the most powerful family in Japan and their disappearance at Dainoura (strait of Kanmon) after beaten by Genji. Its underlying philosophy is the nihilism peculiar to Buddhism (living creature should always die and formed object, disappear). The history was spread by itinerant monk tellers accompanied by lute music (Biwa hoshi).