Statue of Taira no Kiyomori, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture

Taira no Kiyomori (平 清盛 1118 - 1181) was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1191x1692, 363 KB) Statue of Taira no Kiyomori, Miyajima, Hiroshima Hiroshima Prefecture Japan I took the photo File links The following pages link to this file: Taira no Kiyomori ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1191x1692, 363 KB) Statue of Taira no Kiyomori, Miyajima, Hiroshima Hiroshima Prefecture Japan I took the photo File links The following pages link to this file: Taira no Kiyomori ... Events Knights Templar founded Baldwin of Le Bourg succeeds his cousin Baldwin I as king of Jerusalem John II Comnenus succeeds Alexius I as Byzantine emperor Gelasius II succeeds Paschal II as pope Births November 28 - Manuel I Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (died 1180) Andronicus I Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (died 1185... Events Jayavarman VII assumes control of the Khmer kingdom. ... The following text needs to be harmonized with text in the article History of Japan#Heian Period. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... The written history of Japan began with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century CE. However, archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the upper paleolithic period. ...

After the death of his father Taira no Tadamori in 1153, Kiyomori assumed control of the Taira clan and ambitiously entered the political realm in which he had previously only held a minor post. In 1156, he and Minamoto no Yoshitomo, head of the Minamoto clan, suppressed the Hōgen Rebellion. This established the Taira and Minamoto samurai clans as the top warrior clans in Kyoto. However, their new strength in effect caused the allies to become bitter rivals which culminated three years later during the Heiji Rebellion in 1159. Kiyomori, emerging victorious with Yoshitomo and his two eldest killed, was now the head of the single most powerful warrior family/clan in Kyoto. However, it should be noted that his clan's power and influence in the provinces at this time is a matter of debate. At the request of his wife, Kiyomori showed mercy and exiled Yoshitomo's three youngest sons Yoritomo, Noriyori, and Yoshitsune. Taira no Tadamori (平忠盛)(1096-1153) was a Taira clan samurai, father of Taira no Kiyomori, and member of the Kebiishi (Imperial police force). ... Events January 6 - Henry of Anjou arrives in England. ... Taira (平) is a Japanese surname. ... Events Prince Yuriy Dolgorukiy fortifies Moscow, regarded as the date of the founding of the city Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Yoshitomo Minamoto. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... Combatants Forces loyal to Emperor Go-Shirakawa Forces loyal to retired Emperor Sutoku Commanders Fujiwara no Tadamichi, Minamoto no Tameyoshi, Taira no Tadamasa Fujiwara no Yorinaga, Taira no Kiyomori, Minamoto no Yoshitomo Strength Unknown Unknown, incl. ... Kyōto ) (lit. ... The Heiji Rebellion (平治の乱) was fought between rival subjects of the cloistered emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan in 1159. ... Events In the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinals are given the right of election of the Pope. ... Portrait of Yoritomo (copy) Minamoto no Yoritomo May 9, 1147—February 9, 1199) was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan, who ruled from 1192 until 1199. ... Grave of Minamoto no Noriyori, Shuzenji (present-day Izu), Shizuoka Prefecture Minamoto no Noriyori )(1156-1193) was a late Heian period general, who fought alongside his brothers Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune at a number of battles of the Genpei War. ... Yoshitsune by Kikuchi Yosai Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms, by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka , Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経) (1159 – June 15, 1189) was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. ...

Due to his status as the head of the sole remaining courtier/warrior clan, Kiyomori was in a unique position to manipulate the court rivalry between the retired sovereign Go-Shirakawa and his son, Nijo tenno (tenno - sovereign). Via this manipulation, Kiyomori was able to climb the ranks of government, though the majority of his promotions as well as the success of his family in gaining ranks and titles at court was due to the patronage of the retired sovereign Go-Shirakawa. This culminated in 1167, when Kiyomori became the first courtier of a warrior family to be appointed Dajō Daijin, chief minister of the government, and the de facto administrator of the imperial government. As was the norm, he soon relinquished the position and leadership of the Taira clan, with the goal of maintaining the social and political prestige of having attained the highest office in the land, but being free of the attendant duties. This had been a common practice for many years in the highest levels of Japanese government and in doing so Kiyomori was asserting what he felt was his strong position in the Kyoto government. It should be noted that many of the courtiers from traditional (non-warrior noble families) were less than pleased with both Kiyomori's attainment of the rank of Dajo-daijin and how he comported himself with regard to other high ranking courtiers. The Dajō daijin ) or Chancellor of the Realm was the head of the Dajō-kan, or Department of State in Heian Japan. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without...

In 1171, Kiyomori arranged a marriage between the Emperor Takakura and his daughter Tokuko. Their first son, Prince Tokihito was born in 1178. The next year, in 1179, Kiyomori staged a coup d'etat forcing the resignation of his rivals from all government posts and subsequently banishing them. He then filled the open government positions with his allies and relatives, and imprisoned the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Finally, in 1180 Kiyomori forced the emperor Takakura to abdicate and give Prince Tokuhito the throne, becoming the Emperor Antoku. Events Saladin abolishes the Fatimid caliphate, restoring Sunni rule in Egypt. ... Emperor Takakura (高倉天皇 Takakura Tennō) (September 23, 1161 – January 30, 1181) was the 80th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Events June 18 - Five Canterbury monks see what was possibly the Giordano Bruno crater being formed The Sung Document written detailing the discovery of Mu-Lan-Pi (suggested by some to be California) by Muslim sailors The Chronicle of Gervase of Canterbury written The Leaning Tower of Pisa begins to... Events Third Council of the Lateran condemned Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first ghettos for Jews Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castillian monarchy Philip II is... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇 Go-Shirakawa Tennō) (October 18, 1127 – April 26, 1192) was the 77th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between... Emperor Antoku (安徳天皇 Antoku Tennō) (December 22, 1178 – April 25, 1185) was the 81st imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ...

With the exertion of Taira power and wealth and Kiyomori's new monopoly on authority, many of his allies, most of the provincial samurai, and even members of his own clan turned against him. Prince Mochihito, brother of Emperor Takakura, called on Kiyomori's old rivals of the Minamoto clan to rise against the Taira beginning the Genpei War in the middle of 1180. Kiyomori died early in the next year from sickness, leaving his sons with the downfall and destruction of the Taira at the hands of the Minamoto. Prince Mochihito as he appeared on the 2005 NHK Taiga, Yoshitsune Prince Mochihito (以仁王, Mochihito-ō) (d. ... The Genpei or Gempei War (源平合戦、寿永・治承の乱) (1180-1185) was a war of ancient Japan, fought between the Taira and Minamoto clans. ...

Taira no Kiyomori is also the main character in the Kamakura period epic, the Tale of Heike. The Kamakura period (Japanese: 鎌倉時代, Kamakura-jidai; 1185–1333) is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance of the Kamakura Shogunate; officially established in 1192 by the first Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo. ... The Tale of the Heike (Japanese 平家物語, Heike monogatari) is an epic account of the struggle between the Minamoto and Taira clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century. ...

Modern Depictions of Kiyomori

• Taira Kiyomori is the enemy in the PlayStation 2 game, 'Dawn of the Samurai and is portrayed as using mystical stones named 'Amahagane' to defeat his enemies.

• There is a walking robot named Kiyomori that has been developed in Japan by Tmsuk in association with the Atsuo Takanishi Laborotary of Waseda University. Its walk is more humanlike than most bi-pedal robots as its pelvis has two degrees of movement, like humans and it has 39 joints within its frame. See http://kiyomori.jp/

• There is an alternative rock band in the UK named after Kiyomori. Kiyomori comprise of Adam Kidd (vocals, guitar), Sean-Lee Duncan (bass guitar) and Ben Kidd (drums). They have just released their first EP: 'Uprising'. See http://kiyomori.co.uk/

See also

• Heiji Rebellion
• Taira clan
• Heian Period