Heike Monogatari (Tale of Heike)

Excerpts and emaki images of the Heike Monogatari (Tale of Heike) set to four masterpieces of music by Shiro Sagisu. The tale is extremely long, complex and very moving. This brief glimpse is not meant to replicate the tale, but rather share an introduction into the Heike Monogatari. The summaries are broken into four parts, as opposed to the actual 12 books and epilogue of the work. While my focus is on the beginning and end of the tale, the central section which encompasses the middle 8 books actually comprises mostly of various battles and tactics between the two fighting clans.

The events of this legend take place in 12th Century late-Heian Japan and chronicle the rise and fall of the Heike (Taira) clan in the Gempei War against the Genji (Minamoto) Clan. The main action of the story falls between the end of the Hogen and Heiji Rebellions when the Taira gain power as a result of the struggle between the emperor and the retired emperor, and the end of the Gempei war, when the clan is utterly destroyed. During that time, the samurai began to gain more power than simply as vassals and protectors of the emperor. As the imperial family had no military arm, specialized clans of samurai were hired to serve them. The end of the Heian period also was the last time before the Restoration that the imperial throne held the true power of Japan. The Gempei war ushered in a long era of samurai rule through the bakufu and the shogunate. The Heike Monogatari - unlike the Genji - was composed by the biwa hoshi (or biwa playing bards) and thus is an oral tale with no single creator, although some attribute it to a man named Yukinaga, who may have been the first to compile the work. The Buddhist theme of transience is highly visible in the work, from its opening lines until the very end of the work. The beautiful symmetry of bells opening and closing the work also signals the opening and ending of the Heike era.

I've published this in DVD Widescreen High Definition. Full screen HD Mode is truly spectacular. You may have to let it buffer a little bit though, because it's a rather large file at that point. Even in normal mode, the quality is quite good. (For faster loading and less lag, I recommend the normal mode on small screen mode - full screen makes the images a bit pixelated)

Please enjoy!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• heike
• monogatari
• tale
• emaki
• heiji
• hogen
• rebellion
• taira
• minamoto
• genji
• gempei
• war
• japan
• legend
• culture
• history
• 平家物語

[YoukouYuri]

Thanks so much everyone! I'm so incredibly glad that you enjoyed it! ^^ Sorry for the late posting but...

Shiro Sagisu is great :D I happen to really have liked his music and I thought it was a nice modern change to Kaji Meiko. I found it a refreshing change from Carmina Burana, or Dies Irae...the "classics" ;) The pieces are in the description (which youtube has now hidden :P) and are "soundscape to ardor," "invasion," "treachery," and "turn the tables" IIRC :)

also, TheFish: game? o.O

[satsumadon8x]

I'm amazed to find your creation here!

You go into hardcore of Japanese history, while you must be young, (I'm only assuming) you seem you have very sophisticated eyes and senses.

I'm Japanese, and my mother's side carries Satsuma

Clan's heritage, which is said to carry Minamoto blood, but I never tried even to read the Tale, though a translated modern japanese books had been always in my home. My ancestors must be disappointed!

Thanx for you post

Hope you will keep up with your great work!

[YoukouYuri]

Thank you so much for watching! It's such an honor to hear your very kind words! I can't tell you how much it means to me - especially with your history - that you watched, let alone commented, on my work. I'm sure that your ancestors quite wished that they had the time to read/explore many things too :) I'm afraid I don't do the tale true justice, but hopefully this little glimpse is enough to get people as intrigued as I!

Thanks again! Hope you enjoy a wonderful day! :)

[lostwolfvsfox]

I am at a loss for words! So much crap on youtube... and then to stumble upon this!

Thank you! :)

[YoukouYuri]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! :) I'm so glad that there are people who search out rare gems on youtube and stumble upon my work! There are certainly many more out there I'm sure and I can only hope that my work is just a small portal into a better part of youtube :D

Thanks again!

[szuchowski]

what is that piano music song called at the beginning?

[YoukouYuri]

It's called "Soundscape to Ardor" by Shiro Sagisu :)

[saburaix]

Great work

Great music

Great video

Ever! !

Respect.

[Pharenheitz]

@Pharenheitz Yeah, I know I'll always miss something if I haven't studied the language. I deeply wish.

[Pharenheitz]

I wish there were more videos like this...

[histugayabyakuya]

Bleach music!!!!!!

[Pharenheitz]

@RAS1986o0 Look for Eiji Yoshikawa, there's a translation of his version that's quite popular, But that's a retelling into more modern Japanese then brought into English.

[RAS1986o0]

Where can I find this story? o.o

[boringundboring]

My name is heike...

[bluninjadragon]

what is the orchestral music in this montage? I really like it XD thnx in advance!

[patrickasato]

Thank you very much for this beautiful creation.

I am a professor of Japanese language and culture and I use your outstanding

work every semester when I reach the section on decline of Heian. Your work

clearly illuminates this with your excellent artistry and understanding of history,

culture, music, and art. DOOMO ARIGATOO GOZAIMASU! Please create more and let me know and we'll also be very glad to help at Kapi'olani Community College in Hawaii!