Taira no Koremori

Taira no Koremori (平 維盛) (1160 – c. 1184) was one of the Taira clan's commanders in the Genpei War of the late Heian period of Japanese history.

Sammichūjō Koremori by Yoshitora 1866
In this Japanese name, the family name is Taira.

He was the eldest son of Taira no Shigemori, who was the eldest son and heir of Taira no Kiyomori.

In contrast to his father Shigemori, who was a brave warrior, Koremori grew up to be a young nobleman who loved poetry and music.

He was defeated at the battle of Fujikawa in 1180.

In April and May 1183, Koremori invaded Echizen Province, taking Hiuchiyama and several other of Minamoto no Yoshinaka's strongholds. However, Yoshinaka was able to defeat Koremori in the Battle of Kurikara.[1][2]

Koremori fled Heike headquarters before the battle of Yashima, seeking a reunion with his family left behind in the capital. However, along the way he met Priest Takiguchi, formerly Saito Tokiyori, on Mount Kōya. Koremori became a monk there and made a pilgrimage to "the three sacred mountain sites Kumano". He then boarded a boat at Hama-no-miya, set out to sea, and then drowned himself.[3]

His son Taira no Rokudai also entered the priesthood, but was eventually ordered killed by Minamoto no Yoritomo. "Thus, with Rokudai, the Heike line came to an end for all time."[3]:144–147 But Yoritomo forgot that Koremori has a nephew named Taira no Chikazane.

References
  1. Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press. p. 293. ISBN 0804705232.
  2. Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 201-202. ISBN 1854095234.
  3. The Tales of the Heike. Translated by Burton Watson. Columbia University Press. 2006. p. 109–121. ISBN 9780231138031.
  • Frederic, Louis (2002). "Taira no Koremori". Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.


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