The Taira clan dominated the Imperial government from 1160 to 1185. Now an adult, he capitalized on the growing dissent with Taira leadership on behalf of members of both the Taira and Minamoto families and organized a new revolt in 1180. He soon gained control of the strategic east coast of Japan and by 1182 was ready to advance on the capital at Kyōto. The Taira leaders fled, taking with them the infant emperor Antoku. In the sea battle of Dannoura (1185) on the Inland Sea in western Japan, the Taira were finally defeated.
The emperor Antoku drowned in the battle, losing a famous sword, one of the Imperial Treasures of Japan supposedly brought from heaven by the first Japanese emperor. The battle became legendary through accounts such as the Gempei seisui-ki.
Taira Family, also called Heike, Japanese samurai (warrior) clan of great power and influence in the 12th century. The genealogy and history of the family have been traced in detail from 825 when the name Taira was given to Prince Takamine, grandson of Kammu (the 50th emperor of Japan). From about 1156 to 1185, the Taira monopolized high positions at the Imperial court; in the latter year, the clan was destroyed in the sea battle of Dannoura.
Origins and the first period of power.
The clan had its origins in 825, at a time when government finances were at a low ebb and members of the Imperial line were numerous. In an attempt to eliminate some of the drains on the finances, collateral Imperial branches were given surnames (the Imperial family had none) and sent out into the provinces. The name “Taira” was given to Prince Takamine, the son of Prince Kuzuhara and grandson of Kammu, the 50th emperor.
His descendants were accordingly called Taira of Kammu. Nakamichi, a nephew of Takamine, arrived in the Hitachi district (about 40 miles [60 kilometers] northwest of present-day Tokyo) as a local official and settled there. His descendants succeeded him in the post, and the family became powerful samurai in the district.
The second era of power.
In later years the Fujiwara family, who, sharing power with the emperor, had monopolized the highest posts in the court from the mid-10th to the mid-11th century, began to decline. In the latter half of the 11th century, the emperor Shirakawa abdicated the throne in favor of his son and then introduced a new political system called insei, by which the former emperor, who was now freed from the ceremonial requirements of the Imperial office (but could count on the loyalty of his son, the real emperor), was finally able to wrest the power of the throne away from the Fujiwara.
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