Taiheiki

The Taiheiki (Japanese太平 记, history of great peace ) is a Japanese historical epic (see Gunki Monogatari ), written in the late 14th century. It deals mainly with the Namboku -chō, the time of the confrontation between the " North Court " under domination of Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto and Southern Imperial Court of Emperor Go- Daigo in Yoshino.

Overview

It is impossible to say with certainty who was the author of Taiheiki. The work " Thorough investigation of Taiheiki " of 1470 called the priest Genne - Hōshi as writer and monk Norin as finisher. This is contradicted by a diary note of Toin Kisada of 1374, which means the monk Kojima as the author of Taiheiki. Initially the factory was called " Yurai -ki " ( History of the causes of safety and risk ), then it was called " Kokka Chiran -ki " ( history of peace and unrest in the country), hereupon " Kokka - Taiheiki " and ultimately simply Taiheiki.

The latest English translation consists of 12 chapters of consisting of 40 chapters epic and includes the time of Go - Daigo's accession to the throne in 1318, about his case and his exile in 1333 until his return to Kyoto 1338th

Go- Daigo tried to escape the power of the shoguns and not only nominally, but actually to reign in contrast to many previous emperors. Thus began a series of military and political confrontations with the Fujiwara, who wanted to preserve the rule of the shogun dominated by them. The battles, political maneuvers and other developments of that period are treated in Taiheiki.

Like most Japanese historical epics is known tendency of Taiheiki for dramatization and exaggeration. The text is, however, regarded as essentially truthful. He is a source of many of the warriors and battles this time and is also documented parts of the fall of the powerful and historically significant Hōjō clan.