Changes

*''Died: [[1180]]''

*''Died: [[1181]]''

*''Japanese'': [[平]]清盛 ''(Taira no Kiyomori)''

*''Japanese'': [[平]]清盛 ''(Taira no Kiyomori)''

Taira no Kiyomori was the head of the [[Taira clan]] in the 1150s until his death in [[1180]], and an extremely influential and powerful figure at Court for much of that period. Following in the footsteps of the [[Fujiwara clan]], he came to dominate court politics, both through political marriages and other means, becoming the ''de facto'' ruler of the State for over two decades, suppressing the power of the [[Retired Emperor]]s, and having reigning emperors as, essentially, puppet rulers. His rise to power marks the beginning of the rise of [[samurai]] power, and the end of direct Imperial rule; his fall, or, rather, that of his clan, is the chief theme of the great epic ''[[The Tale of the Heike]]'' (''Heike monogatari'').

Taira no Kiyomori was the head of the [[Taira clan]] in the 1150s until his death in [[1181]], and an extremely influential and powerful figure at Court for much of that period. Following in the footsteps of the [[Fujiwara clan]], he came to dominate court politics, both through political marriages and other means, becoming the ''de facto'' ruler of the State for over two decades, suppressing the power of the [[Retired Emperor]]s, and having reigning emperors as, essentially, puppet rulers. His rise to power marks the beginning of the rise of [[samurai]] power, and the end of direct Imperial rule; his fall, or, rather, that of his clan, is the chief theme of the great epic ''[[The Tale of the Heike]]'' (''Heike monogatari'').

Kiyomori was the son of [[Taira no Tadamori]] and grandson of [[Taira no Masamori]], who served as "close retainers" (''kinshin'') within the "cloistered court" (''in-no-chô'') of Retired Emperors [[Emperor Shirakawa|Shirakawa]] and [[Emperor Toba|Toba]]. As a result, even from the young age of 12, Kiyomori already began to receive special preference in court rank and official positions.

Kiyomori was the son of [[Taira no Tadamori]] and grandson of [[Taira no Masamori]], who served as "close retainers" (''kinshin'') within the "cloistered court" (''in-no-chô'') of Retired Emperors [[Emperor Shirakawa|Shirakawa]] and [[Emperor Toba|Toba]]. As a result, even from the young age of 12, Kiyomori already began to receive special preference in court rank and official positions.

Along [[Minamoto no Yoshitomo]], he led Emperor Shirakawa's forces to victory in the [[Hogen Disturbance|Hôgen Disturbance]] of [[1156]], and then led the Taira clan to victory again in [[1159]], crushing Yoshitomo, who had become his rival for power, in the [[Heiji Disturbance]]. Through both of these victories, Kiyomori gained and then secured considerable power, becoming one of the "senior nobles" (''[[kugyo|kugyô]]'') by [[1160]], and ''[[daijo daijin|daijô daijin]]'' ("Chancellor of the Realm") in [[1167]], flying up through the ranks without even passing through the positions of Minister of the Left and of the Right (''[[Sadaijin]]'' and ''[[Udaijin]]'').

Along [[Minamoto no Yoshitomo]], he led Emperor Shirakawa's forces to victory in the [[Hogen Disturbance|Hôgen Disturbance]] of [[1156]], and then led the Taira clan to victory again in [[1159]], crushing Yoshitomo, who had become his rival for power, in the [[Heiji Disturbance]]. Through both of these victories, Kiyomori gained and then secured considerable power, becoming one of the "senior nobles" (''[[kugyo|kugyô]]'') by [[1160]], and ''[[daijo daijin|daijô daijin]]'' ("Chancellor of the Realm") in [[1167]], flying up through the ranks without even passing through the positions of Minister of the Left and of the Right (''[[Sadaijin]]'' and ''[[Udaijin]]'').

He further secured his elite position by marrying the sister of [[Kenshunmon-in]], a favored consort of [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]]; this also made him uncle (by marriage) to [[Emperor Takakura]]. One of Kiyomori's daughters, who would later be known as [[Kenreimon-in]], became a consort to Takakura, while other daughters of Kiyomori were married to prominent members of the Fujiwara clan.

He further secured his elite position by marrying the sister of [[Kenshunmon-in]], a favored consort of [[Emperor Go-Shirakawa]]; this also made him uncle (by marriage) to [[Emperor Takakura]]. One of Kiyomori's daughters, who would later be known as [[Kenreimon-in]], became a consort to Takakura, while other daughters of Kiyomori were married to prominent members of the Fujiwara clan.

 

Kiyomori is also associated with a number of prominent religious and cultural establishments. After becoming governor of [[Aki province]], he oversaw the reconstruction of [[Itsukushima Shrine]]; the shrine would continue to bear a connection to the Taira clan down through the centuries, and holds in its collections a precious set of [[sutra|sutras]] formerly owned by, or penned by, Kiyomori and his relatives, known as the ''[[Heike Nokyo|Heike Nôkyô]]''. Kiyomori was also involved in the construction of the [[Sanjusangendo|Sanjûsangendô]] in Kyoto, which was completed in [[1164]].

Kiyomori fell ill in [[1168]] and formally retired from official service; he retained considerable power and influence, however.

Kiyomori fell ill in [[1168]] and formally retired from official service; he retained considerable power and influence, however.

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