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Whatever its origin, all extant versions of the tale seem to be related to, or derived from, one another; multiple versions are known to have been in circulation by the end of the 13th century, but if any dramatically differing versions existed, they are not extant today. The versions today considered most typical, or most characteristic, are of middling length, date to the 14th-15th centuries, and are records of versions related orally by the ''biwa hôshi'' performers. The version perhaps most widely considered standard is that derived from one recorded by a ''biwa hôshi'' named [[Kakuichi]] in [[1371]]; generations of ''biwa hôshi'' memorized and recited Kakuichi's version of the tale, passing it down through the tradition. This version of the tale has also been used as the basis for many modern translations.
Whatever its origin, all extant versions of the tale seem to be related to, or derived from, one another; multiple versions are known to have been in circulation by the end of the 13th century, but if any dramatically differing versions existed, they are not extant today. The versions today considered most typical, or most characteristic, are of middling length, date to the 14th-15th centuries, and are records of versions related orally by the ''biwa hôshi'' performers. The version perhaps most widely considered standard is that derived from one recorded by a ''biwa hôshi'' named [[Kakuichi]] in [[1371]]; generations of ''biwa hôshi'' memorized and recited Kakuichi's version of the tale, passing it down through the tradition. This version of the tale has also been used as the basis for many modern translations.
Though the ''biwa hôshi'' tradition declined after the [[Onin War|Ônin War]] ([[1467]]-[[1477]]), eclipsed by other performance forms, the ''Heike'' has remained extremely prominent in Japanese traditional performing arts, and literature. The majority of [[Noh]] plays in the category of "warrior plays" are based on episodes from the ''Heike'', as are the majority of extant ''[[kowakamai|kôwakamai]]'' ballads, and numerous ''[[ningyo joruri|jôruri]]'' puppet plays and [[kabuki]] plays, as well as contemporary novels and [[NHK Taiga drama]] television programs.
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==References==
==References==
*Helen McCullough trans., ''The Tale of the Heike'', Stanford University Press (1990), 6-7.
*Helen McCullough trans., ''The Tale of the Heike'', Stanford University Press (1990), 6-9.
[[Category:Kamakura Period]]
[[Category:Kamakura Period]]
