1.
the Taira clan; the Heishi; the Heike
One of the four great clans of ancient and medieval Japan. The Taira clan rose to political dominance in the late Heian period before being destroyed in the Genpei War.
平氏は源氏との戦いに敗れた。
The Taira clan was defeated in battle against the Minamoto clan.
平氏の棟梁である平清盛は太政大臣にまで上り詰めた。
Taira no Kiyomori, the head of the Taira clan, rose to the position of Grand Minister.
平氏の滅亡は1185年の壇ノ浦の戦いで決定的になり、源氏が武家政権を確立する道を開いた。
The fall of the Taira clan became decisive at the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185, opening the way for the Minamoto to establish a warrior government.
One of the most important clan names in Japanese history. 平氏 uses the on'yomi reading of both characters, while 平家 (Heike) specifically refers to the branch led by 平清盛 and is the more common form in storytelling contexts like 平家物語 (The Tale of the Heike).
The 源平 conflict (Genpei War, 1180-1185) between the Taira and Minamoto clans is one of the defining events of Japanese history, ending the Heian period and ushering in the Kamakura shogunate.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 平氏の滅亡: the fall of the Taira clan
- 平氏の棟梁: the head of the Taira clan
- 源平の戦い: the Genpei War
- 平氏政権: the Taira government
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 平家: the Heike — specifically Kiyomori's branch, and the form used in literary contexts
- 源氏: the Minamoto clan — the rival clan that defeated the Taira
- 藤原氏: the Fujiwara clan — the dominant court family before the warrior clans rose to power