平氏(へいし)

へいし
noun
the Taira clan; the Heishi
history
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(へいし)は源氏(げんじ)との戦(たたか)いに敗(やぶ)れた。
The Taira clan was defeated in battle against the Minamoto clan.
平氏(へいし)の棟梁(とうりょう)である平清盛(たいらのきよもり)は太政大臣(だいじょうだいじん)にまで上(のぼ)り詰(つ)めた。
Taira no Kiyomori, the head of the Taira clan, rose to the position of Grand Minister.
平氏(へいし)の滅亡(めつぼう)は1185年(ねん)の壇ノ浦(だんのうら)の戦(たたか)いで決定的(けっていてき)になり、源氏(げんじ)が武家政権(ぶけせいけん)を確立(かくりつ)する道(みち)を開(ひら)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(へいし) uses the on'yomi reading of both characters, while 平家(へいけ) (Heike) specifically refers to the branch led by 平清盛(たいらのきよもり) and is the more common form in storytelling contexts like 平家物語(へいけものがたり) (The Tale of the Heike).

The 源平(げんぺい) 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

Similar words

  • 平家(へいけ): the Heike — specifically Kiyomori's branch, and the form used in literary contexts
  • 源氏(げんじ): the Minamoto clan — the rival clan that defeated the Taira
  • 藤原氏(ふじわらし): the Fujiwara clan — the dominant court family before the warrior clans rose to power

Related Words

Compare: 源氏(げんじ) (the Minamoto clan)
general
Added 2026.4.22 19:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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