Heike Monogatari Illustrated Dictionary

Author: Ye Weiqiu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-12
Features: The source of these five classical masterpieces illustrated in this book comes from the Japanese aesthetic qualities of the classical Japanese works "The Pillow Book," "The Tale of Genji," "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," "The Tale of Ise," and "The Tale of the Heike." In other words, in the "emakusogas" (scrolls) of these tales or essays, the beauty of Japanese literature is also vividly reflected. "The Tale of the Heike," in particular, exhibits diverse forms, including emakusa-e (scroll painting), byobu-e (screen painting), kamae-e (sliding door painting), and sensu-e (fan painting). The scenes are grand, primarily depicting the heroic figures of the samurai, with natural landscapes serving as secondary elements. They inherit the elegant style of traditional "emakusogas," pursuing dynamic changes in scenes and magnificent compositions, possessing a moving power and a shocking force. "The Tale of the Heike" devotes little ink to describing the rise of the Heike clan but focuses heavily on the tense process of their decline and. Even in depicting this process, it emphasizes more the spiritual world of the samurai than their martial prowess. Here, intertwined are the author's love and hatred, joy and sorrow, the exhilaration of liberation, and the solitude of introspection, elevating the emotional impact of literature to its utmost. Especially, the author uses extensive praise to describe the valiant deeds and loyal spirit of the samurai from eastern and western Japan during the wars. The author successfully establishes the typical image of Taira no Kiyomori, the representative figure of the Heike clan, who is also the protagonist of "The Tale of the Heike."