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Taira no Shigemori (平 重盛;Japanese pronunciation:[taꜜi.ɾano|ɕi.ɡeꜜ.mo.ɾʲi,-ɕi.ŋeꜜ-],[1] 1138 – September 2, 1179) was the eldest regent of theTaira clan patriarch,Taira no Kiyomori. He supported his father in theHeiji Rebellion. He died two years before his father. His son,Taira no Koremori, became a monk in 1184 duringGenpei War period, and drowned himself.Oda Nobunaga claimed to have descended from him through his grandson,Taira no Chikazane.
Shigemori was caught between his father Kiyomori andCloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and suffered mentally. His words "If I am loyal, I cannot be filial; if I am filial, I cannot be loyal" (忠ならんと欲すれば孝ならず、孝ならんと欲すれば忠ならず) are well known in Japan.[2] He was Kiyomori's favourite son, but as he had died ("some said of grief at his father's stubborn and misguided treatment of his opponents") his brother,Taira no Munemori was left in charge of the affairs of state.[3]
Taira no Shigemori appeared inThe Tale of the Heike, one of the traditional classics in medieval Japan.
On May 12, 1179, a great whirlwind swept through the imperial capital, Kyoto. Many people died along with many buildings destroyed by the tornado. Only a few days after the incident, he fell ill and died at the age of 42, possible due from poisonous smoke that came from the tornado.
Shigemori built a temple forty-eight bays long, inspired by the forty-eight great vows of the BuddhaAmida, and in each bay he hung a lantern. He then became known as the "Lantern Minister".
In 1173, Shigemori made an agreement with a ship captain name Miao Dian inKyushu. He gave 500tael of gold to the captain, 3000 to theSong dynasty, 1000 to the monks of Mount Yuwang, and 2000 to purchase paddy fields for the monastery, so that the monks may offer prayers for him in his future lives. Miao Dian received the gold, crossed the ocean, and took it to the land of theSong dynasty.
Taira no Koremori 1158-1184
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