The New Tale of Taira (3)

In this book, you read Kiyomori Taira in his prime, aged between forty and fifty. He had eliminated his military rival, Yoshitomo Minamoto. Yoshitomo's beautiful mistress, Tokiwa, turned herself in at Rokuhara. Kiyomori pardoned her little boys from the death penalty. Kiyomori fell in love with Tokiwa, and Tokiwa loved him. Nevertheless, Kiyomori only visited her once at home. Tokiwa married a nobleman and overcame Konnomaru's accusation of infidelity to her husband. Kiyomori showed not only his military but also his political qualities. The most powerful politician in Japan, Goshirakawa, saw his politics as safe only with Kiyomori's army in the background. Goshirakawa deliberately tied Kiyomori to his side. Kiyomori used the favorable situation to support the political upswing of Taira. Kiyomori's brothers, sons, and tribe members occupied essential positions in the state. Goshirakawa appointed him to the highest office of a subject, prime minister. Goshirakawa married Shigeko, Kiyomori's sister-in-law. She gave birth to a prince who ascended to the throne and became Emperor Takakura. Taira's political rise was accomplished without violence. Kiyomori relegated the Fujiwara family to the political sidelines. With his power and wealth, Kiyomori managed the most significant building project in the Taira era: constructing the Owada trading port in Fukuhara. The undertaking was technically demanding and economically costly. He financed the port from private funds. Kiyomori was far ahead of his contemporaries with his entrepreneurial spirit and open-mindedness towards foreign cultures.