The Taiheiki by Helen Mccullough
An epic saga of samurai warfare in medieval Japan This celebrated literary classic has delighted generations of Japanese. In its pages, you will find a vivid contemporary description of the fourteenth-century intrigues and battles that led to the destruction of the Hojo family, the military overlords of the nation, and made it possible for the Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339), one of Japan's most remarkable sovereigns, to reassert the power of the throne. Go-Daigo's first hesitant attempts to overthrow the Hojo, the early defeats suffered by his supporters, his dethronement and exile, the legendary exploits of his generals, the growing strength of his arms, and his ultimate return to the throne are all recounted in engrossing detail. The anonymous authors of The Taiheiki diversify their narrative through the skillful use of the rich treasure house of the Chinese dynastic histories, the verse of the Six Dynasties and T'ang, and the Confucian teachings underlying the strict warrior code of loyalty and filial piety. They write with a deep sense of the inevitability of karma—determined fate and the impermanence of man and his works—but the spirit of the age is reflected in their praise of valor and military prowess, their taste for descriptions of the trappings of war, and their frequent irreverent asides. Considered a part of the gunki monogatari, or war tales canon in Japan, The Taiheiki celebrates martial adventure and can be seen as a prose counterpart to the Homeric epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey.Helen Craig McCullough (1918-1998) was an eminent scholar of classical Japanese poetry and prose. Her scholarly publications include 11 volumes of studies and translations. She co-authored with husband William H. McCullough the monumental two-volume translation and study of A Tale of Flowering Fortunes, whose authoritative notes and appendices make it an encyclopedia of Heian court life. Her books provide authoritative interpretations of masterpieces in classical Japanese literature. Other titles include Tales of Ise, The Tale of the Heike, Anthology of Poems Ancient and Modern, and The Great Mirror.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780804835381 |
| ISBN 10 | 0804835381 |
| Title | The Taiheiki |
| Author | Helen Mccullough |
| Series | Tuttle Classics |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Tuttle Publishing |
| Year published | 2004-03-15 |
| Number of pages | 452 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |