Taira no Munemori
Executed Physically June 19, 1185, Then Character Assassinated!
The noble Taira clan commander, Taira no Munemori was publicly executed on this day, June 19, 1185.
Taira no Munemori was a military commander and Taira clan court noble in the late Heian period. Born in 1147 as the third son ofthe great leader Taira no Kiyomori, and Kiyomori's second wife, Taira no Tokiko, he was the eldest son among Tokiko's children, and the older brother of Taira no Tokuko, mother of the future Emperor Antoku.
He is also somewhat of an enigma.
In contrast to his elder brother Shigemori who has been remembered as a brilliant man, Munemori is described in the "Tale of the Heike" as an “arrogant fool who caused antagonism among the clans, leading to war and rebellion”. According to other sources, after his father Kiyomori's death, there were rumors of Munemori suffering stomach ailments due to his gluttony, and that he fell off his horse twice during Emperor Antoku's Tamekai purification ceremony. The "Tale of the Heike" mentions that while the other Taira commanders threw themselves into the sea on their loss at the naval Battle of Dan-no-ura, Munemori could not. The Taira clan,disgusted by his cowardly behavior, seized him and threw him into the sea. However, Munemori was a good swimmer and was saved by the rival Minamoto clan. Like his eldest son Kiyomune, Munemori was apparently obese and floated easily.
We can see that he has been remembered as a greedy coward and a buffoon, but is this really the case, or is it a case of character assassination?
Let’s have a look at his life and actions, and then decide for ourselves….