Describe the characteristics of the The Heiji rebellion in Heiji Monogatari Emaki's Background.
The work describes the Heiji rebellion (1159–1160), one of the episodes of the historical transition period that saw Japan enter the Kamakura period and the Middle Ages: the Imperial Court lost all political power in favour of the feudal lords led by the shogun. During this transition, the authority of the emperors and the Fujiwara regents weakened due to corruption, the growing independence of local chiefs (daimyos), starvation and even superstition, so that the two main clans of the time vied for control of the state: the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan.Relations between the two clans deteriorated and political plots were asserted, so much so that in early 1160, the Minamoto clan attempted a coup by  besieging Sanjō Palace in Kyoto to kidnap Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa and his son Emperor Nijō. It was the start of the Heiji rebellion. The Taira, led by Taira no Kiyomori, hastily gathered its strength to retaliate; it took the advantage and decimated the rival clan, except for the young children. Ironically, among these children spared was Minamoto no Yoritomo who, a generation later in the Genpei War (1180–1185), would avenge his father and take control of all of Japan, establishing the political domination of the warriors in the new Kamakura period, from which the emakimono dates.The Heiji rebellion, famous in Japan, has been the subject of many literary adaptations, in particular The Tale of Heiji (平治物語, Heiji monogatari) from which the emakimono is directly inspired. The rivalries of clans, wars, personal ambitions and political intrigue amid social change and radical policies have made the Heiji rebellion an epic subject par excellence. Indeed, this type of bloody, rhythmic storytelling is particularly suitable for emakimono.
Kamakura Kamakura period The Tale of Heiji Retired Emperor Sanjō Heiji Minamoto no Yoritomo Middle Ages Taira no Kiyomori Minamoto Emperor Nijō Heiji rebellion Emperor Go-Shirakawa daimyo Genpei War Taira clan Minamoto clan Genpei Taira emakimono Go-Shirakawa Fujiwara shogun Nijō