Background
Munekiyo Taira lived around 1170. He was the son of Suemune.
Career
Munekiyo Taira served Yorimori Taira. He captured Yoritomo Minamoto who had fled in the war of Heiji Era (1159). Took Yoritomo to Rokuhara, in Kyoto, together with the severed head of Tomonaga Minamoto. Yoritomo was taken into custody at the home of Munekiyo.
Munekiyo advised Yoritomo to ask for the intercession of Ike-no-Zenni, stepmother of Kiyomori, to save his life. Grateful for Munekiyo's advice which saved his life, Yoritomo passed a secret order to his generals not to harm Munekiyo when the Tairas were in retreat toward western Japan.
Yoritomo later invited Munekiyo to come to Kamakura but he declined. Instead, he went to Yashima and served Munemori. He escaped death in the Battle of Dannoura. What became of him afterward is unknown.
