Background
Shigemori Taira was born in 1138. He was the eldest son of Kiyomori.
Portrait of Taira no Shigemori, attributed to Fujiwara No Takanobu. Color on silk.
1866
Sammichūjō Koremori by Yoshitora
重盛 平
Shigemori Taira was born in 1138. He was the eldest son of Kiyomori.
Shigemori Taira resided at the Komatsu Mansion east of Kyoto and was called Komatsu Naif и (Minister of Court Affairs) or Toro-no-Otodo (Minister of Temple Lanterns) because of his devout Buddhist beliefs. After he entered priesthood he was called Shokil.
He accompanied his father in battles of the Hogen and Heiji Era. He was appointed General of the Left Imperial Guard and Minister of Court Affairs (1177). Died of illness (1179).
A valiant soldier as well as a man of upright principles, he was respected by all. He always advised his father against tyrannical excesses. His lament that filial piety and loyalty to the Emperor often were incompatible is a wellknown case of an individual torn between two ideals. Shigemori dissuaded Kiyomori from confining ex-Emperor Goshirakawa in the Toba Palaee.
