Chapter 7 (Events of the earlier months of 1183)

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7-[1] Shimizu no Kanja --- With this section, the exploits of Kiso no Yoshinaka become an important focus of the story.

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7-[2] The Expedition to the Northern Provinces --- The Taira's response to the growing power of Yoshinaka and Yoritomo.

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7-[3] The Visit to Chikubushima --- An artistic respite from the story's fights.

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7-[4] The Battle at Hiuchi --- The Taira score an early victory against a Yoshinaka garrison.

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7-[5] The Petition --- A section devoted to describing Yoshinaka as a warrior who respects the gods. Also, it is his victory in the next section that marks the turning point in the road to defeating the Taira. Thus this is something of a pre-climax pause, or a religious climax if you wish to think of it in those terms.

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7-[6] The Descent into Kurikara --- Yoshinaka achieves a major military victory. The Taira forces are eviscerated (only 2,000 of the original 70,000 mustered survive the attack).

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7-[7] The Battle at Shinohara --- A section emphasizing individual acts of bravery of warriors (from both sides) in battle, including introducing Sanemori, who will figure in the next section.

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7-[8] Sanemori --- A section highlighting the true bushidô spirit by telling the story of this particular warrior who fought for the Taira. (It is clear by this point that the Taira will be defeated; these acts of bravery are even more admirable given these circumstances.)

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7-[9] Genbô --- A section indirectly stating that Antoku's fate is sealed.

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7-[10] Kiso's Letter to the Enryakuji --- Yoshinaka plans on entering Kyoto with his forces but hopes to arrive with the Mt. Hiei monks as his allies, not enemies. He writes a long and lovely letter that summarizes the evil deeds of the Taira.

7-[11] The Reply --- The Enryakuji monks' acceptance of Yoshinaka's offer independently confirms the superior position that the Minamoto have gained against the Taira. As we have learned, it is not good to have the soldier-monks against you.

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7-[12] The Heike Joint Petition to Mount Hiei --- The Taira ask the Enryakuji monks for help but it is too late.

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7-[13] The Emperor's Flight from the Capital --- The Taira might still be enjoying victories in southern Japan (Chinzei, mentioned in the first paragraph, is in Kyûshû), but their mortal threat is Yoshinaka to the north and Yoritomo to the east. They determine that they must move the emperor, their only legitimate claim to power, westward out of the Capital to safety.

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7-[14] Koremori's Flight from the Capital --- One by one the major Taira family members are fleeing before the advancing Minamoto.

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7-[15] Imperial Visits --- Something of a homage to the lost houses of the burnt Capital as well as a description of the fall of Taira from their best days. The text, showing sympathy for the Taira, describes their compassionate side.

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7-[16] Tadanori's Flight from the Capital --- Kiyomori's youngest brother, now part of the elder generation of the Taira, takes his leave from the Capital as well, visiting the most famous poet of the day Fujiwara no Shunzei, who, after the war, will begin to compile the Shin Kokinshû (a work different from the poetry anthology, also famous, noted in this section) at the command of Emperor Go-Toba. (His son carries this work to completion.)

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7-[17] Tsunemasa's Flight from the Capital --- Another scene of Capital-parting, this time using music (rather than poetry as in the previous section) as the details that give substance to the story.

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7-[18] Concerning Seizan --- The background of the very special lute (biwa) called Seizan that Tsunemasa received but returns in the previous section, for safe-keeping. This type of instrument was used to accompany the oral performances of telling the Tale of the Heike.

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7-[19] The Flight of the Heike from the Capital --- A total of 7,000 Taira, all that is left of the clan due to their losses across the country, retreat south. To leave the Capital is essentially to admit defeat; they are now fighting not for control of the country but merely to survive.

7-[20] The Flight from Fukuhara --- The Taira first flee to Fukuhara, the place on the southern coast near present day Kobe that they made the imperial seat of government for barely half a year before returning, under political pressure, to Kyoto. (See Chapter Five, Section [1] "The Transfer of the Capital".)