Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 8 (Chinese and Japanese).djvu/415

Rh The spirit of the Drunkard Boy raged furiously even after the death of his body, and his head, cut off by Raikō, soared upward in the air, and tried to attack him. But the heroes, through their valour and the divine assistance, remained masters of this extraordinary situation. The city of Miyako was filled with joy when the triumphant Raikō, together with his four lieutenants, came back bearing the monstrous head of the Drunkard Boy, and leading a train of women whom they had delivered from captivity in the ogre's den.

The alternate rise and fall of the two military clans, Minamoto and Taira, which took place in rapid succession during the last half of the twelfth century, was a rich source of heroic stories. These two clans are collectively called Gem-Pei, and their rivalry, their victories and their defeats form the substance of epics, romances and dramas. One of the most popular epical heroes is Tametomo, the famous archer; but still more well known are Yoshitsune, his friend and retainer Benkei, and his mistress, Shizuka.

We shall better understand their stories, if we know something about the historical background of those legends. The two military clans became influential in the political arena through the civil war of 1157, although the way had long since been prepared for them. But the balance of power between them was not easily preserved, and when another civil war broke out in 1159, the Minamotos were totally defeated by the Tairas. In the war of 1157 each party was equally divided in the two contending camps; Tametomo was on the losing side, and one of his brothers fought on the other, and in the passion of the moment dared even to execute his own father. Tametomo, of whom we shall hear more later, was exiled to an island in the Pacific Ocean. In the second war the Tairas, as we have said, overcame the Minamotos, and the Minamoto leader, Tametomo's brother, was killed. He left three sons, whom the conquerors were about to put to death, but whom they finally