In the subsequent medieval period themes and concerns central to the newly ascendant warrior class took expression in such works as the Heike monogatari [tale of the Heike], an epic account of the struggle between two great clans that ended the Heian period. Much medieval poetry and prose is colored by Buddhist thought. Tale of the Heike is just that, the story of transience and of pitiful fate, as well as a record of honor, deceit, bravery, and cowardliness. It is a story of human frailty, and the vicissitudes of Fortune, who bestows her gifts now on the Taira, and then on the Minamoto. The sense of mono no aware pervades the narrative and along with the exploits of warriors, there are poignant recitations of touching poetry, and frequent "drenching of sleeves" with crying.
The fate of the Heike (Taira) deserves a lot of tears. Having risen under the skillful leadership of Kiyomori after the Hogen and Heiji disturbances, the Taira succeeded in reducing their arch-rivals, the Genji (Minamoto) to political impotence. The clan enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, and its chieftain became the most powerful man in Japan. The Heian nobles vied for favors, the imperial family bestowed rank after rank on Kiyomori and his relatives. This prosperity, however, did not last long. After two decades, the Taira had become embroidered in court politics, and have become refined in the arts of poetry to such degree, that they started to neglect their warrior roots.
If there was one particular flaw, it was their propensity to spare the lives of their enemies. One such person, whose live they did not take when they should have, was Yoritomo, the son of the rebellious Yoshitomo of the Genji, who had sided with ex-Emperor Sutoku during the Heiji disturbance, and who lost to Kiyomori.
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