Rites and Rule: Kiyomori at Itsukushima and Fukuhara

Historical research challenges the traditional focus on military and political narratives by demonstrating that ritual practices significantly influenced the rise of the Taira family during the Genpei War (1180-1185). Heather Blair's study highlights the central role of ritual regimes, particularly those involving Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Kiyomori, in shaping twelfth-century politics. Through a detailed analysis of Kiyomori's ritual activities at Itsukushima Shinto Shrine and Fukuhara, Blair constructs a new theoretical model that underscores the importance of symbolic and ceremonial practices in court culture, shifting the paradigm away from solely military success.

Blair, H. (2013). Rites and Rule: Kiyomori at Itsukushima and Fukuhara. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 73(1), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.1353/jas.2013.0002