Tale Of The Heiji Rebellion Analysis

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The Tale of the Heiji Rebellion or the Night Raid on Sanjo Palace is a handscroll that depicts a battle between Fujiwara Nobuyori and Minamoto Yoshiomo, versus Taira Kiyomori. The scroll was created between January 19, 1160 and February 5, 1160. The medium that was used in the creation of the scroll is ink and color on paper, and it the measurements of the scroll is; sixteen and one-fourth inches, by two-hundred, seventy-five and one-half inches, and reads from right to left, and all the action flows to the left. The scroll is not to be seen all the way unrolled. It is to be seen and read in sections and very closely observed. This work of art is located at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. The scroll has been on display since 1898, and it is a very important and valuable piece of art in the Museum of Fine Arts. The artist that created the scroll is unknown and the person or persons who commissioned the art is also unknown. The scroll is a depiction of the main battle of the Heiji rebellion in 1159. Fujiwara Nobuyori and Minamoto Yoshitomo created a strategic strategy to overthrow the government that was in …show more content…

This is evident because the scroll was not created until one-hundred years after the rebellion occurred. The scroll was illustrated from right to left and is not to be viewed all at once. As the scroll is unraveled from right to left the events that led up to the raid and the burning of the palace are explained. The kidnapping of the current and former emperor is also depicted within the scroll. Furthermore, the scroll describes in great detail about the massive military operation that overthrew the government of Kyoto. The scroll tells the story but as an illustration rather than text. This allowed for an accurate account of the events that transpired and also gave the viewers a bird’s eye view of the horrifying