Taira no Tadanori

Who was Taira no Tadanori?

Taira no Tadanori was the brother of clan head Taira no Kiyomori, and one of his generals in the Genpei War against the Minamoto.

Tadanori also took part in the Battle of Fujigawa, and in fighting Minamoto no Yoshinaka. He was killed in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani. Tadanori had a son named Taira no Tadayuki.

Tadanori is featured as the titular character in a Noh play by Zeami; in the play, his spirit returns to the mortal world to plead for recognition for having authored a well-known poem. According to the Heike Monogatari, a poem was found in his quiver after his death. The poem reads: "Were I, still traveling as night falls, to make a sheltering tree my inn, then would my host tonight be the blossoms themselves?" In reference to this, Zeami designates a cherry tree as Tadanori's grave marker, and makes it the site of his play.