Book Twelve Lesson Plan

The Tale of the Heike, Chapter 12 Lesson Plan

Class: The World Of Japan

Unit Title: Book 12

Duration: 6 days

Created by: Joseph Weiss, Kohler Sukachevin, Harlie Curcio, Matthew Meredith

Objectives

The students will…

1. Knowledge - Students will be introduced to aspects of medieval Japan during the Genpei War by reading Book 12 of The Tale of the Heike.
2. Understanding - Students should be able to understand and answer questions about the events in the text. Additionally, students will show their understanding of medieval Japan by choosing one character, location, concept, group, or theme from Book 12 to write about in a paper.
3. Analysis - Students will discuss their opinions on aspects in the text, such as their thoughts on certain characters, during class. Students should also connect their topic to other works of literature/ media or describe the similarities and differences to respective versions of these things in their or other cultures.

Essential Question(s)

1. What are the sides in the conflict?
2. Who are the important figures and what are their relationships with each other?
3. What is the role of monks in Japanese society?
4. How does karma and Buddhism play an influence on the story?
5. Who do you support, if anyone, and why?

Vocabulary

• Heike
• Genji
• Taira
• Minamoto
• Buddha
• The “Name”
• Cloistered Emperor
• Scion
• Hitatare

Characters

• Taira no Rokudai
• Minamoto no Yoritomo
• Minamoto no Yoshitsune
• Mongaku
• Tokitada no Noto
• Tosabo Shoshun
• Tsunefusa
• Hojo Tokimasa
• Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa
• Taira no Munezane

Locations

• Kamakura
• Todaiji
• Kyoto
• Daikakuji
• Shobudani
• Rokuhara

Materials and Resources

• The Tale of the Heike/ printouts of Book 12
• Map of Japan
• Possibly access to computers

Instructional Procedures/Activities:

Instructional Procedures (WHERETO)

W - Ensure that students understand WHERE the unit is headed, and WHY

H – HOOK students in the beginning and HOLD their attention throughout

E – EQUIP students with necessary experiences, tools, knowledge, and know-how to meet goals.

R – Provide students with numerous opportunities to RETHINK big ideas, REFLECT on progress, and revise their work.

E – Build in opportunities for students to EVALUATE progress and self-assess.

T – Be TAILORED to reflect individual talents, interests, styles, and needs.

O – Be ORGANIZED to optimize deep understanding as opposed to superficial coverage.

Summary

You will introduce the students to The Tale of the Heike and give a summary on the events in the first 11 books. Then for the first 5 days they will read one or two episodes from Book 12, and before every episode, explain the people and concepts that have been established in the story so far, answer any questions the students have while reading it, and afterwards open a discussion about their feelings on characters and what happened in the episode. After finishing the book, students while write a paper on an aspect from the book.

Lecture Model

Day 1: Discuss the Tale of the Heike, such as when it took place and when is was written, as well as why it was (appeasing the spirits of those who died). Also describe its overlap of historical and legendary stories, the reason for the war between the Genji and the Heike, who Yoritomo is, and the reason Japan is in the state it is at the start of Book 12, such as describing the defeat of the Heike and the death of Emperor Antoku.

Then give students a copy of The Tale of the Heike or a printout and have them read Episode 1 of Book 12. Afterwards, have a class discussion in which you ask about what the story attributes to the cause of the earthquake, and talk about how the story depicts the effects of karma and if the class can think of any other examples of catastrophic events being seen as a result of human actions. Also inform the class as to what their assessment will be after the completion of Book 12.

Day 2: Begin class by talking about how monks functioned in Japanese society, in contrast to what they might assume, and about who Mongaku is and how he previously gave Yoritomo what he said was the skull of his father, Yoshitomo, in order to urge him towards rebellion against the Heike. Have the students read the second episode and when they are finished, ask their opinion on Mongaku and Yoritomo.

Then in preparation for reading Episode 3, talk about the occurrence of exile in The Tale of the Heike, how the story will take time to develop characters of little consequence to the overall story, and the importance of poetry and how its seen as an admirable trait. Then have the students read Episode 3 and ask them about how they feel about the treatment of the Heike and Tokitada specifically, and whether he deserved his suffering.

Day 3: Start class by telling the students who Yoshtsune is, about his dispute with Kajiwara Kagetoki, and how Yoritomo has lost trust in him. Also talk to them about the importance of oaths in Japanese society and the significance of appearance in battle. Then have them read Episode 5 and discuss what they thought of Yoshitsune and Tosabo. Also ask the students about what they think of monks and what they thought of Yoshitsune asking Tosabo is he wanted to be spared, and Tosabo’s request for execution.

Then have the students read Episode 5. Ask them what they think about Noriyori and whether they feel sorry for Yoshitsune. Have them read the sixth episode and ask them if their opinion of Yoritomo has changed after seeing his treatment of Yoshitsune and his application to become constable over Japan.

Day 4: Tell the students about Koremori and his death, and also what it means to call the Name, then have the students read Episode 7. Ask about their feelings on the Genji after learning about their execution of children believed to be Heike descendants, and discuss how Yoritomo and Yoshitsune were left alive by the Heike, only to grow up and defeat them. Ask them if they think Mongaku has any motivations behind saving Rokudai, and if they think Rokudai will survive.

Day 5: Tell the students to read Episode 8 of The Tale of the Heike. Ask them what they think of Hitachibo’s punishment. Then describe what it means to take the tonsure and become a monk, and why people choose to do it when they fear they will die. Also talk about Rokudai’s father, Koremori, and how he died. Have the students read Episode 9 and bring up the reason The Tale of the Heike was written again. For what characters’ spirits do the students believe the story was written and told to appease? What family did the students see as the “hero's,” if any?

Day 6: Have the students complete and turn in the assessment.

Assessment

Have students pick one aspect of the text to write about, such as a person, concept, or group, and have them describe that thing’s role in the text and compare and contrast it to something similar in a different culture or other work of literature. You may wish to allow them access to the entire text of The Tale of the Heike, and give them some pointers as to where they can find more on their subject (for example if they are writing about Mongaku, you can have them read Book 5 from Episode 7 up to and including Episode 10) or provide them with computer access to investigate a subject, such as an important location.

Grades

Participation: 40%

Assessment: 60%

Grammer: 10%

Understanding of Content: 25%

Focused and Informative Topic Discussion: 25%