Lesson Plan

This is an example lesson plan for a high school class reading through the Tale of the Heike during a unit on Book 6. This specific lesson plan focuses on Episodes 7-10, with a highlighted focus on the death of Kiyomori. Link to the google document, which is downloadable.

Class: World Cultures - Literature/History

Unit Title: Tale of the Heike - Book 6

Lesson Title: The Death of Kiyomori

Time Allotment: 3 class periods (40-50 minute periods)

Objectives: Students will…

• Identify the characteristics and main ideas of Buddhism as practiced in medieval Japan
• Identify Buddhist ideas regarding death and the proper way to die
• Explore the events surrounding the death of Kiyomori
• Identify the Buddhist themes and implications surrounding the death of Kiyomori and his last dying wish
• Show their understanding on the vocabulary used within the Tales of the Heike by completing a vocab list for the book.

Essential Question/Big Idea:

How do one’s actions in life reflect on their character? How does this apply to Kiyomori's death and his dying wish?

Vocabulary:

General Buddhism

• Buddhism
• Karma
• Amida Buddha
• Lotus Sutra
• Bodhisattva

From The Text

• King Enma
• Muken
• Kyo-no-shima

Materials & Resources:

• Computer/projector
• Powerpoint presentation (teacher can create as they see fit)
• Study guides for the four sections as described below (teacher can create as they see fit)
• Notebook/writing tools
• Computers for student use
• Copy of The Tale of The Heike, Royall Tyler translation
• Photocopies of relevant sections in Book 6 for students to highlight and take notes
• The Tale of the Heike web resource created by the class of Dr. Elizabeth Oyler
• Any additional websites or books that describe Buddhism in Heian Japan (example: https://www.ancient.eu/article/1080/buddhism-in-ancient-japan/)

Instructional Procedures/Activities:

OVERVIEW:

Unit summary: The reading for Book 6 will be split into four sections of Episodes 1-4, 5-6, 7-10, 11-12 with a reading comprehension worksheet being assigned for each section. The lectures for the Unit: Book 6 will focus on these four topics: (a) the role of the eulogistic episodes following the death of the Retired Emperor Takakura; (b) the events surrounding the start of uprisings against the Heike south, west, and east of the capital; (c) the role Buddhism plays in the death of Kiyomori and comparing and contrasting the differences between the eulogistic episodes for Kiyomori and Takakura; and (d) the events of the first few battles between the Heike and Genji that detail the true beginning of the Genpei War and beginning of the end of the Heike.

Lesson summary: The lesson on The Death of Kiyomori will focus on topic (c), with the main focus being episode 7. Discussions for this lesson will include how Kiyomori died from a literal fiery fever, the dreams of his wife, Lady Nii, and his last dying wish. There are several Buddhist implications for all of these, including the idea that Kiyomori’s painful cause of death is due to his poor karma based on his actions during life, Lady Nii’s dreams of seeing a burning carriage coming to pick up Kiyomori to take him to hell, having being summoned by King Enma (the guardian of hell in Japanese mythology), and the hatred within Kiyomori’s heart to have his dying wish be the head of Yoritomo and how this will never allow his soul to rest easy given that he died so angrily. The lesson then includes an overview of Buddhism, the role of karma in life, achieving enlightenment, and how one ought to die according Buddhism, especially the sect practiced in Heian Period Japan. Finally, if time allows, additional discussion will be devoted to the role of the eulogistic chapters following the death of Kiyomori. This includes the story of the building of Sutra Island, also known as kyo-no-shima, where Kiyomori was buried, the rumors that spread that Kiyomori was the reincarnation of Buddhist master Jie and why this was believed, and confusion of the true father of Kiyomori regarding the Gion Consort. These episodes serve to possibly placate his angry spirit by giving claim to rumors that give him religious (Jie) or imperial (Retired Emperor Shirakawa as his real father) legitimacy, as well as some good things about his life like his orchestrating of the building of Sutra Island and his relationship with Kunitsuna (discussed in the Gion Consort episode).

Lesson: The Death of Kiyomori

Lesson One/Day One:

The students will go over any assignments and questions from episodes 1-4 and 5-6 before moving on to episodes 7-10. Students will be given for a study guide for episodes 7-10 to help them along with reading and make sure they will have read the chapters. Students are then asked the following questions as a form of pre-assessment:

• What is Buddhism?
• What are the defining characteristics of Buddhism?
• Who is the main figure of Buddhism?
• How did Buddhism travel from India to China and then to Japan?

The students will be given the remainder of the time to research these concepts and submit responses to the teacher for review. These will be graded for completion. The students are then asked to research and answer these additional questions, which will be given as a homework assignment in addition to the reading:

• What were the main sects of Buddhism practiced during Heian (Classical) and Kamakura (Medieval) Japan?
• Who is the main figure of Pure Land Buddhism?
• For Pure Land Buddhism, what kind of practices ensured reaching enlightenment?
• How does karma play a role in Buddhism?

Lesson Two/Day Two:

There will be a short discussion regarding the homework assignment from the previous lesson. Using student responses, the instructor will guide discussion of Buddhism to reinforce concepts researched the previous day. Students will then be given a few photocopied pages from Book 6, Episode 7 and the instructor will read with students to highlight passages that focus on the death of Kiyomori and his last dying wish. Through discussion, students will determine how the death of Kiyomori conflicts with the ideals of Buddhism. In particular, students will be guided to these conclusions:

• Kiyomori pays for his actions: his death is karmic retribution for his evil deeds in life.
• Lady Nii has an eerie dream which may indicate the fate of Kiyomori after his death. This is a combination of the Japanese mythological hell and the Buddhist idea of the failure to reach enlightenment
• As we will see later in the book but of which there are plenty of examples in other Japanese literature and history, many people practiced Pure Land Buddhism and the way to achieve enlightenment was to worship and pray to Amida Buddha. Simply chanting his name before death could ensure that they are sent to Pure Land and will reach enlightenment from there. We see many warriors chanting the name of Amida before their death, especially if they have not become a monk. However, Kiyomori does no such thing, and in fact rejects all of the religious prayers and rituals done to cure him or to commemorate him after his death. He only wishes for Yoritomo’s head on his grave, i.e. the death of another.
• Such a violent wish communicates that Kiyomori is harboring hatred in his heart until he dies, which is not conducive to reaching enlightenment according to Buddhism.
• The failure of all of the religious rituals done to save him as well as the withdrawal of the heavenly powers indicate that the religious higher power wanted nothing to do with Kiyomori’s soul.

A close reading of Episode 7 is necessary to come to these conclusions. More time may be devoted to this discussion on Day Three. Students will be asked to think about any more conclusions they can come up with as homework and be prepared to share one thing on Day Three. Students will also be asked to prepare questions on ideas they need clarified from the episodes that follow the death of Kiyomori (Episodes 8-10).

Lesson Three/Day Three:

More discussion on the death of Kiyomori from the previous lesson day if necessary. This will include the sharing of student ideas they were asked to think about as homework on Day Two. Students will be guided through the end of the study guide for episodes 7-10 and they will be given photocopied pages of Episodes 8-10 to follow along with discussion. Students will ask their prepared questions on clarification for the eulogistic episodes that follow the death of Kiyomori. The main idea of this discussion is:

• The students should be able to identify and discuss how these episodes serve to characterize Kiyomori as eulogistic episodes following his death. These episodes serve to possibly placate his angry spirit by giving claim to rumors that give him religious (Jie) or imperial (Retired Emperor Shirakawa) legitimacy, as well as some good things about his life like his orchestrating of the building of Sutra Island and his relationship with Kunitsuna.

Some topics to guide discussion and lead students to conclusions include:

• Why Kiyomori was buried at Kyo-no-shima, and why it was named Sutra Island
• The story of Jishinbo Son’e, and how his story led to the rumor that Kiyomori is the reincarnation of Buddhist master Jie
• The story surrounding the rumor that Kiyomori is the son of Retired Emperor Shirakawa, and not Tadamori (it must be noted to the instructor to make sure students do not confuse Retired Emperor Shirakawa with the character Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa), and how the Gion Consort was involved
• Kiyomori’s relationship with Kunitsuna, as well as Kunitsuna’s background

These topics are less important, so more time should be favored to completely cover the Buddhist themes surrounding the death of Kiyomori, even if that means cutting time on the discussion of the episodes following.

Assessment – Formative & Summative:

Informally, instructor will gage student comprehension through response to questions posed throughout lecture. Formal assessment will be conducted with reading quizzes as well as a comprehensive exam.

Closure/Follow-Up/Homework:

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the wealth of information on the web resource published by the class of Dr. Elizabeth Oyler, which offers maps, additional images, research tips, links to other sites, a glossary, episodes summaries, interactive activities, essays, and other pertinent information.