{"id":12780,"date":"2019-08-11T14:32:41","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T14:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carolidilli.tattoo\/?p=12780"},"modified":"2024-08-10T19:21:14","modified_gmt":"2024-08-10T19:21:14","slug":"heikegani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carolidilli.tattoo\/en\/heikegani\/","title":{"rendered":"Heikegani Crab"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is a Heikegani crab?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The story of the Heike clan of the 12th century is recreated to this day as they were annihilated in a naval battle. One of the legends states that the spirit of the drowned people subsists in a local species of crab, the Heike. Heikegani<\/a>. These crabs have curious shapes on their shells, resembling a human face with a hard gesture, reminiscent of those ancient warriors lying in the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The tragic end of the Heike family<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Yoshitsune
Yoshitsune and Benkei defending themselves on their ship during a storm created by the ghosts of the defeated Taira warriors. From Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1853.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It took place on April 25, 1185. The naval battle of Dan no Ura marked the end of the Heike. This sad story is re-enacted to this day in legends and depictions of the Kabuki<\/a> and gives rise to the myth of the Heikegani<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 12th century, after decades of conflict over imperial power in Japan, the tragic final meeting of the Minamoto clan (Genji) and the Taira clan (Heike) took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This moment marks the end of the classical period and the beginning of the feudal period in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this naval battle, the Genji clan, led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, crushed the Heike. Sensing the end, the emperor's grandmother Antoku, then seven years old, took him in her arms and threw herself into the sea. The same fate befell other Taira warriors, including their leader Tomomori. All drowned for throwing themselves into the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This final confrontation was the culmination of the Genpei wars, which lasted for five long years between the two clans. With the death of Emperor Antoku and the defeat of the Taira clan, a series of atrocities followed. All surviving Heike were hunted down and killed. Minamoto Yoritomo, older half-brother of Minamoto Yoshitsune became the first shogun of Kamakura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yoshitsune and Benkei defending themselves on their boat during a storm created by the ghosts of the defeated Taira warriors. From Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1853.Yoshitsune and Benkei defending themselves on their ship during a storm created by the ghosts of the defeated Taira warriors. From Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1853.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Heikegani legend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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According to the Heike monogatari (Heike's song), the spirits of warriors who drowned in an unfortunate naval battle still linger in the depths of the sea of Japan. This 13th century epic poem is a classic of Japanese literature and the source of many legends and characters.
One of these tales states that the Taira spectres were reincarnated in a local species of crab from the coast of Dan no Ura, precisely called de Heikegani<\/a> (Heikeopsis Japonica).
These crabs have curious shell shapes, very similar to a human face gesturing in the manner of a stoic Japanese warrior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment of the transformation of the Heike into crabs and other stories related to this episode are portrayed in many illustrations, such as the engravings of the great Kuniyoshi, which you can see in this article. Hundreds of years later, these illustrations continue to serve as inspiration for tattoos and drawings all over the world.
heikegani<\/a> - The ghost of Taira Tomomori and the anchor that went down with him, and. heikegani<\/a> with the faces of fallen soldiers. By Utagawa Kuniyoshi, (1798-1861)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"heikegani
The ghost of Taira Tomomori, the anchor that went down with him, and heikegani<\/a> with the faces of fallen soldiers. By Utagawa Kuniyoshi, (1798-1861)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Heikegani and Hoichi from the eye of Kobayashi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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