Taira no Tokiko
Taira no Tokiko was a prominently-placed female figure in late-Heian period. She was the wife of Taira no Kiyomori, mother of Taira no Tokuko, as well as grandmother of Emperor Antoku. Later she took the vows to become a nun, after which she was generally referred to by her Buddhist name as the "Nun of the Second Rank".
After Kiyomori's death in 1181, Tokiko's son, Taira no Munemori became the head of the Heike family. After this, she became the representative pillar of the Heike family. According to the Tale of the Heike, Taira no Tokiko drowned herself during the Battle of Dan-no-ura together with the boy-Emperor Antoku. She also took with her into the sea the Sacred Sword, i.e., one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan.Honours
