Taira no Masanori (平正度)

TAIRA no Masanori (year of birth and death unknown) was a busho (Japanese military commander) lived in the mid-Heian period. He was the first son (or the second son) of TAIRA no Korehira, an ancestor of Ise-Heishi (Taira clan). His mother was a daughter of Chosuke lived in Mutsu Province. He was ranked Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade). He held the positions of the Saigu no suke (Assistant Director of the Office of the Grand Priestess in the Ise Jingu Shrine), Shoryo no suke (Assistance Director of the Imperial Mausolea Bureau), Tachihaki no osa (the Chief of the Imperial Gardes), Saemon no jo (third-ranked officer of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards), Hitachi no kuni no suke (Assistant Governor of the Hitachi Province), Dewa no kuni no kami (Governor of the Dewa Province), and Echizen no kuni no kami (Governor of the Echizen Province). He had children including TAIRA no Koremori (Suruga no kami [the governor of Suruga Province]), TAIRA no Sadasue, TAIRA no Sadayoshi, TAIRA no Suehira, TAIRA no Sadahira, TAIRA no Masahira and a daughter who became a wife of FUJIWARA no Nagachika.

Following his father Korehira and older brother TAIRA no Masasuke, he extended his influence in Ise Province and possessed Kotsukuri no sho-manor (Ichishi County, Mie Prefecture). Although his concrete achievements and year of death are unknown, it is said he was dead in 1067 at latest.

By the activities of Korehira and Masanori, Ise-Heishi (the Taira clan) established strong power and Kiyomori appearing in the later generations, the Taira clan developed into one of the most powerful families in the country.

[Original Japanese]