Heian Period

Heian Period Definition

The Heian period was a significant time in Japan's history. It was a golden age, which is a time when society reached new cultural achievements. Japan's aristocrats were the primary leaders of the Heian period.

Fig. 1: Part of an Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of Genji

Heian Period Timeline

The Heian period ran from approximately 794 to 1185.

Construction on Heian-Kyo began in 794. It was the second site selected for Japan's new capital. It was modeled after Chang'an, a Chinese city. The development of the city signals the beginning of the Heian period.

Heian-Kyo was purposely designed to be beautiful and impressive. It was along the Yodo River, nestled in tree-covered foothills. The streets were large and wide, lined by temples and shrines. Government offices were in the center of the city. Palaces were nearby. Aristocrats of the Heian Period favored beauty over everything, which was reflected in their homes. Aristocrats lived in huge homes with manicured gardens surrounded by stone walls. Peasants lived outside the city in rural areas, where they cultivated crops and farmed the land to support the aristocrats inside of the city.

Heian Period Map

Below is a map of Japan during the Heian period.

Fig. 2: Fujiwara no Michiyori

The Fujiwara Family

Aristocrats were leaders in Heian Japan. Over time, the power the emperor held over the imperial court diminished. Aristocrats willingly absorbed the power.

Fig. 3: Tale of Genji

Heian Period Literature

Japan's aristocrats were a significant force behind the cultural growth of the Heian period. They appreciated beauty, grace, elegance, etiquette, and the finer things in life.

Because of this, Japanese culture blossomed. Literature and art became more popular. Writing had high value in Heian Japan. Writing was a part of everyday life, including poetry! People were expected to create poetry on the fly out in public, and writing poetry was part of courting the man or woman you were interested in. Etiquette dictated that if you received a poem, you had to craft one in return.

Written language changed during the Heian period. Japanese writers initially used Kana, an early form of writing based on Chinese characters. Kana evolved, and writers in the Heian period used two types of writing. Katakana was a highly formal type of writing typically used by men when completing anything essential or official. Hiragana was a simple form of penmanship created from basic pen strokes. It was typically viewed as the penmanship style for women.

Fig. 4: Calligraphy

Calligraphy was also an essential part of this. Writers during the Heian period put great effort into their penmanship, and the presentation of their written words was of the highest importance. Society believed that one could demonstrate their character through their writing better than in real-life interactions.

The explosion of the popularity of writing poetry and penmanship led to the increased popularity of writing. This was led mainly by women, as the female companions to the members of the imperial court were chosen for their intelligence. These women were the force behind the growth of literature in Heian Japan.

The Fujiwara family had a hand in this as well. Murasaki Shikibu, a member of the Fujiwara family, was the most popular Heian writer. Also known as Lady Murasaki, she is responsible for writing the Tale of Genji, which is known for being one of the earliest novels.

Lady Murasaki is not the only notable writer from the Heian Period. A woman named Sei Shonagon wrote the Pillow Book, which is a collection if short stories that capture daily life in Heian-Kyo. An unknown noblewoman wrote The Gossamer Years, in which the woman describes her life and unhappiness with being married to a Fujiwara leader.

The End of the Heian Period

The Heian Period was an excellent time for aristocrats, but ordinary people suffered. Outside of the city, peasants worked to farm and support the aristocrats. They had their share of struggles but were not supported by the wealthier aristocrats.

At the same time, large parcels of land were being granted to the nobility under the Japanese government. This led to the emperor losing power and profits from formerly taxable land. This led to the government spiraling out of control. An increase in criminal activity led to a decrease in safety. People joined in fighting against people with other religious beliefs. Since the government wasn't collecting taxes, they could not financially support any law enforcement.

The nobles who controlled the large areas of land needed support to make life safer. They began to raise their armies of samurai warriors. They began to divert their money from financially supporting the emperor to supporting the men who made up their armies.

Heian Period Samurai

The early Samurais were originally provincial warriors who supported the noble landowners. Later, after Minamoto Yoritomo gained power, they obtained power under the feudal military dictatorship that controlled Japan. This dictatorship is called the shogunate.

Fig. 5 - Japanese Samurai in traditional armor.

Heian Period Summary

The Heian period (794-1185) was a cultural golden age, as demonstrated by the changes to art, drama, and literature. The Heian society's aristocrats led it.

Japanese literature is one of the best examples of the golden age. Notable female writers wrote novels like The Tale of Genji and the Pillow Book.

The Heian period began in 794 and ended in 1185. The start of the Heian period is signaled by Emperor Kamu moving the capital to Heian-Kyo. The Fujiwara family were significant leaders in Heian society.

During this time, there were significant changes to art, literature, poetry, and penmanship.

In 1185, Minamoto Yoritomo took control, and Japan began transitioning to feudalism. Samurai began to support the shogunate.