Nara and Heian Periods (jan 1, 710 – jan 1, 1185)
Description:
The Heian period is a critical period of Japanese history. Distinct and sophisticated Japanese cultural forms emerged during this time.
Most of what we know about the Heian era is because of the surviving works of authors such as Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu.
Heian aristocrats operated within a complex social system with 10 rankings. One's social rank determined everything from the permissible size of a gatepost at a private home to the number of folds in a fan one is allowed.
Aristocratic women lived lives largely onfined indoors except for festivals and religious holidays. High-ranking women were important because of marriage politics and could inherit property.
Heian aristocrats considered one's visual appearance and whether it was please to others as a mark of one's sensitivity. Women were expected to pluck their eyebrows and blacked their teeth.
Heian aristocrats mostly pursued pleasurable activities such as unwritten courtship rituals for both sexes and various recreational activities that focused on aesthetic pursuits. Males played a ball game called kemuri. The objective was to keep the ball in the air as long as possible. Judges evaluated one's skill on how graceful the player appeared while playing. They also played musical instruments such as the lute and the zither. Both the sound of the music and appearance of the player were important.
Poetry, letter writing, calligraphy and writing ability would determine an aristocrats reputation. The quality of ones writing was considered to be a mirror to the soul. Letter writing was an art form.
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History of Japan 【日本のれきし】
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