🎎History of Japan Unit 2 – Nara and Heian Periods (710–1185)

Key Events and Timeline

• Nara period (710-784) capital moved to Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara) in 710
• Taihō Code enacted in 701 centralized government, established Chinese-style penal and administrative codes
• Emperor Shōmu (r. 724-749) commissioned construction of Tōdai-ji temple and Daibutsu (Great Buddha) statue in 743
• Heian period (794-1185) capital moved to Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto) in 794
• Fujiwara clan gained political power through marriages to imperial family, dominated court politics until 11th century
• Rise of the samurai class began in the 10th century as wealthy landowners hired private warriors for protection
• Genpei War (1180-1185) between Taira and Minamoto clans led to establishment of Kamakura shogunate in 1192

Political Structure and Governance

• Ritsuryō system adopted from China divided people into ranks based on birth and merit, established central bureaucracy
• Emperor held highest political authority but often relied on powerful court families (Fujiwara) to govern
• Provincial governors (kokushi) appointed by central government to oversee local administration
  • Managed tax collection, maintained public order, supervised agriculture and land distribution
• Shōen (private estates) emerged in 8th century as tax-exempt landholdings granted to aristocrats, temples, and shrines
  • Weakened central government's control over land and tax revenue
• Insei (cloistered rule) system developed in 11th century allowed retired emperors to continue wielding power behind the scenes

Cultural Developments

• Chinese influences on language, writing, architecture, and government were significant during Nara period
• Kana syllabaries (hiragana and katakana) developed in 9th century allowed for writing of native Japanese words
• Heian court culture emphasized refinement, elegance, and aesthetic sensitivity (miyabi)
  • Aristocrats valued poetry, calligraphy, music, and visual arts as marks of cultivation
• Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (c. 1000) considered world's first novel, depicted life and romances of Heian court
• Emakimono (picture scrolls) combined text and illustrations to tell stories, often of historical or religious themes
• Gagaku (court music) and bugaku (court dance) performed at imperial court, influenced by Chinese and Korean styles

Religious Influences

• Buddhism introduced to Japan in 6th century, gained widespread acceptance during Nara period
  • Six schools of Buddhism (Nanto Rokushū) flourished, each with distinct doctrines and practices
• Shintō, Japan's indigenous religion, coexisted with Buddhism and often blended together (shinbutsu-shūgō)
• Tendai and Shingon schools of Buddhism founded in early 9th century, emphasized esoteric practices and mystical teachings
• Pure Land Buddhism gained popularity in 10th century, focused on devotion to Amida Buddha and rebirth in Western Paradise
• Buddhist temples and monasteries became major landholders and political powers, often competing with aristocratic families
• Shintō shrines and rituals remained important for imperial court and agricultural communities

Art and Literature

• Waka poetry flourished during Heian period, collected in imperial anthologies like Kokinshū (c. 905)
  • Tanka (31-syllable poem) became dominant poetic form, expressing emotions and observations of nature
• Monogatari (prose fiction) emerged in 10th century, often focused on lives and loves of aristocrats (Tale of Genji)
• Nikki (diaries) and zuihitsu (essays) written by court women provide valuable insights into Heian society and culture
• E-maki (picture scrolls) combined text and illustrations to tell stories, often of historical or religious themes
• Buddhist art and architecture reached new heights with construction of grand temples and statues (Tōdai-ji, Byōdō-in)
  • Jōchō (d. 1057) and other sculptors created realistic, expressive Buddhist statues using joined-wood technique

Social Hierarchy and Daily Life

• Ritsuryō system divided society into ranked classes based on birth and occupation (nobles, peasants, artisans, merchants)
• Aristocratic families (kuge) dominated top ranks of government and society, led refined lives centered around imperial court
  • Women of noble birth could hold important positions and influence politics through marriage alliances
• Peasants made up vast majority of population, engaged in agriculture and paid taxes to support ruling class
  • Rural villages organized around rice cultivation, with communal irrigation and planting/harvesting
• Artisans and merchants occupied low social status but played essential roles in economy and material culture
  • Guilds and associations formed to regulate quality and prices of goods, train apprentices
• Samurai class emerged in 10th-11th centuries as private warriors serving aristocratic families, gained political and economic power

Economic Systems and Trade

• Rice agriculture formed basis of economy, with land distributed to farmers in exchange for taxes and labor
  • Improved irrigation techniques and new strains of rice increased yields during Nara and Heian periods
• Coins and other forms of currency used for commercial transactions, but barter also common in rural areas
• Shōen system allowed aristocrats and religious institutions to accumulate tax-free landholdings, weakening central government
• Guilds and markets developed in cities to facilitate trade in goods like silk, paper, ceramics, and lacquerware
  • Heian-kyō (Kyoto) became major center of commerce and industry, with specialized districts for different crafts
• Maritime trade with China and Korea brought new technologies, luxury goods, and cultural influences to Japan
  • Missions to Tang China (kentōshi) sent to acquire knowledge and artifacts, ended in 894

Legacy and Historical Significance

• Nara and Heian periods laid foundations for Japanese culture, art, literature, and politics for centuries to come
  • Chinese influences were adapted and transformed into distinctively Japanese forms
• Buddhism became integral part of Japanese religious landscape, coexisting with native Shintō beliefs
  • Powerful temples and monasteries emerged as major economic and political forces
• Fujiwara clan's dominance of court politics set precedent for rule by non-imperial families (shogunates)
• Rise of the samurai class during late Heian period led to establishment of Japan's first military government (Kamakura shogunate)
• Cultural achievements of Heian period (poetry, prose, art) set high standards of refinement and aesthetic sensitivity
  • Works like Tale of Genji and Pillow Book celebrated as masterpieces of world literature
• Political instability and warfare of late Heian period ushered in era of samurai rule and feudalism that would last until 19th century