the heian period astri
TRANSCRIPT
THE HEIAN PERIOD
By: Astri
The Beginning and The End
• Kyoto was originally Heian-kyo• Marked the start of the Heian
jidai (Heian period)• 790’s until late 1100’s• End of the Japanese classical
history (as the military class begins)
Fujiwara Clan
• Powerful noble family• Took over the emperor and his court• Did intermarriages with the imperial
family• Hired samurai (making the military
class more significant)• Its authority ended when the new
emperor, Go-Sanjo, stepped in
New Ideas from China
• Chinese writing used for literature• Used to enhance the Japanese
writing system• Chinese influenced Buddhism
broaden• The ideas were made “more
Japanese” to meet Japanese needs
The Spread of Buddhism
• Spread through 2 main schools of Japanese Buddhism:- Tendai: invented in China, based on the Lotus Sutra (Mahayana), founded by Saicho- Shingon: Buddhist thought, founded by Kukai
• Both monks (Saicho & Kukai) wished for support from the aristocrats concerning the religion
• Emperor Kammu was already a follower of Tendai• Kukai successfully made the emperors after
Emperor Kammu awed by Shingon
Court Life and Arts
• Symbolized by grace and beauty• Emperor Kammu and his court had little political power• Used their time to improve the arts and court
ceremonies
• Court officials made poems, stories, and more• The significance of artistic and romantic behaviors• These were created during the Heian period:
- Kimi ga Yo- The Tale of Genji (Murasaki Shikibu)- Iroha (Japanese poem)
War Between Clans
• The new emperor, Go-Sanjo, took over and made the Insei government
• Taira Kiyomori became the new leader• 2 powerful military clans (Minamoto & Taira)
became powerful• The 2 clans fought for dominance after Kiyomori’s
death (the Gempei War)• The Minamoto clan ended the war and gained
victory• Minomoto Yorimoto became the new leader,
became a shogun, and started a new government in Kamakura
Resources:• http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/early-jap
anese-buddhism.html• http://edtech.suhsd.k12.ca.us/inprogress/act/dfick
ett/japan/iaido_samurai.html• http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00327/jtimeline
.html• http://www.tokyo-top-guide.com/Ancient_Japanes
e_Culture.html• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/2594
82/Heian-period#• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2132.html• http://givoogle.com/imagesearch.php
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Arigatou gozaimasu!