Nara and Heian Periods 710-1192

BEGINNING | NARAN LITERATURE | IMPERIAL PALACE | BLENDING RELIGIONS | BUDDHIST SECTS | ZEN BUDDHISM | HEIAN SHRINE | LITERATURE | SHIRABYOSHI | MINAMOTO YORITOMO

After moving the capital of Japan several times, the city of Nara was established as the capital in 710. The city of Nara itself was modeled after Xian, the capital of China during the Tang Dynasty. Much like the city, the Japanese aristocracy copied the Chinese from writing to the Buddhist religion, but the commoners remained Japanese in nature. For the most part, Japan during this time period was highly agricultural and village centered. Most people were devout followers of Shintoism including the worship of kami.

It was the Empress Gemmei that established Nara as the capital city. It was then known as Heijo kyo. It was during the Nara period that some of the first history was recorded. One of the most famous is The Kojiki was edited in 712 AD. Kojiki itself means "Records of Ancient Matters". It was compiled by Oo-no-Yasumaro from the tales of Hieda-no-Arei, an official story teller. The stories chronicles the creation of the world, the birth of the Gods and Goddesses, and the beginning of the Japanese islands and their relationship to the gods. Following The Kojiki was The Nihongi which means"Chronicle of Japan." This piece of literature has 31 volumes and was composed in 720 by Oo- no -Yasumaro and Toneri Shinnou. It follows the succession of emperors and reaffirms the role of emperor as political authority. It begins with the Yamato rulers connection to the gods of Japan and gives Japan its name Nippon. It also recorded the influential contact with both China and Korea. For that reason, it was edited and reissued many times in eh following 150 years. A third piece of literature was compiled by province officials around 713. The Fudoki (Records of Wind and Earth) included history, geography, folklore, and regional products. While all of these works are historical, Japanese poetry, or waka in Japanese, began being composed. The Manyoshu was complied around 759 AD. This collection of poetry, like other pieces of literature during the Nara period, was written in Chinese.

In 795, the capital of Japan was moved from Nara to Kyoto. This was done to quiet the many struggles over the throne during the Nara Period. At the time Kyoto was referred to as Heian-Kyo meaning city of peace. While Japan was not truly unified, it was during this time period the Fujiwara clan came to power. They were able to end the struggles over the throne and retain power for three hundred years lending to the stability that made a cultural advances possible.Upon moving the capital to Kyoto, an imperial palace was built. The original palace burned down and was moved around various sites within the city. The Imperial Family lived in the palace until the capital was moved to modern day Tokyo. Many of its buildings are replicas of the original imperial palace. At the site of the original palace, Nojo Castle was constructed for the Kyoto dwelling of the Tokugawa family.

During the Nara and Heian periods, Buddhism and Shinto religions continued to blend. In the Heian Period, the blending went so far as to recognize Buddha as coming to the Japanese through Shinto gods. The best example of this is the combining of Shinto with Shingon Buddhism, a particular sect of Buddhism. The sect believed that Shinto gods were the manifestation of Buddha. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu was seen as coming through the Great Sun Buddha.

During the Nara and Heian Periods, Buddhism further developed. Different sects of Buddhism were introduced into Japan during this time period. The first during the Nara Period was the Kegon school introduced in 740. Its first Japanese representative was Roben (689-722). One of the most influential people for this school was Emperor Shomu (724-748). He wanted to use the principles of kegon to rule Japan. He is responsible for the building of the Todai-ji (Great Eastern Monastery) in Nara. This monastery houses the largest image of Buddah in Japan. The Ritsu School followed closely behind Kegon in 754. This school developed when it was brought to Japan by the Chinese monk Chien-chen or Gan-jin in Japanese. They follow a literal observance of the Vinaya rules for a Buddhist life. Although one of the first introduced in this period, it did not gather many followers. Emperor Shomu built a monastery for Chien-chen where a monk named Saicho was ordained. Saicho went on to break with this sect and begin a new one called the Tendai sect in 805. A year later, the Shingon sect was introduced by a monk named Kukai. Shingon developed after Kukai studied Mi-tsung or Tantric school of Chinese Buddhism. This group focuses on important rituals which include meditation, artistic representation, and reciting of mantra. From the Tendi sect the Jodo or Pure Land sect was founded by Honen in 1175. Pure Land Sects prescribe to the idea that enlightenment will be achieved much quicker than thought. They believe they are no longer trapped in the cycle of death and rebirth and do not have to worry about the Six States of Existence. They focus their entire energy on attaining Buddhahood. The Pure Land Buddhists can be seen in the cities of Nara and Kamarkura. Click here to see a guide the Buddhist Temples.

In 1191, the Zen sect was introduced to Japan from China. Zen Buddhism was founded by Bodhidharma (at right), who is also known as Daruma. Some doubt whether or not the person actually existed but others have traced his birth to India around 440 AD. Soon afterward, he traveled to China. As legend states, he then meditated for nine years and on one occasion cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep during meditation. This is mimicked in the dolls produced at many temples While alive, he did not have many followers but numerous sightings of him after his death and his empty tomb led to more followers. Zen Buddhism Its complicated theories were popular particularly among the members of the military class. According to Zen teachings, one can achieve self enlightenment through meditation and discipline. At present, Zen seems to enjoy a greater popularity overseas than within Japan.

To commemorate the 1,100 anniversary of the moving of the capital to Kyoto, the Heian Shrine was constructed. The Heian Shrine is a Shinto shrine of peace and tranquility. The two main spiritual deities of the shrine are Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Komei. They were the 50th and 21st emperors respectively. Emperor Kanmu (at left) considered Nara (then called Heijo-kyo) too small to be the nation's capital. On October 22, 794, he officially moved the capital to Kyoto (then called Heian-kyo). During Kanmu's reign, the legal code was reformed, trade with other countries was encouraged, and learning and the arts flourished. Kanmu is enshrined on the temple grounds. Emperor Komei began his rule in 1847 and moved Japan toward modernization. He laid the foundation for the Meiji Restoration through action and then by fathering Emperor Meiji. In 1940, almost 75 years after his death, he was enshrined on the temple grounds as well. The shrine's focused on peace and tranquility can be seen in the replication of Heian style gardens. These gardens are centered around a pond with a Chinese style bridge. Unlike the Zen gardens, these gardens focus on flowering pants like cherry blossoms, lotus flowers, and maple tree blossoms. There are numerous festivals at the shrine including festivals marking the lives of both emperor and The Festival of the Ages in the fall. In the Festival of the Ages, citizens dress in traditional attire and process from the Imperial Gardens to the Heian Shrine. Click here to see a guide to Shinto Shrines.

Known as the "Classical" period in Japanese history, the Nara and Heian periods saw a flowering of the arts. The Heian period is often referred to as the golden age of Japan. In this time period, the written Japanese developed. Japanese two sets of letters Hiragana and katakana are together called Kana. Once the new language was developed, the most famous piece of literature was written; Genji monogatari (Tale of Genji) a 54-chapter novel by Murasaki Shikibu. The novel tells the story of Genji and his life in the court. Another famous piece of literature from the Heian period was The Pillow Book by Lady Sei Shonagon. Written around 1010, The Pillow Book is a journal of her life at court including daily reflections. Sei Shonagon was a lady-in-waiting to Empress Sadako. What makes her book so different is the invention of a new form of writing called zuihitsu. This type of writing is more a collection of observations. In the book, Shonagon expressed her feelings and opinions. It is through her descriptions that the world is able to know so much about court life at this time, but her descriptions are often about things that still happen today.

At the end of the Heian period, a group of professional women entertainers emerged. The Shirabyoshi are considered to be ancestors to the geisha who gained world attention in the early 1700’s. These women learned the Japanese arts including their namesake dance. Many of the women who were Shirabyoshi were from aristocratic families who had a negative change of fortune. They were often highly educated and became an asset due to their poetic and dance skills. Many of these women gave birth to noble children and were supported by the upper class families including the Fujiwara and Taira clans.

Toward the end of the Heian period, many families had large shoen and had standing armies. The government armies were weak and relied heavily on the two most powerful clans, the Taira (Heike) and the Minamoto (Genji). It was, however, the Fujiwara who closely controlled the emperor. In 1155, a small revolution began with the naming of Shirakawa as Emperor. This revolution is referred to as the Hogen Disturbance and was put down by the Taira and Minamoto clans. This showed the emperor had to rely on the power of the private military. What followed was a series of plots that weakened the power of the Taira clan and a break between the clan and the emperor. By 1179, the Emperor Takakura was forced off the throne and a civil war began. This war is referred to as the Genpei War and lasted from 1180-85. At the end of this war, the Minamoto Clan reached a height of influence when Minamoto Yoritomo was named as shogun in 1192. Under his control as shogun, the Kamakura period began with the establishment of government at Kamakura.