Heian Japan

1
Heian Japan

• 794-1185

2
Period of Imperial Assertion

• Emperor Kanmu Asserts imperial power
• Kept Buddhism outside the capital
• Established new agencies
• Appointed inspectors
• Eliminated conscript army
• Emperors function as titular head
• Symbol of legitimacy
• Object of veneration (divine descent)

3
The Fujiwara

• Inlaw clan
• Yoshifusa takes title of regent (sessho regent
  for a minor)
• Kanpaku regent for an adult emperor
• Emperors political waned, sacerdotal role grew
• Fujiwara power linked to wealth

4
The Estates (Shoen)

• Private landholdings outside government control
• Exemptions to equal field system
• Land held by imperial family and aristocrats
• Land granted to temples and shrines
• Newly developed fields
• Tendency for all land to become hereditary
• Shiki Rights

5
Hierarchy of Tenures(from bottom to top)

• Cultivators (shomin) at the bottom
• Resident managers (ryoshu)
• Influential families (shoke) or estate officials
  (shokan)
• Central proprietors (ryoke)
• Patrons (honke) at the top

6
Government and Administration

• Two systems private and public
• Public
• Governors of public land become tax farmers
• Public offices gradually became hereditary
• Private (Shoen)
• Mandokoro (administrative council)

7
The Warriors

• 792 conscript army abolished
• Military monopolized by rural elite
• Branches of Imperial Family Cut off
• Minamoto (Genji)
• Taira (Heike)
• Wars provide opportunities for building strength
  and alliances
• Fujiwara power challenged

8
Rule by Retired Emperors

• Go-Sanjo ascends the throne
• Displaces Fujiwara regents
• Shirakawa ascends the throne in 1072 abdicates
  in 1086
• Exercises great power as retired emperor (in)
  until his death
• In resembled Fujiwara regents
• Built vast network of estates
• Retired emperor system ended in 1156
• Return of the Fujiwara

9
Heian Buddhism Tendai

• Saicho
• Established temple on Mt. Hiei
• Traveled to China
• Studied Tiantai (Tendai)
• Grounded on the Lotus Sutra
• Universal possibility of enlightenment
• Strict monastic regimen
• Rivalries lead to appearance of temple militias
  (evil monks, or aksuso)

10
Esoteric Buddhism Shingon

• Kukai (Kobo Daishi)
• Established monastary on Mt. Koya
• Traveled to China
• Studied Zhenyen (true word, shingon)
• Esoteric Buddhism
• Worship of Dainichi (cosmic Buddha)
• Hierarchy of spiritual life
• Duality single truth manifest under two aspects

11
Pietism

• Only faith in Amida Buddha could provide
  salvation in mappo age
• Chanting the nenbutsu
• Ryonin, Tendai monk, placed emphasis on the
  nenbutsu
• Honen established Pure Land Buddhism

12
Literature

• Chinese-style poetry and prose
• Vernacular
• Waka (poems) in the Kokinshu
• Literary diaries
• Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon
• Tales of Ise
• Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu
• Mono-no-aware
• Chinese characters simplified to create Japanese
  syllabary (kana)

13
Life of the Heian Aristocracy

• Elite court culture disdained the provinces and
  commoners
• Less interest in contact with China, but valued
  foreign imports
• Focus on Leisure time
• Sensitivity to beauty and subtle refinement
• Clothing
• Makeup
• Music
• Love affairs