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NARA AND HEIAN PERIODS 710 - 1185

HISTORY RELIGION POLITICS History Overview Early Japan Kamakura Period Muromachi Period Azuchi-Momoyama Edo Period Meiji Period Militarism, WW2 Post War Shinto Buddhism Samurai Emperor Nara Kyoto

In the year 710, the first permanent Japanese capital was established in Nara in order to favor the new central government. The city was modelled on the Chinese capital. New large Buddhist monastries were built in Nara. Their political influence soon reached such a high degree that, in order to protect the position of the emperor, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784, and finally to Heian (Kyoto) in 794 where it should remain for over one thousand years. One characteristic of the Nara and Heian periods is the trend from almost unlimited Chinese influence to the realization of own Japanese ideas. Even though Chinese influence remained quite strong, many of the adopted ideas and institutions where "Japanized": in the government, for example, several additional governmental offices were established in order to cover the particular Japanese needs. In the arts too, native Japanese movements became increasingly popular. The development of the Kana syllables made the creation of actual Japanese literature possible. Several new Buddhist sects evolved during the Heian period. All of them were imported from China but were also "Japanized". One of the worst failures of the Taiwa reforms was the new land and taxation system: High taxes resulted in the impoverishment of many farmers who then sold their properties and became tenants of larger land owners. Furthermore, many aristocrats and the Buddhist monastries succeeded in achieving tax immunity. As a result, the state income decreased, and over the centuries, the political power steadily shifted from the central government to the large independent land owners. The Fujiwara family controlled the political scene of the Heian period over several centuries through intermarriages with the imperial family and by occupying all the important offices in Kyoto and the important provinces. The power of the clan reached its peak when Fujiwara Michinaga became kampaku (regent) in the year 1016. After Michinaga, however, many unable men assumed important positions and public order could not be maintained. Many land owners hired samurai for the protection of their properties. That's how the military class came to more and more influence, especially in Eastern Japan. The Fujiwara supremacy came to an end in 1068 when the new emperor Go-Sanjo was determined to rule the country by himself, and the Fujiwara failed to control him. In the year 1086 Go-Sanjo abdicated but continued to rule from behind the political stage. This new form of government was called Insei government. Insei emperors exerted political power from 1086 until 1156 when Taira Kiyomori became the leader of Japan. In the 12th century especially two military families with aristocratic backgrounds gained much power: the Minamoto (or Genji) and Taira (or Heike) families. The Taira replaced many Fujiwara nobles in the important offices. The Minamoto, on the other hand, gained military experience when bringing parts of Northern Honshu under Japanese control in the Early Nine Years War (1050 - 1059) and the Later Three Years war (1083 - 1087). After the Heiji Rising (1159) which was a struggle for power between the two families, Taira Kiyomori evolved as the leader of Japan and ruled the country from 1168 until 1178 through the emperor. The major threats with which he was confronted were not only the rivaling Minamoto but also the increasingly militant Buddhist monastries which frequently led wars between each other and disturbed public order. After Kiyomori's death, the Taira and Minamoto clans fought their deciding war for supremacy, the Gempei War which lasted from 1180 to 1185. The Minamoto clan was able to put an end to Taira supremacy, and Minamoto Yoritomo succeded as the leader of Japan. After eliminating all of his potential and accute enemies, including close family members, he was appointed Shogun (highest military officer) and established a new government in his home city Kamakura.

NARA AND HEIAN JAPAN Heros in the Heian Era (Genich Nishio) About some extraordinary people of the Heian period. Heian Art (Web Museum, Paris) Art during the Heian Period. No links yet.

February 5, 1998 In Deutsch

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