Heian Period

平安時代

• 794-1185

The Heian Period describes the era during which the political power of Japan was concentrated in the scholarly nobility living in the purposefully created capital of Heian-kyo (平安京-now known as Kyoto). Dates vary slightly, but usually start with the founding of Heian-kyo in 794 and continue until the Gempei Wars between 1180 and 1185. The period, which started during the height of Japan's self-imposed sinification, saw dramatic changes sweep through the country, both politically and socially. It saw the rise of the Fujiwara and the Northern Regents, and later the Insei rule by retired emperors. Japan cuts its official ties to China in the late 9th century, and began to focus on internal issues of the court. In the provinces, the rise of the Shoen Estates and local cultivators as centers of power were one of the factors behind the rise of the military elite, which eventually led to military rule in the Kamakura Period. This was also a period of literary accomplishments, including the Tale of Genji, one of the most famous novels to come out of Japan.

History

The history of Japan during the Heian Period is usually divided into three sections. First, the rise of the Fujiwara in the Fujiwara Period, followed by the consolidation of power within the hands of the retired emperors, known as Insei. Finally, the loss of political power by the nobility to the new warrior elite, embodied by the Taira and Minamoto

Founding of Heian-kyo

At the end of the Nara Period, in 784, the court moved from its capital at Nara to a newly built capital in Nagaoka, known as Nagaoka-kyo. The move was prompted by the rise in power of the local Buddhist temples, which are said to have exerted an undue influence on the politics of this era. This capital was only to last for about 10 years until it was abandoned, ostensibly because of a curse by the spirit of a vengeful prince. The court moved again to a new capital, on the same site that would eventually become modern Kyoto. The site was chosen for its auspicious nature according to Chinese geomantic principles, including mountains on three sides, flowing waters, etc. It was laid out in an auspicious grid of 9 main roads running north-south and east-west. The Dairi, or Imperial Residence, was situated in the center of the city to the north. The city proper was surrounded by gated walls which restricted the flow of traffic to and from the city.

Fujiwara Regency

The Japanese government in the Nara Period had been built upon the ideals of the Chinese meritocracy during the Tang dynasty. However, political power soon came to rest in the hands of powerful families and religious institutions, much as it had under the kabane system. These "Gates of Power" (kemmon) controlled promotions in the new system. One of the most powerful families was the Fujiwara, which rose to take on the extra-codal powers of the kampaku and regents (sessho), as more and more emperors were installed at a young age and abdicated early. At the height of their power, other families often lamented their inability to obtain any high-ranking posts in the government without Fujiwara sponsorship. The power of the Fujiwara regents was eventually superceded by the power of the Retired Emperors, whose households formed the core of insei government. Even then, however, the Fujiwara family continued to exert significant influence as they had successfully managed to marry into the imperial line, and would continue to exert influence due to their familial ties for many years to come.

Sugawara Michizane

An important figure of opposition to the rule of the Fujiwara was Sugawara no Michizane. Raised to the position of Udaijin, or Minister of the Right, he was a check put in place by Emperor Uda to the power of of the Fujiwara. He was eventually bested, however, by Minister of the Left, Sadaijin no Fujiwara no Tokihira, which cemented the position of the Fujiwara. After his death in exile at the Dazaifu, tragedy befell the capital and many of his opponents met untimely ends. The tragedies were blamed on Michizane's vengeful spirit, and he was posthumously restored to his position as Udaijin, and then promoted to Upper 1st Rank, Dajodaijin (Prime Minister). Incidentally, this saw the rise of Tokihira's brother, Tadahira, and his branch of the Fujiwara family.

Insei Period

The power of the Fujiwara eventually waned under a new system, controlled by retired emperors, known as the insei (院政). As emperor, they had the power to appoint kampaku, and, when they abdicated, often chose the regent, or sessho, for their successor. Combined with their influence as the parents and grandparents of the new emperor, this formed the basis for a new power behind the throne. Emperor Shirakawa was the first emperor to appropriate such authority for himself, ruling from his mansion, the Shirakawa In (the term also used to refer to Retired Emperor Shirakawa himself). His personal household became a powerful extracodal position for any ambitious courtier, and thus began a new period of political power. It is important to note that the positions of sessho and kampaku were not abolished during this period, but nonetheless held significantly less power. The retired emperors remained pre-eminent until the advent of military rule brought in by the Gempei Wars and the Kamakura Bakufu. Even then, the Retired Emperors continued to exert a powerful influence on the politics of the country.

Beginning of Military Rule

With much of the court turned inwards, the provinces were often neglected during the Heian period. Branches of the Taira and Minamoto families, descended from royal princes who had been disinherited to prevent succession conflicts, moved out into the provinces and, with the help of local military, created a new power base. They were called on to defend the court's interests in military matters, replacing the conscript armies of the ritsuryo administration. Eventually, they were able to use their military power to gain a foothold in the capital. Perhaps the most powerful of these new military elite was Taira Kiyomori, who came to power following the Hogen Disturbance. The power of the Taira (or Heike) was challenged, however, by the Minamoto (or Genji), who had initially been on the losing side of the Hogen Disturbance. The two sides clashed in the Gempei Wars, which is recorded vividly in the Heike Monogatari (Tales of the Heike). At the close of the fighting, in 1185, Minamoto Yoritomo became shogun, a title that did not yet have the connotations that it would have in later generations, and eventually Udaijin. He created an administrative structure in the town of Kamakura, in the Kanto area. This new bakufu, or camp rule, was the start of military rule in Japan and the effective end of the power of the court nobility.

The Shoen Estate System and the Rise of the Bushi

Minamoto and Taira clans

As princes and princesses of the Imperial line grew more numerous, succession disputes would have become extremely complicated without a method of disinheriting offspring. This was commonly done by assigning them to a non-Imperial house, giving them a new surname--usually Minamoto or Taira.

References

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