HIST 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Yamato Period, Japanese Literature, Fujiwara No Michinaga
Document Summary
Introduction of buddhism and adaptation of chinese-style bureaucracy: tale of genji. Importance: creation of a classical culture that still lives on today, japanese variant of chinese civilization. Politics: powerful clan groups, emperors performed religious ceremonies, wealthy court families wielded real power, fujiwara clan indirectly ruled japan. Married daughters to heirs to the throne, thus ensuring their continued authority: rise of feudal power: provincial states. Provincial estates: smaller than provinces yet bigger than villages. Landowners acquired large amounts of wealth through tax. Early samurai warriors appeared rise of military families. Culture of the heian period: chinese characters were unsuited for certain japanese sounds, developed two sets of writing based on chinese forms, kana system of writing; Reading chinese characters phonetically to express japanese language: first used by women, chinese script: kanji, women and court culture. Court ladies produced poetry, diaries and fiction.
