This chapter continues from Chapter 4, Heian Period History. Please read Chapter 4 before proceeding with this section.
The circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section
Around the middle of the Heian period, a novel, “Genji Monogatari” (The Tales of Genji,源氏物語), was written by a female author, Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部). She was a high-ranking court lady. Her father, Fujiwara Tametoki (藤原為時), was a scholar. While several novels and essays were written by female authors around that time, “The Tales of Genji” is a world-renowned literary masterpiece, considered the greatest Japanese literary work. “The Tales of Genji“ is a treasure for the Japanese. We love this novel so much that the Japan Mint issued a 2000-yen bill*ᴵ. See the photo below. The author herself is shown in the lower right corner on the back of the bill. The bill is so beautiful that people just keep it instead of using it. Therefore, it does not circulate much. I have four of these bills, and I cannot bring myself to use them. It is too nice to use.
The novel is about Hikaru Genji’s (the hero, 光源氏) love history (yes, history) from when he was around 16 years old until his death. Ten chapters after his death are titled “Uji Jyu-jyo.” This section tells the story of his son and grandson. The chapter in which the hero Hikaru Genji dies is titled “Vanishes into the Cloud (雲隠れ),” a very poetic title. The Tales of Genji depict the daily life, customs, lifestyle, and thoughts of the people in the aristocratic society of that time. Surprisingly, although they did not have the technology we have today, their way of thinking was not significantly different from ours. The description of the courting process is in Chapter 4, Heian Period History.
The author created Hikaru Genji (光源氏), the main character, as a high-ranking aristocrat and the illegitimate son of an emperor. He is portrayed as a charming, handsome, intelligent, and sophisticated aristocrat, and all the women fall for him. He would go around with various women, one after another: a beautiful woman, a not-so-attractive but brilliant woman, a young woman, an older woman, even his stepmother, a wealthy or not-so-wealthy woman, and more. It sounds like a story from a tabloid magazine. Still, Murasaki Shikibu depicted the heroes’ and heroines’ thoughts, emotions, and daily lives, as well as how the men thought about the women and vice versa, with her excellent writing skills. The author, Murasaki Shikibu, wrote this novel to entertain the female audience at the court where she resided. It became so popular that even the emperor asked her how the next story would develop. “Genji Monogatari” has been translated into English. You can purchase the translated book on Amazon or go to YouTube and search for “Genji Monogatari” or “The Tales of Genji.” You will find many “Genji Monogatari” in anime, old TV programs, and classic movies, available in whole or as short clips.
Another female author, Sei Sho-nagon (清少納言), wrote an essay titled “Makura no Soshi “(枕草子) around the same time. In it, she described the daily lives of court ladies. In one chapter, she mentioned kakigori (shaved ice: かき氷). High-status people then must have had the chance to enjoy shaved ice, even though the ice was not easy to come by during the summer in the middle of the Heian period.
Once you understand the life of a Heian aristocrat, you will see why the Heian sword is shaped the way it is. It becomes easier to distinguish a Heian sword from other swords made in different periods and regions. All sword styles reflect the society in which the swordsmiths lived. During the Heian period, the Yamashiro-den style represented the sword style. In the next chapter, the focus will be on the Yamashiro-den, even though other sword groups existed in different regions.
*1 The back of 2000 yen bill
Part of the Burke Album, a property of Mary Griggs Burke (Public Domain). Paintings by Mitsukuni (土佐光国), 17th century. The scenes are based on “The Tales of Genji.“
Study of Japanese Sword 