Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 5| Heian Period History Part 2 (平安時代 ), Uncategorized

37|Part 2of — 4 Heian Period History 　794-1192　　　(平安時代歴史)

This chapter continues from Chapter 4, Heian Period History. Please read Chapter 4 before proceeding with this section.

0-timeline - size 24 Heian

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

39 Part 2 Shikibu with arrow

5 Heian 3 photoes.jpgPart 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.“

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 5. Heian period history

4 | Heian Period History (平安時代歴史) 794 – 1192

The Heian Period (平安時代) began when Emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇) moved the capital to Heian-Kyo (平安京) in 794, which is now known as Kyoto (京都).

0-timeline - size 24 Heian

                             The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section.

During the Heian period, emperors ruled Japan.  However, early in this era, the Fujiwara family, a wealthy aristocratic family, held actual political power. The Fujiwara family managed to marry their daughters to emperors, thereby gaining power through these marriages. The family was called “Sekkan-ke” (摂関家), meaning the guardian’s family or the emperor’s representative.

In those days, aristocrats led an elegant, refined lifestyle while cultivating a graceful culture.  Many essays and novels were written by female authors during that period.  The most famous one is “Tales of Genji (源氏物語)” written by Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部).    The Imperial Court often held ceremonies followed by elaborate, lavish banquets.  This imperial social life played an important role in advancing aristocrats’ political careers.  Women also actively participated in these ceremonies.   Many high-ranking officials owned several large estates.  Sometimes, their daughters inherited these properties and lived there.

Courtship methods were quite different back then.  To start a romantic relationship, a man would write a poem called “waka” for the lady he was interested in and have his servant deliver it to her, hoping she would write him back with a similar poem.  Once she accepted him, he was allowed to visit her for short periods from a distance.  As their relationship grew deeper, he would visit her more frequently and stay longer.  After they married, and if she was his first legal wife, she would live with him in his house.  If she were not his first legal wife, she would remain in her own home, and he would visit her for a few days or longer.  The wife’s family raised their children.  In those days, and until the next Kamakura period, a woman’s lineage was considered important.  By the middle of the Heian period, emperors regained political power because their mothers were not from the Fujiwara family.

　　   Scenes from the “Tales of Genji”.   Bought in Kyoto.

Origin of Samurai

Although the Heian Imperial court and aristocrats lived with grace and elegance, they lacked the political power to govern the country.  There were numerous thieves, frequent fires, and constant fights everywhere.  Consequently, the Imperial court, aristocrats, and temples began hiring armed guards or security forces to protect themselves and maintain public order.  These hired guards were the origins of bushi (武士) or samurai (侍).  Samurai extended their influence and gained more power by forming groups and suppressing uprisings.  Eventually, two powerful samurai clans emerged: one was the Heishi (平氏), often called the Heike (平家), and the other was the Genji (源氏).  Gradually, they gained power in the Imperial court.   After many power struggles among them, the Heishi started to control the Imperial court by marrying their daughters to the emperors.  In the later Heian period, political power shifted to the Heishi.  They became tyrannical and arrogant.  This behavior created many enemies.  The Genji clan and the Fujiwara family started a war against the Heishi.  The Genji pushed the Heishi to the final battlefield known as Dan-no-ura (壇ノ浦) in 1185 and defeated them.  This battle was the famous Genpei-Gassen (源平合戦).  The fall of the Heishi marked the end of the Heian period.

5-map-dan-no-ura-.jpg

During the Heian period, curved swords appeared for the first time.  Before that, swords had straight blades.  Historical studies of Japanese swords start from this point.  The elegant, refined lifestyle and culture created by the influential Fujiwara family were reflected in the swords’ style.  A group of swordsmiths in the Kyoto area created a distinctive sword style known as Yamashiro-den (den = school).  The shape of their blades exhibits a graceful line.  The most famous sword in the Yamashiro-den is the Mikazuki Munechika, by Sanjo Munechika (三条宗近) below, which is a national treasure today.  The Yamashiro-den style represents the swords of the Heian period.

Sanjo Munechika (三条宗近) from Showa Dai Mei-to Zufu (昭和大名刀図譜)  by NBTHK Owned by the Tokyo National Museum.