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Classical Cultures

Classical Cultures. Courtiers, Warriors, Peasants. Themes and topics. Multiple, different worlds Imperial and aristocratic families Warrior “protectors” Cultivators Men and women Interdependent as well as conflicting. Heian-kyō (794-1180) "The Capital of Peace and Tranquility". Founder:

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Classical Cultures

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  1. Classical Cultures Courtiers, Warriors, Peasants

  2. Themes and topics • Multiple, different worlds • Imperial and aristocratic families • Warrior “protectors” • Cultivators • Men and women • Interdependent as well as conflicting

  3. Heian-kyō (794-1180)"The Capital of Peace and Tranquility" Founder: Emperor Kammu (r. 781-806) North

  4. Imperial family and aristocracy • Emperor relied on support from ranking nobles to rule • Fujiwara family most important • Women become highest ranking consorts • Male clan heads become “regents” • In 858, first Fujiwara “regent”, to a child emperor • In 887, Fujiwara regent to adult emperor, Uda. [adult regent=kanpaku] • Fujiwara control Heian politics for about 200 years

  5. Marriage politics: Fujiwara Michinaga (966-1028) Go Ichijo Ichijo Go-Suzaku Sanjo Go-Sanjo Go-Reizei Kenshi Shoshi Kishi Ishi Marriage Emperors Michinaga Regents

  6. An era of power for women? • Clan: patrilineal • Family: matrilineal • Independent home and property • Neo-duolocal (or) • Uxorilocal

  7. “Rule of Taste”

  8. Scene from chapter 7 of the Tale of Genji. Genji (bottom) with his companion To no Chujo entertains visiting dignitaries from Korea. This album leaf consists of 54 paired painted/calligraphic scenes and is the oldest complete extant album collection of the Tale of Genji. Dates to 1509. Harvard Arthur M. Sackler Museum collection.

  9. Tale of Genji: Kashiwagi chapter A scene from the tale of Genji. One of the so-called Yamato-e scrolls, a valuable source for viewing the culture of the Heian court. This illustrates a scene from the Kashiwagi chapter of the Tale of Genji. The hero, Kashiwagi, lays ill in the center.

  10. Byōdō-in: Phoenix Hall (1053) Fujiwara Yorimichi

  11. literary arts Female worlds: childbirth

  12. Nara Buddhism ca. 600-800 CE: Traditions from China Kegon 華厳 (Hua-yen), Hossô 法相 (Fa-hsiang) Funded by aristocrats Served official functions Most important: state protection Emperor Shômu and the great Buddha of Tôdaiji. Kôfukuji and Tôdaiji as headquarters of kokubunji system, of state sponsored Buddhism

  13. Religion in the Heian Period: Two founders and new traditions Kūkai: Shingon Buddhism Saichō: Tendai Buddhism

  14. Heian Buddhism: Commonalities What does it do? State protection Family protection Personal benefits Salvation (Pure Land) How did one do it? Supporting the monks Donating copied sutras Sponsoring rituals Reverence for particular Buddha/icon Conflict with "Shintô"? Minimal - equation of Buddhist deities with Shintô kami Shôrin-in Temple, founded in the early 11th c.

  15. World of Warriors: (1) Fighting border warsand rebellious clans (2) Helping aristocrats control their land

  16. Aristocrat-warrior interdependence

  17. Private Estates = Shōen • Fundamental in fabric of pre-1600 Japan (6000 identified) • Had origins in three practices • Imperial grants to officials (“office lands” • Imperial grants to temples, to consorts • Imperial grants to land developers • Key features: Tax free! Permanent • Unlike European manor • Proprietor absent • Creates need for local “steward”

  18. Fujiwara or large temple Noble, shrine or temple Local strongman Shōen The Shōen Pyramid • "Joint stock company" • Each level held shares appropriate to their title • Shares called “shiki” • Hereditary • Could be sold or bought

  19. Fujiwara or large temple Regional noble, temple Local strongman Shōen “Public” Lands and Private Estates (Shōen)

  20. Map of an estate (shōen)

  21. Delivery of estate share (shiki)

  22. World of cultivators • Low life expectancy (ca. 30 yrs) • High birth rates • Disease keeps population in check • Probably smallpox • 8th c. epidemic kills perhaps ¼ of all • Population instability encourages estates • Public system deplete by disease • Estate system draws scarce population

  23. Themes and topics • Multiple, different worlds • Imperial and aristocratic families • Court women and men • Warrior “protectors” • Cultivators • Interdependent as well as conflicting • Evidence in literary sources

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