The Heian Period/Fujiwara Shogunate

 

       The Heian Period, also known as the Fujiwara Shogunate, started in 794 AD after the Fujiwara conquered the Yamato and it lasted until 1185 AD. The Fujiwara Family ruled during the Heian period, they were the Shoguns and they ruled a strong government. There government was based around feudalism, that was a key detail for survivng. Right as the empire was beginning the capital was moved from Nara to Heian, which is modern day Kyoto in Japan. The Imperial Court determined every aspect of of the people’s lives. Like how you had to have proper etiquette  and that if you are part of the court you have to be able to write poetry and paint. The Tale of Genji is a famous story written by a Japanese women of the court, women in the court could write. The Yamato, the people of the Heian period, also loved the arts, they painted and wrote poetry and the Yamato also practiced the Japanese Tea ceremony. The rich lords hired samurais to protect them and wealthy people also started to have their own private armies. Soldiers also rode on horseback and hunted travelers and farmers and pirates hunted people on the seas. The countryside in Japan was dangerous because there were no laws. The samurais, the armies, the soldiers, and pirates are causes of the decline.