Heian period

A period of Japanese history from 794 to 1185, named for the imperial capital at Heian-kyō, now Kyoto. It saw court aristocracy flourish before warrior governments gained power.

Heian court: The imperial household and aristocratic institutions that governed and shaped elite life in Heian Japan. The court's rituals and appointments concentrated political authority in the capital.
Heian-kyō: The capital founded in 794 that became the center of imperial government and court culture. Its founding gave the period its name and organized political life around the capital.
The Tale of Genji: An early eleventh-century Japanese court novel attributed to Murasaki Shikibu. Its detailed portrayal of aristocratic life is a major record of court culture.
Nara period: A period of Japanese history from 710 to 794, when the capital was at Nara. The move from Nara to Heian-kyō began a new era of court politics and culture.
Fujiwara regency: A system of political dominance in which Fujiwara leaders governed as regents for child or adult emperors. Fujiwara regents became the court's most powerful political actors.
Ritsuryō system: A system of government based on legal codes, bureaucratic offices, and land and tax administration. Heian institutions inherited this earlier framework even as its authority weakened.
Murasaki Shikibu: A Japanese writer and court lady, best known as the author of The Tale of Genji. Her writing depicts the elite world that flourished at the Heian court.
Kamakura period: A period of Japanese history beginning in 1185, associated with the Kamakura shogunate and warrior rule. Its military government contrasts with the Heian court's aristocratic center of power.
Shōen: A privately controlled estate in premodern Japan, often exempt from provincial taxes and official administration. Estate growth weakened the state's control over land and revenue.
Japanese imperial family: The hereditary royal house that has occupied Japan's throne across many centuries. Imperial legitimacy remained central even when regents exercised much practical power.

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