Written+Overview

= = = = The Heian Era Art and Architecture

During the Heian era, the powers of the emperors weakened and alliance with China was paused and eventually difused. This resulted in a time when the Japanese could develop their own artistic sense.

"Between A.D. 800 and A.D. 1200 the Japanese aristocracy began to push a new cultural movement known as Heian Culture. The focus of this movement was to find as much beauty as possible. Every aspect of life was modeled around trying to find beauty, including handwriting, dress, appearance, gardens, and homes."(http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0257-heian-era.php) The Heian age is also know as the climax of the Japanese imperial court and renowned for its art. In Japanese, “Heian (平安 [|?] )” means "peace and tranquility." After the Nara period and before the Kamakura period in 1185-1333,the Heian period existed. It was from 794 to1185 AD.

Kara-e, developed in the Nara through Heian perods was practiced during the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries, they used it specifically for official and religious materials. **Literature** **: Women took control over the literature department during the Heian period. They wrote diaries, poems, and stories. Through writing, women were able to express their emotions, nature, romance, and other accurances. Although Chiese remained the official launguage of the Heian imperial court, the use of kana grew. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, is still questioned as the first novel ever written. "Murasaki Shikibu's contemporary and rival Sel Shonagon's  revealing observations and musings as an attendant in the Empress' court were recorded collectively as // The Pillow Book // in the 990s." The Iroha is also a famous work of the Heian era. **
 * Art: **  It was mainly a collection of imaginative landscapes in the archetypal Chinese manner and designs of Chinese legends and tales.
 * Lacquer Work: ** Lacquer ware was made by spraying wet lacquer with metallic powder, usually gold or silver metals, from a tube, sprinkler canister (makizutsu), or hair-tipped paint brush (kebo). It was used to adorn screens, albums, inrō, letter boxes, and ink-slab cases. The oldest conserved piece is from 919.
 * Music:** Ancient court music known as Gagaku, was a pivital trait during the Heian period.

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 * Architecture:** The construction of mansion style buildings was created during the Heian period. This consisted of a "shinden" which is a central or main building which subsidiary structures are connected by corridors. This style developed when court nobility was given rectangular plots of land where they had to build around the imperial closure. Hence, they had to base their design of construction upon the Imperial Palace blue prints. No true shinden buildings survived. " A main house style in Heian period is called the palace style of Fujiwara period. This house style has a building toward south and has a pond in shouth of the building. Buildings in west, east, and north are linked by holeways and those building are located symmetrically as the main house is center. A painter used Chinese art tequnich to draw Japanese sight, which is called Yamatoe, on a folding screen and a papered sliding door, and those were used in the house." There was alot of Chiense influence on the Architectural aspects of the Heian era.


 * -Gardens: ** Ordinary magnificent Japanese gardens rest to the south of japanese abodes. They have a narrow pond flowing into a area where there rests an island. The north pole of the pond has a fake hill which a second route of water pours down its terrain. This is a stereotypical idea of a Heian era garden. Attention to detail and intricate design give onlookers a give away that reproductions like this are from this period of time.

**Swords: Curved swords were first produced in he late tenth century. They were designed to accomodate mounted warfare, and to better cut through Japanese armor. These swords were used as an auxilary weapon for the bow and naginata. The swords were usualy wielded with one hand. The blade itself was rather narrow and relatively fragile. stories of swords cutting through iron helmets are highly exaggerated. It is more likely that these swords were more commonly used to cut off the enemy's head (for claiming rewards later) after he was already dead. **  http://www.ninpo.org/picturearchive/weapons/weapons1.htm



**Clothing:** There was a transition of Chinese brocades to heavy layers of kimono. This ment that smaller, regular, woven designs were in fashion. Colors depended on season, and they were used as inticate detail from the neck wrap to the stiching. The court nobles during the time wore long trailing robes called //sokutai//. With the sleeves big and open, there was an undergarment called the //kosode// which was the beginning of the modern kimono. The noshi was worn by court nobles, and the kariginu. Typical cuts of this cothing was long sleeves drapped to the floor and they were also very open and big. Baggy pants called hakamas were typically worn too. Ladies wore //juni-hitoe// which meant "twelve layers."These would be worn for ceremonial occasions. Harmonizing colors and creating a wearable work of art was a main focus and a typical attribute to look for when wearing one, under that was a normal under garment. Over it was the hita. After this layer come the colorful robes known as the sugimi. Over that was a gown called a uchiginu. Over this was a coat called a uwagi. For the most formal of occations, a very long train called a mo and a jacket might also be added on top of all of this.

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