Heian period facts for kids

History of Japan

Paleolithic 35000–10000 BCE Jōmon period 10000–300 BCE Yayoi period 300 BCE–250 CE Kofun period 250–538 Asuka period 538–710 Nara period 710–794 Heian period 794–1185 Kamakura period 1185–1333 Kemmu restoration 1333–1336 Muromachi period 1333–1573 Nanboku-chō period 1336–1392 Sengoku period Azuchi-Momoyama period 1568–1603 Nanban trade Edo period 1603–1868 Late Tokugawa shogunate Meiji period 1868–1912 Meiji Restoration Taishō period 1912–1926 Japan in WWI Shōwa period 1926–1989 Japanese expansionism Occupied Japan Post-Occupation Japan Heisei period 1989-present

The Heian period (平安時代, Heian jidai) is a time in the Japanese history from 794 to 1185. This grouping of years is named after city of Heian-kyō, which is the early name of present day Kyoto.

History

The Heian period began in 794 when the capital of Japan was moved to Heian-kyō. It lasted until 1185, which is the beginning of the Kamakura period.

In this period Kyoto was the center of Japanese culture. It was also in this period that the first known novel was published. The author was a woman. Poetry was very popular in Heian-kyo at the time.

Timeline

• 794: Emperor Kammu moves the capital to Heian-kyō.
• 804: Saichō (also known as Dengyo Daishi) establishes the Tendai Buddhist sect in Japan.
• 806: Kūkai (also known as Kōbō-Daishi) establishes the Shingon Bhuddist sect in Japan

• 858: Reign of Emperor Seiwa begins; the power of the Fujiwara clan expands
• 895: Sugawara Michizane persuades Emperor Uda to suspend Imperial embassies to China.

• 1053: Byōdō-in temple near Kyōto is completed
• 1087: Emperor Shirakawa abdicates and becomes a Buddhist monk, the beginning of the Insei system of Imperial government

• 1185: Death of Emperor Antoku; Taira clan is defeated in the Gempei War

Gallery

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  Model of ancient Kyoto with Imperial Palace

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  South wing of the Phoenix Hall in the Byodo-In temple in Uji

Related pages

• List of Japanese eras

• Metropolitan Museum of Art, Heian Period (794–1185)
• British Museum, Heian period (AD 794-1185)
• Japan-guide.com, Nara and Heian Periods (710-1185)

Images for kids

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  Miniature model of Heian-kyō, the capital during the Heian period

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  Byōdō-in ("Phoenix Hall"), built in the 11th century (Uji, Kyoto)

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  Section of a handscroll depicting a scene from the "Bamboo River" chapter of the Tale of Genji, circa 1130

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  Drawing of Fujiwara no Michinaga, by Kikuchi Yōsai

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  Illustrated section of the Lotus Sutra, from the Heike Nōkyō collection of texts, 1167

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  "Genpei Kassen-zu Byo-bu" / Akama Shrine Collection

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  Danjō-garan on Mount Kōya, a sacred center of Shingon Buddhism

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  Painting of the bodhisattva Fugen Enmei (Samantabhadra). Ink on silk, 12th century

See also

In Spanish: Período Heian para niños