Japanese History Digest
The Heian period
The Heian period
The Heian period refers to the approximately 400 years from 794, when Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto), until the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate in 1185. During this era, while inheriting the ritsuryō system of the Nara period, politics centered around the aristocracy, and a uniquely Japanese culture flourished and developed significantly.
The era of Emperor Kanmu
Emperor Kanmu, who succeeded Emperor Kōnin, moved the capital to Nagaoka-kyō in 784 (Enryaku 3). However, following the assassination of Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, the Nagaoka Palace's official envoy, the capital was relocated to Heian-kyō in 794 (Enryaku 13). Heian-kyō was thought to have been chosen for its convenient transportation via Lake Biwa and its proximity to the Nara region, where monks were a major influence.
Emperor Kanmu worked to reestablish the Ritsuryo system. He abolished the military conscription system that had been in place until then and introduced the Kenji system, under which the children of county governors were recruited as soldiers under the provincial governors of each province. This reduced the burden on the people and maintained local peace. He also established the Kan'eyoshi, or "police officers," to ensure strict transitions between provincial governors and supervise local officials. Meanwhile, the Emperor dispatched the Shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to suppress the rebellion of the Emishi people in the Tohoku region, successfully suppressing it.
The Era of Emperors Heizei and Saga
Emperors Heizei and Saga, who succeeded Emperor Kanmu, continued to reestablish the Ritsuryo system. In 809, Emperor Heizei abdicated due to illness in favor of his half-brother Emperor Saga, becoming the Retired Emperor Heizei and moving to Heijo-kyo. However, siblings Fujiwara no Yasuko and Nakanari plotted to restore the Retired Emperor Heizei and move the capital to Heijo-kyo, resulting in the Kusuko Rebellion in 810. This incident prompted the creation of the Ryogekan (extraneous official) Kurodo no Kami (Chief Chamberlain) to handle confidential government affairs, and Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu and Kose Noashi were appointed to these posts. Kebiishi (police officers) were also established to maintain public order in the capital. Furthermore, Emperor Saga had the Kaku and Shiki codes, which compiled the revisions to the Ritsuryo Code, compiled and compiled as the Kōnin Kakushiki.
The Rise of The Fujiwara Northern House (Hokke)
After the fall of the Fujiwara Shiki family in the Yakushi Rebellion, the Northern Fujiwara House rose to power. Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu's son, Yoshifusa, overthrew Tomo Takemine and Tachibana Hayase in the Jowa Incident of 842 and appointed his sister Junshi's son, Prince Michiyasu (later Emperor Montoku), as crown prince. In 866, Tomo Yoshio was overthrown in the Otenmon Incident, and Yoshifusa became the first commoner to become regent. Yoshifusa's adopted son, Mototsune, officially became regent in 888 after the Akō Incident, establishing a system in which the Fujiwara clan could control national politics.
After Mototsune's death, Emperor Uda appointed Sugawara no Michizane as Kurodo no Kami (Chief Chamberlain). However, during the reign of Emperor Daigo, Michizane was demoted to Dazai Gonsotsu by Fujiwara no Tokihira (the Shotai Incident), maintaining the power of the Northern Fujiwara clan. In the Anwa Incident of 969, Fujiwara no Saneyori overthrew Minamoto no Takaakira, completing the Northern Fujiwara clan's expulsion of other clans.
Regency Government (Sekkan Seiji)
After the Anwa Incident, the Northern Fujiwara clan established a system of regent politics. From then on, the Fujiwara clan always held the positions of regent and chancellor, and were at the center of government. The heyday of regent politics was during the reign of Fujiwara no Michinaga and his son, Yorimichi. Michinaga made each of his daughters empresses one after another, wielding immense power as a maternal relative. Yorimichi also held the reign for 50 years, and the Fujiwara clan's power reached its peak.
During this period, the emperor became merely a figurehead, and actual politics were conducted by regents and chancellors. While power struggles within the Fujiwara clan became the main focus of politics, wars such as the Battle of Zenkunen (1051–62) and the Battle of Gosannen (1083–87) broke out in the provinces, gradually weakening the authority of the imperial court. Eventually, Emperor Gosanjo ascended to the throne and ruled directly without a regent or chancellor, which led to the decline of regent politics.
The Growth of Warrior Bands
Aristocratic culture flourished in Heian-kyo, but behind the scenes, the burden on the provinces was heavy. Many kokushi (provincial governors) were merely appointed to central posts, receiving stipends, and local control became a mere formality. In response, local clans formed ties with temples, shrines, and aristocrats, and developed tax-exempt manors to evade taxes. As the foundations of the Ritsuryo system crumbled, clans emerged that strengthened their effective control with military force.
In the eastern provinces, Taira no Masakado rebelled against the provincial government (the Taira no Masakado Rebellion), and in the western provinces, Fujiwara no Sumitomo led pirates in the siege of Dazaifu (the Fujiwara no Sumitomo Rebellion). Both rebellions were suppressed, but the Imperial Court no longer had its own military force and was forced to rely on local samurai forces. A series of local wars followed, including the Taira no Tadatsune Rebellion in 1028, the Zenkunen War in 1051, and the Gosannen War in 1083.
Insei (Cloistered Rule) and the Taira Clan
Fujiwara no Yorimichi's daughter had no sons, so Emperor Gosanjo, who had no maternal relatives, ascended to the throne in 1068. Emperor Gosanjo issued the Enkyu Manor Reorganization Order, established a Record Office for Manors, and promoted the reorganization of manors. He also implemented reforms such as the establishment of the Senjimasu system to standardize weights and measures.
His successor, Emperor Shirakawa, continued this policy and continued political reform with the aim of ruling directly. However, he eventually abdicated and became the retired emperor, supporting Emperor Horikawa and instituting cloistered rule. Under the cloistered rule, the retired emperor directly handled government affairs through in-seisaku (indai decrees) and in-cho (incho) (incho), and many aristocrats donated manors to the retired emperor, thereby increasing his power. Emperor Shirakawa's cloistered rule was passed on to Emperor Toba and then Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
In 1156, the death of Emperor Toba triggered intensifying conflicts within the imperial family and the regent family, resulting in the Hogen Rebellion. Following this, in 1159, conflict between Fujiwara Nobuyori, a close aide to Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and Shinzei Nyudo, a stalwart of Emperor Nijō, escalated into the Heiji Rebellion. Taira no Kiyomori, who emerged victorious in this rebellion, became the first samurai to assume a central position in government, and built the Taira government in cooperation with Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Although the two clans later came into conflict, the Taira clan, as maternal relatives, were deeply involved in imperial court politics and became pioneers of the military government.
Timeline of the Heian period
| 784 AD | The capital is moved to Nagaoka-kyō |
| 794 AD | The capital is moved to Heian-kyō |
| 805 AD | The Tokusei Debate (Sugawara no Michizane vs. Fujiwara no Otsugu) |
| 810 AD | The Kusuko Incident (Retired Emperor Heizei [Shikike Nakanari, Kusuko] vs. Emperor Saga) |
| 842 AD | The Jōwa Incident (Ban no Kiyotsune, Tachibana no Kachiko) → Under Emperor Montoku, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes Grand Minister of State (Daijō Daijin) |
| 866 AD | The Ōtenmon Incident (Ban no Yoshio, expulsion of Ki no Toyooki) |
| 888 AD | The Akō Dispute (Fujiwara no Mototsune becomes Kanpaku, Chief Advisor to the Emperor) |
| 939 AD | The Masakado Rebellion Fujiwara no Sumitomo’s Rebellion |
| 958 AD | The minting of Kangen Taihō (the last of the twelve imperial coins) |
| 969 AD | The Anna Incident: Fujiwara no Saneyori demotes Minamoto no Takaakira. |
| 1028 AD | The Taira no Tadatsune Rebellion (in the Bōsō region) - suppressed by Minamoto no Yorinobu (son of Minamoto no Mitsunaka) |
| 1051 AD | The Former Nine Years’ War (Abe no Yoritoki’s Rebellion) - suppressed by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi (son of Yorinobu) |
| 1069 AD | The Enkyū Decree for the Regulation of Shōen (private estates) |
| 1072 AD | Emperor Shirakawa ascends the throne |
| 1083 AD | The Later Three Years’ War - suppressed by Minamoto no Yoshiie (son of Yoriyoshi); Fujiwara no Kiyohira emerges victorious (founder of the Northern Fujiwara clan in Ōshū) |
| 1086 AD | Emperor Horikawa ascends the throne (beginning of cloistered rule by Retired Emperor Shirakawa, continuing through Emperors Toba and Sutoku) |
| 1107 AD | The Rebellion of Minamoto no Yoshichika - suppressed by Taira no Masamori |
| 1156 AD | The Hōgen Rebellion (Retired Emperor Sutoku vs. Emperor Go-Shirakawa) - marks the start of Go-Shirakawa’s cloistered rule |
| 1159 AD | The Heiji Rebellion (Taira no Kiyomori vs. Minamoto no Yoshitomo) |
| 1167 AD | Taira no Kiyomori becomes Grand Minister of State (Daijō Daijin) |
| 1177 AD | The Shishigatani Incident; 1179: Emperor Go-Shirakawa is placed under house arrest |
| 1180 AD | Emperor Antoku (grandson of Kiyomori) ascends the throne |
Facilities where you can learn about the Heian period
Gangoji Temple(Nara City, Nara Prefecture)
https://gangoji-tera.or.jp/en/
Muro-ji Temple, “Nyonin Koya” (Uda City, Nara Prefecture)
https://www.murouji.or.jp/en/
Byodoin Temple, World Heritage Site (Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture)
https://www.byodoin.or.jp/en/
Official Miyajima Tourism Website (Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)
https://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/
Chuson-ji Temple (Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture)
https://www.chusonji.or.jp/language_en/index.html
