Shaping Heian, Japan :: essays research papers

Shaping Heian, JapanTenth-century Japan is characterized by images of elegance, beauty, and sophistication. religious rite and ceremony shape goodly every aspect of life during this term. throughout The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon there atomic number 18 several examples of how everyday lifestyles argon shaped through these mediums. Politics, religion, self-image, and inter individualal relationships played great employments in regulate life in Heian society, and a form of either ritual or ceremony influenced each(prenominal) of these assets. Government and political forces were a very important part of Heian Japan. The government and its actions affected all aspects of life. Under the emperor, the government was shared into two separate entities, whiz religious and one secular. Ones station within the government was tight related to the political determine held. Aristocracy and the civil service were combined so that a person was usually given a rank first, then a satis factory office to fit that rank. This made it nearly impossible for anyone to enter the rank hierarchy by merit, allowing the Japanese to put to work their system diverge in fundamental and damaging ways from the Chinese governmental model. Those who held rank were afforded limited tax breaks, special rights to have certain clothes, or to send their sons to universities (Morris 64-5). It is nevertheless natural to assume that when religion and government are so closely tied that a level of ceremony and ritual would be integrated into political practices. The detail and precision put into deciding rank and arrangement is just one example of how ceremony plays a role in politics during this period. Religion played a very significant role in tenth-century society, especially as it was tied to the political affairs of the country. During the time that Shonagon wrote, the traditional religion was Buddhism. Ritual and ceremonial practices dominated all aspects, from the practices to the wardrobe. For instance, priests kick in their respects to the statue Buddha then, while intoing words of praise, they pour coloured water on the statues head. The Court Nobles also pour water over the statue, make obeisance, and withdraw (Morris 160). Throughout the course of a year, several different ceremonies were held each representing some important face of the Buddhist lifestyle. One ceremony, which took place near the end of the Twelfth Month, was The General Confession. This ceremony was aimed at expunging the sins one had committed during the course of the year with painted screens depicting the Horrors of Hell are set up under the eaves as a reminder of the indispensability for penitence (Morris 165).