The Development of Japanese-Style Culture and Kana Script
In the middle of the Heian period, the abolition of the Japanese missions to Tang China led people to absorb the Tang-style culture that had existed until then, allowing Japan's unique “Japanese-style culture” to flourish. The development of kana script gave rise to literature in which women played an active role.
Basic Knowledge
Japanese-style culture（kokufu bunka）was a uniquely Japanese culture that flourished in the middle of the Heian period（10〜11th centuries）.
Background:
・894: Japanese missions to Tang China abolished on the advice of Sugawara no Michizane - The decline of Tang China and the dangers of the sea route
・Afterward, the inflow of Chinese culture decreased, and Japan continued to absorb it and make it uniquely Japanese
・Development of kana script（hiragana・katakana） → Greater freedom of expression
Major literary works:
・『Kokin Wakashu』（905）: Compiled by Ki no Tsurayuki and others, the first imperially commissioned waka anthology
・『The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter』: Japan's oldest tale, Princess Kaguya
・『The Pillow Book』: Sei Shonagon, an essay collection
・『The Tale of Genji』: Murasaki Shikibu, a full-length novel
・『The Tosa Diary』: Ki no Tsurayuki, a diary written in the persona of a woman
・『The Sarashina Diary』: Sugawara no Takasue's Daughter, a woman's diary
Architecture・art:
・Shinden-zukuri（shinden-zukuri）: An architectural style for aristocratic residences
・Yamato-e: Japanese-style paintings of landscapes・people
・Phoenix Hall of Byodoin: Built by Fujiwara no Yorimichi（1052）, representing the Pure Land
『Kokin Wakashu』(905) Ki no Tsurayuki and others, the first imperially commissioned waka anthology
『The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter』 Japan's oldest tale, the story of Princess Kaguya
『The Pillow Book』 Sei Shonagon, the essay collection “In spring, the dawn”
『The Tale of Genji』 Murasaki Shikibu, the world's oldest full-length novel
『The Tosa Diary』 Ki no Tsurayuki, the first kana diary
Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Fujiwara no Yorimichi, built in 1052
Shinden-zukuri An architectural style for aristocratic residences
In Depth (Background・Influence)
The greatest feature of Japanese-style culture was the development and spread of kana script（hiragana・katakana）. The kanji used until then（man'yogana）took a long time to learn and was used mainly by male aristocrats, but kana script was easier to learn and enabled women in particular to express themselves freely.
・Hiragana: Characters created by writing kanji in cursive form and simplifying them further
・Katakana: Characters created by taking parts of kanji, used by monks when studying Buddhist scriptures
The development of kana script allowed female writers to achieve remarkable success.
Murasaki Shikibu（Murasaki Shikibu）'s 『The Tale of Genji』 is a full-length novel depicting the life and romances of its protagonist, Hikaru Genji, and consists of 54 chapters. It is regarded as one of the greatest works in the history of world literature for its psychological descriptions・descriptions of nature・characterization, and it has been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide.
Sei Shonagon（Sei Shonagon）'s 『The Pillow Book』 is an essay collection describing life at the imperial court・the beauty of the seasons. Its famous opening reads, “In spring, the dawn. The edge of the mountains gradually grows white…”
Both women were ladies-in-waiting（nyobo, female court attendants）serving the consorts of Emperor Ichijo. Murasaki Shikibu served Empress Shoshi（daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga）, while Sei Shonagon served Empress Teishi（daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka）. Amid the Fujiwara clan's struggle for power, the two stood in opposition by serving different consorts.
Phoenix Hall of Byodoin（Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture）is an Amida hall built by Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1052（the year after the first year of the Latter Day of the Law）, recreating the Pure Land in this world. It is also featured on the 10-yen coin and is a National Treasure・World Heritage Site.
Shinden-zukuri was an architectural style for aristocratic residences. The main hall（shinden）stood in the center, with subsidiary buildings（tainoya）on the left and right, creating an open design overlooking a pond and garden. Tatami mats still covered only parts of the floor, and movable curtains（kicho）were used to divide spaces instead of sliding doors（fusuma）.
- Japanese-style culture = A uniquely Japanese culture of the middle Heian period
- Background: Abolition of the Japanese missions to Tang China in 894 → Absorption of Chinese culture
- Development of kana script（hiragana・katakana）
- Achievements of female writers: Murasaki Shikibu・Sei Shonagon
- 『The Tale of Genji』= Murasaki Shikibu, the world's oldest full-length novel
- 『The Pillow Book』= Sei Shonagon, an essay collection
- 『Kokin Wakashu』= 905, Ki no Tsurayuki and others, the first imperially commissioned anthology
- Phoenix Hall of Byodoin = 1052, Fujiwara no Yorimichi, the Pure Land
Points of Caution (Easy to Confuse)
① Never confuse Murasaki Shikibu=『The Tale of Genji』 and Sei Shonagon=『The Pillow Book』. ② Murasaki Shikibu served Empress Shoshi（daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga）, while Sei Shonagon served Empress Teishi（daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka）. They were different consorts. ③ 『Kokin Wakashu』 dates to 905 and was compiled by Ki no Tsurayuki and others. It was the “first imperially commissioned waka anthology.” ④ Do not confuse 『Man'yoshu』（Nara period） with 『Kokin Wakashu』（Heian period）. ⑤ Phoenix Hall of Byodoin was built by Fujiwara no Yorimichi（Michinaga's son）. 1052. ⑥ The abolition of the Japanese missions to Tang China（894）was proposed by Sugawara no Michizane. This became the catalyst for the development of Japanese-style culture.
Practice
- Name the authors of 『The Tale of Genji』 and 『The Pillow Book』.
- State the year when the Japanese missions to Tang China were abolished and the person who proposed their abolition.
- Name the building constructed by Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1052 to represent the Pure Land.