Chapter Review: A. Describe the influence of Chinese culture on Heian Japan.
In the Taika and Nara, Japanese peaked in their selective borrowing from Chinese culture. In 646, the Japanese tried to introduce the Taika Reforms, to change the imperial administration to resemble the Chinese(thought it had little effect in Heian Period).Previously, Japanese scholars tried mastering Chinese characters and wrote dynastic histories like those used by emperors in China. In the Heian period, Japanese consciousness grew and Chinese influence was reduced to a minimum.
B. Describe Court Life during the Heian period
Court Life during the Heian period is like the life of elites in America. Social status was most important, love affairs were common, and gossip was abundant. The members of imperial households and leading aristocratic families lived in a complex of palaces and gardens which the Japanese saw as most appealing. There were artificial lakes and fine gardens in every courtiers living quarters. Writing verse and poems were valued art types and were full of Japanese Classics and Chinese allusions.
C. What led to the decline of imperial power within Japan?
While the emperor was goofing off, aristocratic families were trying to run the imperial bureaucracy and create the most influence. One of them, the Fujiwara held quite a bit of influence over the imperial affairs, with many members of their family in the upper administration as well as increased marriage of Fujiwaras into the imperial family. All these aristocratic families whittled down imperial control and replaced it with their control. Buddhist monasteries tried to do rise in power as well, creating secret texts and ceremonies to bring cooperation between them and the court aristocrats.
D. How did the rise of provincial warrior elites change Japanese Institutions?
The rise of provincial warrior elites drastically changed Japanese institutions. As the