The Heian Period

Question 1

What was the new capital during the Heian period?

Answer 1

Heian-kyo (or Kyoto). It was in a better location for communications and supplies.

Question 2

Emperor Kammu created what position for military commanders?

Answer 2

Shogun. He was drawn from the samurai ranks.

Question 3

Which clan was still in power at court up until the later stages of this period?

Answer 3

The Fujiwara clan

Question 4

Why did the emperor begin to lose his power? (2 things)

Answer 4

1. The government was becoming more decentralised. They allowed power and wealth to flow into the provinces.
2. The government lacked their own military.

Question 5

To whom did the power start to flow?

Answer 5

To the lords who had power over the shoen. They grew wealthy because they didn’t have to pay tax but collected it from the peasants who worked their land.

Question 6

Besides increased wealth, what made the shoen lords powerful? (2 things)

Answer 6

1. They had their own armies with samurai who were lead by generals, called shoguns.
2. The emperor would use these armies for support (which gave power to the shoguns). It had no military of its own and paid local warrior leaders to do the fighting for them.

Question 7

What were some political features of the Haian period? (5 things)

Answer 7

1. Special advisors and ministers were doing the day-to-day running of the country, instead of the emperor.
2. The shoen system meant that the power of the government became decentralised.
3. The power of the Fujiwara clan decreased due to internal rivalries and succession disputes.
4. Official relations with China ended.
5. The Minomoto and Taira clans grew in power.

Question 8

What were some economical features of the Haian period? (2 things)

Answer 8

1. Shift in power from emperor to military leaders paved the way for feudalism.
2. The shoen system led to a growth in the warrior class.

Question 9

What were some cultural/social features of the Haian period? (3 things)

Answer 9

1. Art, literature, and architecture flourished into distinctively Japanese style.
2. Buddhism and Shinto intertwined.
3. A deepening Buddhist influence on art and daily life.

Question 10

Towards the end of the Heian period, which two clans fought for absolute control?

Answer 10

The Minamoto clan and the Taira clan.

Question 11

In the Genpei War, which clan ended up winning?

Answer 11

The Minamoto.

Question 12

Who was the leader of the Minamoto clan?

Answer 12

Minamoto no Yoritomo. He was appointed shogun to lead the Japanese army after they captured Kyoto and installed a new 3-year-old emperor. This marks the start of the Kamakura shogunate or feudal period.

Question 13

What is the shoen system?

Answer 13

Lords were appointed to manage large estates of land in the provinces.