Heian: the refined world of the court

In the capital, Kyoto, the court created a refined culture of poetry, narrative scrolls and the first novel – The Tale of Genji.

When the capital moved to Heian-kyō, present-day Kyoto, Japan began to develop a style of its own, less dependent on China. The Japanese kana script made it possible for ladies of the court to write poetry and novels.

Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji, written around 1000, was illustrated in the 12th century in narrative handscrolls, emaki, in the yamato-e style. The roofs are lifted away so that we look into the rooms, and the faces are simplified to a line for the eyes and a hook for the nose.

Pure Land Buddhism promised rebirth in Amida’s paradise. Byōdō-in with its Phoenix Hall was built as an image of paradise on earth.

• Kūkai, mandalas and the wrathful deities
• Jōchō and the joined-block statues
• How a narrative scroll is painted and read
• Calligraphy, lacquer and the first curved swords
• Ō-yoroi: the armour of the mounted archer
• Close reading: the Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in
• The ladies of the court: Murasaki, Sei Shōnagon and women’s writing
• The Pure Land and images of Amida’s descent
• Shrines and gods in wood
• Afterlife: Genji through a thousand years
• Jōchō