Japan started to be known around the world in 794 CE and 1185 CE. The Japanese traditions were inspired by Chinese culture and government as it was above their own superior. In the late 700s, Japan started to create their own society, language, and culture. In western society, the Renaissance was considered a Golden Age, the Hein Period was considered to be Japan’s Golden Age. During, the Hein Period, many norms between aristocratic and commoners were placed. Since beauty, was one of the many traditions that women focused on, poetry and writing was a way that they would live. It also provided women with a past time when they had nothing to do. Going into the literature and writing aspect, Japanese men that were ranked higher were required to use Chinese calligraphy for government records. However, women used the typical writing style in their daily life. Women were praised in the Hein period for their writing skills. Since these women were able to write in the language they used every day, the female writers were more famous than the Japanese government officials. Two important writers during this time were, Lady Murasaki Shikibu: Tale of Genji and Sei Shogun: Pillow Book, who were a lady in waiting for the Empresses, who wrote about the differences between commoners and elite, how beauty is viewed, and the courtly elegance.

These novels truly define the differences in how commoners and elites are viewed in the Hein Period. In the Hein period, there was a large gap between rich and poor. There are at least 1,000 people in the city of 100,000 and in the country itself around 5 million people in the Hein period. In Tale of Genji, the main hero Genji was looked upon from birth until he had died, however, the most important part is his story is when he met his one true love with Murasaki. In the Hein era, emperors are expected to court the top of the courtesan, in Japanese, Kokiden Lady. Genji’s case was different, as, in the Hein Period, the man lived together with his wife at her house, however Genji takes in a girl who is of a lower rank (commoner) which to reader shows that no matter the social caste barrier, people fall in love with each other. An expert from the text:

“The mother was not of such a low rank as to attend upon the emperor’s need. In the general view, she belongs to the upper class (300)”

As from the quotation above, this is an expert for the emperor’s wife. This text shows how ranking is viewed differently in the courtroom and to the commoners, these ranks seems higher than their own. This is an important comparison, because the author is trying to give an insight into how the Hein period’s courtesan life really works, and it is different from the ranks in the courtroom.

Beauty is very important in the Hein period. The aristocratic society is viewed very differently than those of a commoner. In the Tale of Genji, there are some references to how women are seen in that era. They used to have light skin to gain popularity within the men. Beauty is also seen through their elegance in the way they are communicating with each other. In the text from Murasaki Shikibu’s Diary, writes about how having manners could do the courtesan some good to upgrade their rank. She writes, “To be pleasant, gentle, calm, and self-possessed: this is the basis of good taste and charm in a woman (450, The Hein Period)”. Usually, when talking about another sex or about your own, it was socially not accepted during this time. The men and women were usually separated at all times, and when the man felt that it was the right time for them meet each other, he would just push the door apart and stake his claim. If the courtesans do see this mishap, then they would not protect the women’s will, as the female is supposed to be submissive to the male. In the Pillow Book, there is a situation where the lady was trying to get some air, but instead, an architect was impressed by her beauty that he stopped doing the construction. Here is an expert from the book: “…a decorative cloth edging from the beam from which the blinds hang – a gap just big enough for a man standing outside and a woman seated inside to look at each other (169)”. This quotation shows how a woman is being dealt with in the Hein Period. Even though beauty was seen as exquisite, manners were the most important as it shows if there is a difference between commoners and aristocrats.

In the Hein Period, courtly elegance was required from both the men and women. The differences come from males and females as they show power within each other. In aristocratic women, if the husbands had many wives then it depends on how much power does the wives have alongside their other wives. In the Tale of Genji, the author clearly writes how women are being viewed in the lady’s court. Shogun writes, “ we have obtained the agreement of eminent aesthetics to conduct the necessary services, and I fear they are to begin this evening.” As the class structure was important during this time, court life was not ending in any way of form. The court life itself was there to entertain the male aristocrats as their main focus was to increase lineage. In the Pillow Book, lady Shogun described her meetings of the aristocrats by saying:

“But perhaps he is bad in humor, for he dashes ahead, all but falling in haste, as though he were in danger of being pursued and arrested (91).”

This is an insight into what Lady Shogun felt about one of the men that she was seeing. The court life affairs made sure that each person has exchanged poems to provide excitement. These were a start in personal relationships. From the above quotation, it seems as though many of the aristocrats were busying themselves to win the lovers. Men during this period much preferred to talk about politics as it gives the men a sense of pride. Another way to look at court life is described in the Tale of Genji. The emperor had given orders women to console him on the day he lost his love. From this, Genji will then meet every woman in the courtroom who looked exactly like the women he loved in the past. Here is an expert:

“ The months and the years passed and still the emperor could not his lost love. He summoned various women who might console him, but apparently it was too much to ask in this world for one who has resembled her (The Hein Period, 318) .”

From this quote, it feels as though Genji was going through rough times. Many scholars claim that Genji goes through this because he wants to feel his mother’s love as he never experienced the feeling. The fact that Genji thinks that a lot of the beautiful women look like his mother he tends to fall in love all over again. The main reason that Genji could not fulfill his goal of court life was due to his obsession with finding motherly love. These feelings that are shown in court life is negative.

Japan’s culture is very interesting, as it provided an insight into how the aristocrats are being viewed. The Hein period had rules that both males and females have to follow from the above experts. These rules gave a perspective on how Hein was divided. However, within the aristocratic life, their own life was divided on how well they can expand on their lineage by marrying someone from a powerful and well-renowned family. The novels provided an insight into how women were viewed as powerful; they controlled the men with their beauty. Beauty was one of the main aspects that lady in waiting followed. If they produced a girl, they would expand their families. Basically, the lady in waiting’s all preferred to have girls as their offspring. Commoners, on the other hand, are viewed as the lowest in the class system. Even lower in than the government officers. This is because these commoners were labor class and had little money to survive on. The view that two of the authors gave was that if you are a lower class the person is currently in the class could increase. Overall, this what an ideal aristocratic man and woman had to follow in the Hein Period.