Japanese aristocrat
If I had to choose between the Nara and Heian period to live as an aristocrat, I would choose the Nara. When first looked at the Heian period may look more elaborate and culturally advanced, and in some ways it was. I believe however, the Nara period was much more exciting and fulfilling than the somewhat hollow Heian period. The Nara period was marked by new philosophies of religion, government, and culture. Buddhism was introduced to Japan before the Nara period, but it was during the Nara period that many new forms were introduced and worshiped. The imperial court of the Nara period was taken with the Chinese religion of Buddhism. Students were sent to China to gather and retrieve new information on Buddhism. Buddhist monks from China were even opening temples in Japan. The Japanese missionaries not only brought back new ideas of Buddhism, but also new arts and crafts, lifestyles, Confucianism, and a degree of sophistication unknown to Japan before . This must have been a very exciting time to be a Japanese aristocrat. The aristocratic society decided which parts of Chinese culture would be integrated into Japan. The
Lu, David J. Japan A Documentary History. New York: East Gate, 1997. I chose the Nara period to live in because it seemed to be more exciting and fulfilling. Japan was receiving new ideas and incorporating them into its society. The aristocratic society seemed to care about the well being of the entire county and the direction it was heading. The decisions made by nobles affected more people than just them selves; they affected the whole country. While the Heian aristocracy produced beautiful art and poetry I felt there was a certain hollowness in their lives. With so many rules placed on art, poetry, and etiquette it seemed almost mechanical and lacking inspiration. Their complete fixation on aesthetic beauty and lack of empathy towards the lower class also seemed to suggest that they were cold society. Noble men were not even required to learn the names of their lovers just as long as they left them with a poem. For all of their poems of love I'm not sure many nobles knew what it actually was. Morris, Ivan. The World of the Shining Prince. New York: Kodansha International, 1994. new centralized Japanese government was modeled after China's
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Approximate Word count = 785
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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