# 2 Japan; The Religion, The Language and the Art

Heian period in Japan is dated between 794-1185 and is marked by social and political uphevals. The fifth and the sixth century were contunally disturbed by never-ending civil wars and skimrishes. The political scene has constantly changed, Chinese impact was more and more obvious. The country itself became devastated and ruined. The migration started, it was popular mostly in the middle and intellectual classes. They had money, they had connections and opportunities to change their surroundings. It made a huge influx of other citizens, mostly from China, they did not predominated the scheme of Japan, they, on the other hand brought the religion, something, Japanese people heard of yet never practiced before.



The Shinto in Japan was not just a notion it was a symbol, an onset of religion people worshipped. At that time Japan had no significant markers of religion, they worshipped nature, symbols of nature and their habitats. The beliefs were created around the magical stories, the folk and oracle history of manhood. The set of them was called ''the first family''. The origins say of Amatreasu whose grandson - Ninigi was pronounced as the first human. Gradually the folk  and pagan stories, ceremonies are put aside. More ''civilized'' customs are implemented. The early Shinto period had no salvation, moreover, it didn't recognize the meaning of ''other world''.  The Buddhism that came had no name, later on, some has been given ''Butsu-Do''. The religion Shinto absorbed was far more ahead if it than they could have ever imagined. It came to Japan thousands years after it had its rise in India and thought simple, universal notions that;

1. life is an illusion;
2. life is painful, the pain is caused by desire;
3. life continues through the circles of rebirths;
4. people should have get rid themselves of pain, lust, desire and sin through the process of meditation, a complete isolation from the society.

The controversial notion made Buddhism called the religion ''without God''.

Adapting the religion, Japan also adopted the language. The early language was nothing but sets of Chinese characters, which, later on built up its own, unique shape and phonetic pattern.

The language became a tool of power, used skilfully by noblemen and aristocracy, merchants and monarchs. The earliest pieces of poetry were written in classical Chinese. ''The Tale of Genji'' is a final, definite and excellent example how language can build up, transform from archaic to to-be-modern form. The Tale is pronounced to be the first novel ever written at that early period of time.

The words are not enough. Yet, if skillfully combined, paint a picture and it is what the Japanese poetry really is - it is an art.

The Japanese poetry is reflected in paintings, the art creates poetry and vice versa. The countryside and the rustic surroundings introduce Us to feudal Japan. The Japan that has one master only. The imperial government grows in power, disobedience is harshly punished. The times changed.

Bibliography:

1. The Cambridge History of Japan, 2001

2. Japan History; From
  Prehistoric to Modernity, 1999

3. The Oxford History of the World, 1997 

4. The Modern Nation: The History of Japan, Second Edition, 2009