The Heian Period of Japanese history covers 794 to 1185 CE and saw a great flourishing in Japanese culture from literature to paintings. Government and its administration came to be dominated by the Fujiwara clan who eventually were challenged by the Minamoto and Taira clans. The period, named after the capital Heiankyo, closes with the Genpei War in which the Minamoto were victorious and their leader Yoritomo established the Kamakura Shogunate.
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Timeline
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767 - 822Life of Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhism in Japan.
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774 - 835Life of the monk Kukai (aka Kobo Daishi), founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan.
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781 - 806Reign of Emperor Kammu in Japan.
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c. 793 - 864Life of Ennin, the Buddhist scholar-monk and abbot of Enryakuji, who brought many esoteric teachings from China to Japan.n
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794Emperor Kammu moves the Japanese capital to Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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794 - 1185The Heian Period in ancient Japan.
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794Emperor Kammu builds the Shinto Herano shrine at Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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826A five-storey pagoda is added to the To-ji temple complex in Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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838Last Japanese embassy to China during the Heian Period.
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845 - 903Life of the deified scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
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849Ennin leads the first imperial-sponsored esoteric ritual at Enryakuji, Japan.
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854Ennin becomes the abbot of Enryakuji, Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.
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859The Iwashimizu shrine is built and dedicated to the Shinto god Hachiman in Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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866Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes the first Japanese regent not of royal blood.
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874The Buddhist Daigoji temple is founded by Shobo at Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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887 - 897Reign of Japan's Emperor Uda
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897 - 930Reign of Japan's Emperor Daigo.
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899Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is made Minister of the Right. The Fujiwara leader Tokihira is made Minister of the Left.
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901Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is exiled to Dazaifu, Kyushu.
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905The Kokinshu anthology of Japanese poetry is compiled.
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905The Kokinshu anthology of poems is compiled in Japan by Ki no Tsurayuki.
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c. 951The five-storey pagoda is built at Daigoji, Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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987Sugawara no Michizane is officially deified and given the title Tenjin.
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995Fujiwara no Michinaga becomes the Fujiwara clan leader in Japan.
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c. 1002Sei Shonagon completes The Pillow Book, a Japanese classic describing court life during the Heian Period.
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c. 1004Japanese poet Izumi Shikibu writes her 'Izumi Shikibu Diary'.
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c. 1020The Tale of Genji is completed by Murasaki Shikibu in Japan.
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1052The Buddhist temple site Byodo-in is founded in Japan by Fujiwara no Yorimichi.
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1073 - 1087Reign of Emperor Shirakawa in Japan.
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1073 - 1087Reign of Japan's Emperor Shirakawa.
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1115The Buddhist Daigoji temple complex at Heiankyo (Kyoto) is significantly expanded.
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1156Hogen Disturbance in Japan.
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1160Heiji Disturbance in Japan.
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1164The Buddhist Sanjusangendo temple is founded at Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.
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1180Taira forces defeat an army led by Minamoto no Yorimasa.
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1180 - 1185The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.
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1181Taira forces defeat an army led by Minamoto no Yukie.
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1183 - 1198Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Toba.
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1183Japanese emperor Go-Shirakawa officially recognises the authority of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Kanto region.
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1183Kiso Yoshinaka defeats a large Taira army at Kurikara in Etchu and occupies the Japanese capital Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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1185Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. The young emperor Antoku drowns.
