Overview
For four centuries, politics and culture centered on Heian-kyo (Kyoto). Fujiwara regents dominated court politics, peaking under Fujiwara no Michinaga around 1000.
Key developments
The kana syllabaries matured, enabling the great women’s literature: Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Genji (c. 1008), often called the world’s first novel, and Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book. New Buddhist schools arose in the early 9th century — Saicho’s Tendai on Mount Hiei and Kukai’s Shingon on Mount Koya.
End and transition
From 1086, retired emperors ruled through the insei system, while the warrior clans Taira and Minamoto rose. Taira no Kiyomori dominated the court until the Genpei War (1180–1185) destroyed the Taira; in 1185, warrior government began at Kamakura.