Fujiwara Clan and Governance - Essay Example

Fujiwara Clan and Governance Although the history of japan is often illustrated by al progress, it has hadsome significant turning points. As such, japan has had a long interesting history. Archeological evidence implies that people have resided in the region since the prehistoric era. This vast history is divided into groups so as to make it more manageable. These periods often have varying lengths i.e. decades to centuries. The Heian period ranging from 749 to 1185 C.E is one of the most significant periods. Under this period, the Fujiwara clan became so successful in governance. The Fujiwara, a noble family was a powerful figure after Kammu’s death. This is primarily because Kammu’s successors were weak and incapable as Kammu had been. The Fujiwara family on a broader spectrum can be compared and likened to Frankish mayors in the European history. Rather than replacing the state’s imperial family, the Fujiwara devised a witty plan and scheme where they commenced to monopolize vital ministerial positions. As such, the Fujiwara family possessed enough powers to influence the emperor. Before discussing how the Fujiwara became very successful in governance, we have to comprehend how they became so powerful and influential. To understand this concept, focus will be on the role women in the Heian era possessed, child rearing and marriage. These three factors were the pillar stones for the successes of the Fujiwara clan. A lot of Heian marriage knowledge emanates from primary literary works. Marriage in the Heian period required married couples to reside at the home of the wife. However, on rare occasions, the wife’s family built them a separate house. It was a taboo for the wife to move and live in the husband’s family. Therefore, children born were taken care of by the wife’s family. Consequently, this system made the maternal grandfather to wield influence over the children. To gain and exercise influence over the emperor, the Fujiwara clan craftily took advantage of this marriage arrangement. They advocated for their female children to be married to the imperial family. Subsequently, they were appointed as empresses and consorts. They then sired imperial heirs. As the norm during this period, the children were brought up by the wife’s family. The Fujiwara grandfathers raised the children in their residences. These connections allowed the Fujiwara to have great influence over the imperial family. Due to these arrangement, the Fujiwara clan valued girls more than they valued boys; for it was only girls who could sire imperial children by being married into the family. These children had Fujiwara blood in them. The Fujiwara men were being acting as regents by the start of the 19th century. These made them among the most influential people at court. Fujiwara no Michinga was among the most popular and famous of the Fujiwara family. He was grandfather to 3 emperors and father in law to four more emperors. Being an influential and clever politician, Michinga engineered the retirement of emperors and appointments of individuals to hold governor positions. The Asuka era marked the start of the Fujiwara family’s political influence. Emperor Daigo suspended the Fujiwara regency during his rule in 897 to 930. He preferred to directly rule the kingdom. However, the emperor did not demote the Fujiwara family. On the contrary, the family even became stronger during his rule. As the central control of the state began to decline, the Fujiwara acquired vast shoen and wealth. All this was during the onset of the 20th century. The shoen got legal status during the Heian period. As such, the people who worked on the lands found it to be beneficial to give the shoen holders title in return for a part of the harvest. Fujiwara michinga was so powerful during this era that the official government wielded no power. The Fujiwara family handled government affairs, hence becoming quite successful in governance. Researchers and experts often termed them as hereditary dictators. The family presided over an era of artistic and cultural flowering among the officials at the imperial court and aristocracy (de Bary 2008). The Fujiwara encouraged the vernacular literature and poetry. Previously, Chinese ideograms had been the base for Japanese writing. However, katakana, hiragana and kana now supplemented the Chinese ideograms. Hiragana propelled vernacular literature to new heights while it simultaneously attaching expression to the written word. A lot of the Japanese vernacular literature was penned by Japanese women who had no prior training from the Chinese unlike their male writers. The Fujiwara family enables and encouraged this act. Due to the rise of vernacular literature, the women were able to illustrate their opinions and views about romance and life in general. Additionally, indigenous art prospered under Fujiwara influence after decades of copying Chinese forms. Decentralization flourished as culture did. Decentralizations led to reduction in bureaucracy in japan. This was advocated for by the Fujiwara clan. Whereas land grants to religious leaders and aristocrats characterized the first phase, the second phase was characterized by the rise of house governments. This style was the same as the old clan system. To be specific, the old clan system had not disintegrated but rather remained intact within the centralized old government. The Fujiwara clan and other great families developed new institutions to conform to political, economic and social changes. The Tahio code institutions became weak and thus were just ceremonial institutions with no real power or influence. The Fujiwara family became a public institution. Since the Fujiwara family was the most powerful family at the time, it determined how the state was run. For example, they determined who ascended to the throne. Management of land became the central occupation of the family. Under this context, they brought a lot of land reforms which were widely accepted. The Fujiwara family dominated japan between794 to 1160. There is no record of a specific starting year of their dominance in the government. To ensure they ruled the state of japan, they made emperors to be just puppets. An increase in population, food production decline and competition for resources saw the decline of the Fujiwara family and other great families. These problems engineered the occurrence of various military disturbances. The Taira and Minamoto who were Fujiwara family members attacked each other over land issues. This led to the collapse of the Fujiwara family as they created rival regimes. The In no cho took over from the Fujiwara clan. They slowly replaced the Fujiwara court members by the Minamoto family. Unlike previous regimes where civil authority controlled the government, military might determine the strength of the government. Despite its eventual decline, the Fujiwara clan was very successful in governance as a result of the factors highlighted herein. Work Cited de Bary, Wm Theodore. "Sources of east Asian tradition. Vol. 1." (2008). Print Read More