When evaluating the aristocratic culture and practices that were apparent during the Heian period (794-1191), the differences in culture, values, and customs from today’s modern Japan are quite evident. Even though many modern techniques arose during the Heian period, the aristocratic culture remained a permeant fixture. Many examples of the aristocratic culture of life can be found in the book, The Tale of Genji written by Murasaki Shikibu and translated by Edward G. Seidensticker.
The nature of marriage during the Heian period is one that is often debated throughout the centuries. Marriage for the Heian aristocrats was not way that normal society views marriage today. The men and women did not typically live within the same quarters. The women, more often than not, either lived with their parents of at a large estate. Not only did they couples not live together, men often had multiple wives. It example, when viewing the beginnings of The Tale of Genji, The significance of social rank was very prominent during the Heian period. The higher …show more content…
Not only was The Tale of Genji known as one the world’s greatest novels ever written, but many other famous pieces of poetry came to be. However, one conspicuous impact to literacy during this time was that women produced most of the infamous literary works. The men, who even though are more commonly remembered, produced mostly mediocre pieces of writing during this time. The aristocratic culture during this time, mostly saw pieces of literature that were about daily lifestyles, which made them easy targets for most women. The vital role that women brought to the literary community can also be seen within the words of The Tale of Genji. Murasaki Shikibu, author of this great novel, poured her soul into the most well-known works of