Episode 4 - The Golden Age of Heian

In Episode 4 of the History of Japan Podcast, the speaker discusses the Golden Age of Heian, starting with the move of the capital to Heian-kyo (Kyoto) in 794 AD and its conscious modeling on the Chinese city of Chang'an. The episode covers the structure of the government under the Ritsuryo system, including the roles of governors and local magistrates, and the influence of the Fujiwara family, who became the de facto rulers of Japan. The podcast also explores the aristocratic culture of the Heian period, focusing on poetry, diaries, and literary works such as the Tale of Genji, and the Zuihitsu genre, exemplified by works like the Pillow Book. Finally, the episode touches on the shift away from exclusively Chinese cultural models and Japan's evolving relationship with China.