Notes: Heian Period: 782 and 1167 CE. Achievements were within art and literature Heian culture is the high culture of the upper-upper-class Chart of class: Upper-upper-class includes for ex.: Queen Elizabeth Upper-class ex.: Bill Gates Lower-class ex.: Us The elite wrote about themselves, very selfish The first great novel in Japan is called, ?The Tale of the Genji? by Lady Murasaki The aristocracy was dominated by a craze for everything Chinese. Japanese blended Chinese traditions into their culture such as religion, ?Buddhism?, and writing. The aristocracy was characterized by color, grandeur, and lots of ceremonies and rituals The center of court life is in the capital of Heian called, Heian Jyo 100,000 people in the capital Most of the city was destroyed