Political Power In Japan

Among one of the most interesting and eventful time periods in Japan’s captivating history has to be it’s classical period. During the Asuka, Nara, and Heian time frames religious and spiritual beliefs were at their peak; as was the influence of the imperial court. Different forms of art, like poetry and paintings, from the time were also very important because they represented the transition the Japanese were undergoing in terms of becoming self-confident and appreciating their own culture. There was a lot happening at the time, but something that cannot go unmentioned when discussing these time periods is the correlation between sacred and political power. Political officials constantly associated their religious beliefs into their life throughout the Asuka, Nara, …show more content…
As Japanese emperors started getting more power their influence over people they ruled over grew immensely. Without a doubt the biggest impact they had has to be religious. It is obvious “ that religion was a major part of the politics and symbolism of imperial rule following the Taika Reforms... As the political power of the emperor grew after 645, what was once the religion of one particular uji gradually became the official religion of the new Japanese state.” What once was a belief held by a few hundred people turned into a widespread phenomenon thanks to the power of the emperor. Buddhism grew exponentially and reached the farthest of Japanese towns. The dominance Buddhism had, and continues to have today, can be seen in many texts from the time. One of the most engaging ones is a prayer that was written fourteen hundred years ago. “Great Exorcism of the Last Day of the Sixth Month” was meant to serve as a purification method for the Japanese during a time when they felt their sins were holding them back, “The various sins perpetrated and committed by those who serve in the Emperor 's court, the scarf-wearing women