Editing Heian period (section)

===Literature===
Although written [[Chinese language|Chinese]] (''[[kanbun]]'') remained the official language of the Heian period imperial court, the introduction and widespread use of [[kana]] saw a boom in [[Japanese literature]]. Despite the establishment of several new literary genres such as the [[novel]] and narrative ''[[monogatari]]'' (物語) and essays, [[literacy]] was only common among the court and [[Buddhist]] clergy.

Poetry, in particular, was a staple of court life. Nobles and ladies-in-waiting were expected to be well versed in the art of writing poetry as a mark of their status. Every occasion could call for the writing of a verse, from the birth of a child to the coronation of an emperor, or even a pretty scene of nature. A well-written poem could easily make or break one's reputation, and often was a key part of social interaction.<ref>Morris 1964 pp. 180, 182.</ref> Almost as important was the choice of calligraphy, or handwriting, used. The Japanese of this period believed handwriting could reflect the condition of a person's soul: therefore, poor or hasty writing could be considered a sign of poor breeding. Whether the script was Chinese or Japanese, good writing and artistic skill were paramount to social reputation when it came to poetry. [[Sei Shōnagon]] mentions in her ''[[Pillow Book]]'' that when a certain courtier tried to ask her advice about how to write a poem to the [[Fujiwara no Teishi|Empress Sadako]], she had to politely rebuke him because his writing was so poor.<ref>Morris 1964 pp. 183–184.</ref>

The lyrics of the modern Japanese national anthem, ''[[Kimigayo]]'', were written in the Heian period, as was ''[[The Tale of Genji]]'' by [[Murasaki Shikibu]], which was extremely important to the Heian court, and one of the first [[novel]]s ever written. Murasaki Shikibu's contemporary and rival Sei Shōnagon's revealing observations and musings as an attendant in the Empress' court were recorded collectively as ''The Pillow Book'' in the 990s, which revealed the quotidian capital lifestyle.<ref>Morris 1964 p. xiv.</ref> The Heian period produced a flowering of poetry including works of [[Ariwara no Narihira]], [[Ono no Komachi]], [[Izumi Shikibu]], Murasaki Shikibu, [[Saigyō]] and [[Fujiwara no Teika]]. The famous Japanese poem known as the [[Iroha]] (いろは), of uncertain authorship, was also written during the Heian period.