Visual Timeline: Heian Period

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

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767 CE - 822 CE: Life of Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhism in Japan.
 
774 CE - 835 CE: Life of the monk Kukai (aka Kobo Daishi), founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan.
 
781 CE - 806 CE: Reign of Emperor Kammu in Japan.
 
793 CE - 864 CE: Life of Ennin, the Buddhist scholar-monk and abbot of Enryakuji, who brought many esoteric teachings from China to Japan.
 
 
794 CE: Emperor Kammu moves the Japanese capital to Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
 
794 CE - 1185 CE: The Heian Period in ancient Japan.
 
 
794 CE: Emperor Kammu builds the Shinto Herano shrine at Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
826 CE: A five-storey pagoda is added to the To-ji temple complex in Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
 
838 CE: Last Japanese embassy to China during the Heian Period.
 
 
845 CE - 903 CE: Life of the deified scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
 
849 CE: Ennin leads the first imperial-sponsored esoteric ritual at Enryakuji, Japan.
 
854 CE: Ennin becomes the abbot of Enryakuji, Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.
 
 
859 CE: The Iwashimizu shrine is built and dedicated to the Shinto god Hachiman in Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
866 CE: Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes the first Japanese regent not of royal blood.
 
 
874 CE: The Buddhist Daigoji temple is founded by Shobo at Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
 
887 CE - 897 CE: Reign of Japan's Emperor Uda
 
 
897 CE - 930 CE: Reign of Japan's Emperor Daigo.
 
899 CE: Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is made Minister of the Right. The Fujiwara leader Tokihira is made Minister of the Left.
 
901 CE: Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin) is exiled to Dazaifu, Kyushu.
 
905 CE: The Kokinshu anthology of Japanese poetry is compiled.
 
905 CE: The Kokinshu anthology of poems is compiled in Japan by Ki no Tsurayuki.
 
 
951 CE: The five-storey pagoda is built at Daigoji, Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
 
987 CE: Sugawara no Michizane is officially deified and given the title Tenjin.
 
995 CE: Fujiwara no Michinaga becomes the Fujiwara clan leader in Japan.
 
1002 CE: Sei Shonagon completes The Pillow Book, a Japanese classic describing court life during the Heian Period.
 
1004 CE: Japanese poet Izumi Shikibu writes her 'Izumi Shikibu Diary'.
 
1020 CE: The Tale of Genji is completed by Murasaki Shikibu in Japan.
 
 
1052 CE: The Buddhist temple site Byodo-in is founded in Japan by Fujiwara no Yorimichi.
 
 
1073 CE - 1087 CE: Reign of Emperor Shirakawa in Japan.
 
 
1073 CE - 1087 CE: Reign of Japan's Emperor Shirakawa.
 
 
1115 CE: The Buddhist Daigoji temple complex at Heiankyo (Kyoto) is significantly expanded.
 
1156 CE: Hogen Disturbance in Japan.
 
1160 CE: Heiji Disturbance in Japan.
 
 
1164 CE: The Buddhist Sanjusangendo temple is founded at Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.
 
 
1180 CE: Taira forces defeat an army led by Minamoto no Yorimasa.
 
 
1180 CE - 1185 CE: The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.
 
 
1181 CE: Taira forces defeat an army led by Minamoto no Yukie.
 
 
1183 CE - 1198 CE: Reign of Japan's Emperor Go-Toba.
 
 
1183 CE: Japanese emperor Go-Shirakawa officially recognises the authority of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Kanto region.
 
 
1183 CE: Kiso Yoshinaka defeats a large Taira army at Kurikara in Etchu and occupies the Japanese capital Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
1185 CE: Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. The young emperor Antoku drowns.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
760 CE 840 CE 920 CE 1000 CE 1080 CE 1160 CE