Marriage

On both the Heian and Edo court, marriage played a very important role.

As early as the Heian period, the powerful Fugiwara family sought to control imperial succession and meticulously educated and groomed its daughters for marriage into the Imperial household. Heian women generally enhanced their prestige through literary expression in their native language and most of the poetry.

This narrative scroll depicts the preparation for betrothal of a fox and a vixen. Representations of animals, insects, and imaginary creatures engaged in human activities were common in the arts of the 19^th century, and many had hidden political meanings. The marriage was part of the shogunate's efforts to smooth relations with followers of the powerful imperialist movement. Women were used for making family connection to take advantages in politics.

Polygamy in the Heian Period Children Divorce