Conclusion

According to our research, one of the most significant findings of noblewomen in the Heian period is the extensive works of literature such as poems and novels. In the Heian era, many noblewomen acquired knowledge of poetry to a certain level so that it allows them to maintain their social status among the elite class. For example, if a noblewoman has skill in creating poems, she could elevate herself to an even higher social status. The importance of literacy can also be reflected through the various amounts of literature created by noblewomen of the same era. In addition, as mentioned in many stories and plays, pilgrimages are another precious part of a noblewoman’s life. Noblewomen in the Heian period enjoyed the freedom of going on sacred journeys to temples and mountains to either achieve their religious goals or find their inner peace. Furthermore, the popular marriage form of Shouseikon revealed certain equality between husbands and wives, showing the social status of elite females in the Heian period. However, despite the roles reflected in daily life, literature, and marriage, restrictions such as covering one’s face when in presence of men or strangers revealed the dark side of the reality: what noblewomen had in terms of limited freedoms and independence, was not one that helped them attain perfect equality.