The Japanese medieval era includes the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (from approximately 1185 to 1600). During this time, political power shifted from the imperial family to a militarist government. In addition, civil wars (from 1156 to 1568) were increasing throughout Japan. This shift in centrality of society's focus from the court to the warriors altered the perception and style of Japanese literature. As we learned in the first half of the course, the Heian period focused its attention on elegance, aesthetics (of actions or objects), and relationships. (especially feelings of love, desire and expectation). This is reflected in the literature of this period. In “Genji Monogatari,” the characters continually behaved elegantly and spoke gracefully in poems. “Makura no Sōshi” served as a reference and guide for suitably refined judicial behavior. While various nikki, such as "Izumi Shikibu Nikki" and "Kagerō Nikki", gave readers insight into the lives and relationships of court people in the Heian period. In comparison, the tone of medieval Japanese literature becomes more intense, realistic, and darker. as more attention is focused on the lives and interests of those outside the court. In particular, the warrior class contributed greatly to Japanese literature during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, due to the increase in civil wars and the shift in political power. This is clearly evident in the works of Gunki monogatari, especially "Heike Monogatari", as the tales describe inelegant things that were not to be mentioned in Heian era literature, such as blood and carnage. The illustration of war atrocities shows the increase in battles and wars of the era. This coincides with the European world...... middle of paper...... ric poetry,” apart from tanka, chōka and haikai (McCullough 558). Although political power had changed and the dominant warrior class did not place as much emphasis on the arts as members of the court, Japanese literature was still preserved because the people valued it and continued to consider it as a denotation of refinement. As a result, various changes and innovations took place in Japanese literature as the medieval period entered. This included literature written from new perspectives, the spread of religion, and new poetic devices (including a new form of poetry) created. Works Cited LaFleur, William R. The Karma of Words: Buddhism and the Literary Arts in Medieval Japan. 1983: University of California Press, Berkeley. McCullough, Helen Craig. Classic Japanese Prose: An Anthology. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990.