Medieval Japan followed the Heian period and spanned the years 1185 to 1600. Unlike the relatively peaceful times of the Heian period, medieval Japan was marked by changes in the system government towards feudal structures and war, although the culture of the capital and the imperial court continued to exist. Political factions, such as the feud between the Taira and Minamoto clans, and the emergence of the warrior class of the medieval period clashed with the elegant imperial court of the Heian period, resulting in a gradual transition of political power to the military and samurai classes. . This time of great upheaval and change is reflected in the literature of the time. In prose, new subjects never before discussed emerged, such as physical descriptions of bodies and grotesque, bloody war scenes. In Heian literature, the closest physical descriptions concerned only women's long, black hair and fair complexions; detailed features, especially those of unappealing taste, did not appear. However, in the feudal medieval period, writers depict war scenes in which warriors are beheaded and people commit seppuku, painting pictures of vivid crimson blood for the reader. Such descriptions appear in works such as Heike monogatari and Hōjōki de Kamo mo Chōmei. However, the world of poetry at this time showed many distinct and interesting changes and innovations compared to those of earlier eras, which can be analyzed in more detailed aspects. Poetry is how Japan initially gained recognition and respect in the literary world; it has been and continued to be the central cornerstone of classical Japanese literature across many centuries, which is why this article will focus on Kokinshū's poetry anthologies...... middle of paper.. ....s, it also demonstrates both changes and innovations, such as the sources from which the poems were gleaned, the subjects of the poems, poetic devices, and notions of evaluation. Shinkokinshū is not completely separate from Kokinshū; this is a different anthology, broader in scope, with many new and different aspects and is considered a better compilation than Kokinshū, which I have to agree with. Works Cited “Introduction to Medieval Japan.” Asia for Educators | Columbia University. Internet. June 16, 2011. .2. Keene, Donald. Anthology of Japanese literature, from the early period to the mid-19th century. New York: Grove, 1955.3. Reading: Shinkokinshū Shirane4. Reading: Huey “Medievalization of poetic practice”5. Reading: Huey “The making of SKKS” intro6. Reading: Heike monogatari7. Document 10 in class.