1. By Nick, Sean, and Eric

2. Court life A court is a group of nobles who live near and serve or advise a ruler Nobles were separated from poor peasants Very easy life Called themselves dwellers of the clouds Nobles loved beauty and elegance The court of Heian became the center of art and learning

3. Fashion Cared a lot about appearance Wore luxurious layered silk and gold robes Loved elaborate outfits Fun facts Carried decorative fans with flowers and trees painted on them

4. An example of fancy Japanese outfits

5. Literature Took care with how they spoke and wrote Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji This novel was considered the first full length novel Both men and women wrote poetry Poems were usually about love or nature Fun facts Men usually wrote in Chinese while women usually wrote in Japanese

6. The breezes of spring Are blowing the ripples astray Along the water- Today they will surely melt The sheet of ice on the pond. - Kino Tomonori, from the Gosenshu

7. The Tale of Genji