In the following essay I will argue the major differences in the clothing worn by royalty and commoners during the Heian Period. The Heian Period, which translates to peace, was in Japan from 794 to 1185 CE. Named after the city Heian-kyo, it is now known as the city of Kyoto. The Heian court in "its refinement, its artistic pursuits, and its etiquette, it rivalled courts of any time and place in the world" (Henshall 28). I will show how the color, texture, and fabric was different in the fashion between the royal family and the everyday people. I will examine the royal families influence over the style of clothing and dress in court and in everyday life during the Heian Period. I will also show the major differences in how the royal family dressed compared to the common people.
It is very easy to identify the differences in the two classes, and would be very easy to recognize royalty from everyone else based solely on the way they were dressed. A dress known as the "Kazami," was worn by noble women and by commoners, but the differences between the style and colors were very different. Royalty wore more elegant and colorful fabrics than the commoners. The royalty clothing was multi-layered, very vibrant, rich colors, silk, and extravagant. Whereas the commoner clothing was one or two basic colors, very simple, not silk, few layers, little to no extra design on the outer layer, and even the length and amount of fabric used is less than that of the royalty clothing. .
The royal family were very exact about the type of clothing they wore and the type of clothing common people were allowed to wear, "solemn edicts fixed the color of official robes, the length of swords, and the nature of salutations" and even had different styles of clothing for different occasions, as well as, for different types of jobs (Meyer 60). The royal family believed it was "the custom among peasants to wear simple clothing and tie their hair with straw" and that is the way they wanted to keep it (Henshall 67).