The Dark Side of Medieval Japan. Onmyōji, Vengeful Spirits, and Love Priestesses

The Middle Ages in Japan cannot be called the dark ages — it was a time of unprecedented cultural flourishing. The Heian era has forever remained in history thanks to its refined poetry, painting, and literature. But both inside the Imperial Palace and beyond its walls, another life was taking place, full of dangers and burdens. Intrigues were woven in the chambers of courtiers, common people suffered from hunger, epidemics, and countless disasters, while magical threats and horrors of the afterlife terrified both groups. This book invites you to explore various corners of the ancient Japanese capital Heian-kyō: from the homes of aristocrats and the huts of commoners to the abodes of mystic monks and onmyōji sorcerers. The amazing life that simmered in these and other places largely defined the culture of modern Japan, which has captivated the entire world.