The Heian period, which lasted from 794 to 1185, was a time when Kyoto, then called Heian-kyo, flourished as the political and cultural center of Japan.
平安時代（794年〜1185年）は、当時「平安京」と呼ばれた京都が日本の政治・文化の中心として栄えた時代であった。
The court was dominated by *aristocrats, especially the Fujiwara family, who effectively controlled politics through *regency.
朝廷は*貴族、とりわけ藤原氏が握っており、彼らは*摂政政治を通して実質的に政治を支配した。
Nobles lived in shinden-zukuri, splendid residences where they composed poetry, enjoyed elegant pastimes such as kemari or music, and governed the country—though their official duties often ended at noon.
貴族は寝殿造という壮麗な邸宅に住み、和歌を詠み、蹴鞠や音楽といった優雅な遊びを楽しみつつ政務にあたった──もっとも、公務はしばしば正午で終わった。
注釈
- * aristocrats = 貴族
- * regency = 摂政政治
In sharp contrast, commoners made up the vast majority of the population.
これとは対照的に、庶民が人口の大多数を占めていた。
They lived in humble pit *dwellings or narrow row houses with roofs of thatch or bark.
彼らは藁や樹皮の屋根を載せた竪穴式の質素な*住居や細長い長屋に暮らしていた。
Their daily lives were filled with agricultural labor, from planting rice to collecting firewood, and they worked from sunrise until sunset.
田植えから薪集めまで農作業に日々追われ、日の出から日没まで働いた。
Unlike nobles, who could devote time to art and politics, commoners struggled merely to survive in a world where famine and disease were constant threats.
芸術や政治に時間を割けた貴族と違い、庶民は飢饉や病が常に脅威となる世界で、生き延びるだけで苦闘していた。
The gap was also visible in diet. Nobles usually ate white rice and an abundance of side dishes, including fish, *poultry, vegetables, and fruits.
食生活にも格差は現れていた。貴族は白米に加え、魚や*家禽、野菜や果物など豊富な副菜を常とした。
Their meals were often accompanied by alcohol during large *banquets, which displayed both wealth and refinement.
大きな*宴会では酒が供され、富と洗練を誇示した。
In contrast, commoners had to rely mainly on millet, *foxtail millet, or other coarse grains, with simple vegetables such as radishes or taro.
一方の庶民は、キビや*アワなどの粗末な雑穀と、大根やサトイモといった簡素な野菜に主に頼らざるを得なかった。
Meat and sweet foods were considered luxuries that were rarely within their reach.
肉や甘味はぜいたく品とみなされ、手の届くことはほとんどなかった。
注釈
- * poultry = 家禽（にわとり等）
- * banquets = 宴会
- * foxtail millet = アワ
- * coarse = 粗末な
Clothing further demonstrated the differences between the two groups. Noblemen wore formal robes called sokutai, and noblewomen wore the famous jūnihitoe, a multilayered garment that symbolized elegance and high rank.
服装もまた両者の違いを際立たせた。貴族の男性は束帯を、女性は十二単という多層の装束をまとい、優雅さと高い身分を象徴した。
Cosmetics were also important among *aristocrats, who painted their faces with white powder and blackened their teeth.
*貴族の間では化粧も重要で、白粉を塗り、歯を黒く染める習慣があった。
Commoners, however, dressed in rough *hemp or cotton clothing, plain in color and design. They had no access to cosmetics, and sunburned skin was a natural part of their appearance.
しかし庶民は、色柄も質素な粗い*麻や木綿の衣服を着用した。化粧は手に届かず、日焼けした肌は当たり前の姿だった。
注釈
- * hemp = 麻
- * aristocrats = 貴族
Even education, medicine, and *funerary customs reflected social status. Aristocrats studied Chinese classics and Japanese poetry, which were considered essential for serving at court.
教育・医療・*葬送の習慣に至るまで、社会的身分が反映された。貴族は漢籍や和歌を学び、これは宮中に仕えるうえで不可欠とされた。
Literacy among commoners was rare, being limited mostly to monks or merchants.
庶民の識字は稀で、多くは僧侶や商人に限られていた。
When nobles fell ill, they often relied on prayers and rituals to ward off evil spirits, while commoners turned to *herbal remedies.
貴族は病にかかると祈祷や儀礼に頼ることが多かったが、庶民は*薬草による治療に頼った。
After death, nobles were usually cremated and their remains placed in temples, whereas commoners were buried directly in the earth, often without formal graveyards.
死後、貴族は火葬され遺骨は寺院に納められるのが通例であった一方、庶民は整備された墓地もないまま、土中にそのまま埋葬されることが多かった。
注釈
- * funerary = 葬送の
- * herbal remedies = 薬草療法