The Japanese Middle Ages consists of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (c. 1185 to 1600). During this period, political power shifted from the imperial family to a militaristic government. Additionally, civil wars (1156 to 1568) increased throughout Japan. This change in centrality in the focus of society, from the court to the warriors, changed the perception and style of Japanese literature. As we learned during the first half of the course, the Heian period focused on elegance, aesthetics (of actions or objects), and relationships. (especially feelings of love, desire and anticipation). This is reflected in the literature of that period. In "Genji Monogatari", the characters continually behaved elegantly and spoke gracefully in poems. “Makura no Sōshi” served as a reference and guide for appropriately refined court behavior. While various nikki, such as "Izumi Shikibu Nikki" and "Kagerō Nikki", gave readers insight into the lives and relationships of people in the Heian period court. In comparison, the tone of medieval-era Japanese literature becomes more intense, realistic, and darker. in scope as the focus shifts more to the lives and interests of people outside the court. In particular, the warrior class contributed much to Japanese literature during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, due to increased civil wars and shifting political power. This is clearly evident in gunki monogatari works, especially "Heike Monogatari", because the tales describe inelegant things that were not supposed to be mentioned in Heian period literature, such as blood and gore. The illustration of war atrocities shows the increase in battles and wars of the time. This coincides with m......half-paper......rical European poetry", apart from tanka, chōka and haikai (McCullough 558). Although political power has changed and the dominant warrior class has not put as much emphasis on the arts by members of the court, Japanese literature was still preserved because people held it in value and continued to see it as a denotation of refinement. As a result, there were various changes and innovations in Japanese literature as it entered the medieval period.This included literature written from new perspectives, the spread of religion, and the creation of new poetic devices (including a new form of poetry).Works CitedLaFleur, William R. The Karma of Words: Buddhism and the Literary Arts in. Medieval Japan. 1983: University of California Press, Berkeley. McCullough, Helen Craig. Classical Japanese Prose: An Anthology, 1990.