During the Kamakura period (1285–1333), Japan experienced many civil wars which led to the development of a warrior class, and subsequent war tales, histories, and related stories.[8] Work from this period is notable for its more sombre tone compared to the works of previous eras, with themes of life and death, simple lifestyles, and redemption through killing.[9] A representative work is Heike monogatari (The Tale of the Heike) (1371), an epic account of the struggle between the Minamoto and Taira clans for control of Japan at the end of the twelfth century. Other important tales of the period include Kamo no Chōmei's Hōjōki (1212) and Yoshida Kenkō's Tsurezuregusa (1331).
Despite a decline in the importance of the imperial court, aristocratic literature remained the center of Japanese culture in the beginning of the Kamakura period. Many literary works were marked by a nostalgia for the Heian period.[10] The Kamakura period also saw a renewed vitality of poetry, with a number of anthologies compiled,[8][11] such as the Shin Kokin Wakashū compiled in the early 1200s. However, there were fewer notable works by female authors during this period, reflecting the lowered status of women.[10]
As the importance of the imperial court continued to decline, a major feature of Muromachi literature (1333–1603) was the spread of cultural activity through all levels of society. Classical court literature, which had been the focal point of Japanese literature up until this point, gradually disappeared.[12][10] New genres such as renga, or linked verse, and Noh theater developed among the common people,[13] and setsuwa such as the Nihon Ryoiki were created by Buddhist priests for preaching.[citation needed] The development of roads, along with a growing public interest in travel and pilgrimages, brought rise to the greater popularity of travel literature from the early 13th to 14th centuries.[14] Notable examples of travel diaries include Fuji kikō (1432) and Tsukushi michi no ki(1480).[15][16]