Japan's feudal era lasted from the 12th to the 19th century. It had a big impact on the country’s literature. Here are some important points to understand:

1. Social Structure:

• The feudal system had different levels.
• At the top was the emperor, followed by the shoguns, daimyōs (lords), samurai (warriors), and then peasants (farmers).
• Because of this system, different kinds of stories were written for each class.
• For example, there was special literature just for samurai and other works for the common people.

2. Genres and Themes:

• Some popular types of literature were monogatari (storytelling) and kanshi (poems in the Chinese style).
• Many stories focused on ideas like honor, loyalty, and how life is always changing.
• A key idea was mono no aware, which means appreciating the beauty of things that don’t last long.

3. Emergence of Vernacular:

• During the Heian period (794-1185), a new way of writing called kana became popular.
• This allowed authors to write in everyday Japanese.
• A famous story from this time is The Tale of Genji, which came out in the early 11th century.
• It was important because it explored deep feelings and developed characters in a new way.

4. Cultural Exchange:

• Buddhism and Confucianism brought in new ideas that changed how people thought and wrote.
• This mix of beliefs enriched the stories and poems of the time.

Overall, about 70% of the literature from this era was written by the wealthy. But in the later Edo period, a new kind of story called ukiyo-zōshi (floating world novels) became popular. These stories appealed to merchants and everyday people, showing a shift towards more accessible literature.