What was the role of peasants in the Heian period?

Answer 1

During the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan, peasants played a crucial role in the agricultural economy, serving as the backbone of society by cultivating rice and other crops. They were largely tied to the land and worked under a system that included both free and tenant farmers. Although they had limited social mobility and were often subject to the demands of the aristocracy, their labor was essential for sustaining the elite's lifestyle and the overall stability of the economy. Additionally, their agricultural output supported the cultural and political developments of the period, despite their marginalization in the social hierarchy.