The best way to understand the Heian period of Japanese history is: It was a time when the Japanese adopted outside influences to meet their own needs and develop a culture of their own.
During the Heian period (794-1185), Japan saw the incorporation of various Chinese cultural elements, such as literature, philosophy, and art, but it also adapted these influences into something distinctly Japanese. This period is marked by significant developments in Japanese literature, aesthetics, and court culture, making it a crucial era in the formation of Japanese identity.