Back in ancient times, the Japanese depended on Chinese characters (kanji) to write all sorts of documents and manuscripts, ranging from official letters to census records and poetry. It was only during the Heian period (794-1185 CE) that they began to create their very own writing system known today as kana. While men from the higher social classes would often stick to kanji when producing literary works, kana was mainly used by noblewomen. The most prominent author of the Heian period is known as Murasaki Shikibu, an imperial lady-in-waiting who was responsible for producing the worlds first novel. The history of ancient Japan is filled with interesting events that involved many influential and legendary figures. However, some of the accounts were also infused with Japanese myths, which might make it difficult for curious readers to distinguish between facts and legends.