Final answer:
The statement about the Heian Period is false; it was a golden age of cultural enlightenment in Japan, characterized by important literary works and the development of new writing scripts, not a dark period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 'The Heian Period was distinguished by its lack of cultural production and is considered a dark period in Japanese history' is false. The Heian Period, lasting from 794 CE to 1185 CE, was a time of significant cultural growth, particularly in the arts and literature. Buddhism became deeply entrenched in Japanese culture during this period, and it also saw the emergence of the samurai class. Cultural productions included notable works such as The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. Innovative writing scripts like Katakana and Hiragana were developed, and the aristocratic women of the court played a key role in cultural productions, specializing in vibrant script-writing and painting. Thus, the Heian Period is actually considered a golden age of peace and cultural enlightenment, not a 'dark period' as was inaccurately suggested in the question.