History of Japan

The history of Japan seems to start around 500,000 BCE, date when the earliest stone tool implements have been found. Following the last ice-age, the rich ecosystem of the archipelago apparently fostered human development rather earlier than in other geographical areas, yielding the earliest polished stone tools, and to this date, the earliest known pottery in the world. The history of Japan is then punctuated by an alternance of long periods of isolation and periods of radical, often revolutionary, influences from the rest of the world.

Ancient/Classical Japan

Kofun Period, Also known as the Yamato Period

Main article: Yamato period

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• First Part: Kofun
• Second Part: Asuka

At about AD 405, the Japanese court officially adopted the Chinese writing system introduced via Korea. During the sixth century, Buddhism was introduced to Japan through Korea. Interactions with China during the Tang Dynasty increased dramatically. These events revolutionized Japanese culture and marked the beginning of a long period of Chinese cultural influence. By the Nara period, from the establishment of the first fixed capital at Nara (later moved to Kyoto) in 710 until 1867, the emperors of the Yamato dynasty were the nominal rulers, but actual power was usually held at times by powerful court nobles, at times by regents, and at times by shoguns (military governors).

Related Topics:
405 - Tang Dynasty - Nara - 710 - 1867 - Shogun

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to Shoku Nihongi (続日本紀), Emperor Kammu's mother Takano-no-Niigasa (高野新笠) was a descendent of King Muryeong of Baekje.

Related Topics:
Shoku Nihongi - Emperor Kammu - King Muryeong of Baekje

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nara Period

Main article: Nara Period

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 710, Empress Gemmei moved the capital to Nara. The city was modeled on the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, Chang'an (now Xi'an). During the Nara Period, political developments were quite low, since members of the imperial family struggled for power with the Buddhist clergy as well as the regents, the Fujiwara clan. Japan did enjoy friendly relations with the Korean peninsula as well as formal relationships with Tang China. In 784, the capital was moved to Nagaoka (to escape the Buddhist priests) and later to Kyoto in 794.

Related Topics:
Empress Gemmei - Tang Dynasty - Chang'an - Xi'an - Fujiwara - Nagaoka - Kyoto

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Heian Period

Main article: Heian Period

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Heian period (平安時代) is the last division of the classical Japanese history that runs from 794 to 1185. The Heian period is considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art and especially in poetry and literature. The name heian is a word that means "peace" in Japanese.

Related Topics:
794 - 1185 - Imperial court - Art - Poetry - Literature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~