Japan History

Sushi

200

Sushi was invented. Now sushi has become a Japanese cultural symbol.

Unifaication

250

Japan was firstly unified during Kofun period. The symbol of this period was giant tombs for ancestors.

Buddhism

538

Buddism Entered Japan. Japanese Buddhism belongs to Mahayana Buddhism, and was imported from Korea.

Prince Shotoku

604

Prince Shotoku established the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System at the court. He is also credited with promulgating a Seventeen-article constitution. Inspired by mainly Buddhism together with Confucianism, his work were all built upon moral value of Buddhism and Confucianism. He also sent messenger Ono no Imoko to Sui Dynasty, but Emperor Suiyangdi was angry because Shotoku's letter put Japan into the same position as Sui. This story is illustrated in a famous Japanese comic Gag Manga Biyori.

Taika Reform

645

Emperor Kōtoku defeated Soga clan that held power for a long time. The reform was largely based on Chinese system of land, language, culture, architecture, etc. Taiku Reform marks the end of Asuka period and the beginning of centralized government.

Nara Period

710

the capital was moved to Nara. Nara period began. Nara was called Heijō-kyō at that time and modelled on Chang'an

Shintoism

Jan 1, 800

Shintoism was separated from Buddhism in 8th century and become a local religion.

Onmyodo

Jan 1, 921

Onmyodo penetrated into government. Abe no Seimei was one of the most famous one who had large influence in politics.

Kamakura period

1185

Kamakura shogunate held power. Since then, the entire samurai feudal system with shogunate as highest power was established.

Waka

1185

Waka (Japanese poem) emerged at this time. It has a metre of 5 and 7 syllables.

Bushido

1185

Bushido was proposed against the leisure lifestyle of Heian aristocrats. It later became the cornerstone of Japanese militarism.

Fujiwara no Shunzei

1204

Fujiwara no Shunzei was a famous japanese poet.

Mogol Invasion

Jan 1, 1247

Mongal invaded Japan, but their fleet was destroyed by kamikaze, the "divine wind." Yet, shogunate couldn't afford the award two its vassals who fought on the battlefield. This worsen their relationship.

Muromachi period

1333

Takauji defeated the old shogunate and became the first shogun of Muromachi shogunate.

Economy in Muromachi Period

1333

Japan frequently traded with China and Korea. Daimyos began to cast coins, which means Japan began to transfer from barter-based economy to currency-based economy.

Sengoku period

1467

Ōnin War ended the Muromachi shogunate and started the Sengoku period, "Age of Warring States." Different feudal lords fought with each other for land and power at this time. Eventually Tokugawa Ieyasu started the Edo era.

First European Visitors

1543

Three Portuguese traders, António Mota, Francisco Zeimoto, and presumably Fernão Mendes Pinto, set foot on Japan. Soon Europeans introduced new technology into Japan, like musket.

Christianity

1549

The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier disembarked in Kyushu