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794
794CE
Emperor’s court moves from Nara to Heian-kyo (modern-day Kyoto). -
798
798CE
Kyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple) is constructed. -
1180
1180–1185CE
Genpei War -
1185
Kamakura period 1185–1333CE
Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shogun and puts Japan under military control. -
1185
Heian period 794–1185CE
Noble Fujiwara family at the height of its political power. Flowering of art and literature, especially poetry. Use of phonetic kana scripts. Rise of samurai military class. The Pillow Book is written by Sei Shonagon. The Tale of Genji is written by Murasaki Shikibu. -
1252
1252CE
Great Buddha statue is installed at Kamakura. -
1274
1274 and 1281 CE
Unsuccessful attempts by Mongol armies to invade Japan. -
1336
Muromachi period 1336–1573CE
Japan under military control of the Ashikaga shoguns. -
1467
1467–77CE
Onin War -
1467
1467–1568CE
Age of the warring states. -
1549
1549CE
Francis Xavier introduces Christianity to Japan. -
1568
1568–1600CE
Toyotomi Hideyoshi persecutes Christians. Increase in foreign trade. -
1600CE
Battle of Sekigahara 1397 Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is built. -
Edo period 1600–1868CE
Japan under military control of the Tokugawa shoguns. Christians persecuted. -
1688–1704CE
Genroku period brings a flourishing of urban culture. Shi-no-ko-sho organisation of society Policy of national seclusion isolates Japan from the rest of the world. Edo is the largest city in the world. -
1853CE
Commodore Perry first visits from the US. -
Heian period 1868CE
The Tokugawa shogunate is overthrown. Emperor Meiji is restored to power. -
1868–69CE
Boshin War