Eras in Japanese History
Jomon 10,000-300B.C. Stone age hunters/gatherers Pottery rope patterned Sun Goddess = Amaterasu Omikami People believe 600B.C. Jimmu (Devine Warrior) founds Japanese Empire
Yayoi 300B.C – 300A.D. Rice, metalworking, potters wheel come from China/Korea. Yayoi is the place in Tokyo where wheel-turned pottery found Shinto oldest religion Kami = divine forces Have human characteristics (loyalty, wisdom, etc.) 100-300 A.D. Clans form political units
Kofun (Yamato) 300A.D. – 645A.D. Powerful clans = Unified states Close contact with mainland Asia Rulers buried in Kofun (tomb mounds) surrounded by haniwa (clay sculptures) Yamato clan Rulers claim descendents of A.materasu O. = imperial dynasty (still in existence!) Adopts Chinese writing, Patterns govt. after China (Shotoku Tashi) = centralized govt. and bureaucracy of merit Buddhism and Confucian start
Asuka 645A.D – 710A.D. Taika no Kaishin (Taika Reforms) strengthen emperor’s power Aristocratic families created Fujiwara no Kamatari strongest
Nara 710A.D. – 794A.D. New captial in Nara modeled after China Emperors Shinto, but make Buddhism state religion believe Buddhism with bring peace and protect the govt. Buddhist monasteries gain political power Two history books written (Legends) Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) Nihon Shoki (Chronicle of Japan)
Heian 794-1185 Nara’s Buddhist forces Imperial court to move to Heiankyo (now Kyoto) Official Contacts with China stops! Kana invented (syllabary for writing Japanese) Murasaki Shikibu writes Tale of Genji World’s first Novel Court declines in power Bushi (warrior class) rise
Kamakura 1185 – 1333 Minamoto no Yoritomo establishes military govt. 1192 Bushi become ruling class Yoritomo becomes seii taishogun Barbarian-subduing generalissimo Emperor becomes figurehead 1274 & 1281 Kublai Khan invades Japan. Repelled by kamikazi (divine winds). Invasion weakens ruling military government
Muromachi 1333 – 1568 Muromachi district is base for new Shogun Govt Ashikaga Takauji new Shogun/practices Zen Ink paintings, Garden designing, Tea ceremony (chanoyu) popular 1467 – 1568 Ten year war (Onin War) destroys central govt. 100 years Whole country at war (Sengoku Jidai) Firearms introduced Christianity introduced
Azuchimomoya Ma 1568-1600 Japan reunified by Oda Nobunaga Foundation of modern Japan laid by Toyotomi Hideyoshi Wants to conquer Korea and China. Rest of population say ENOUGH WAR!!! Painting, huge designs, tea ceremony flourish
Edo (tokugawa) 1600-1868 Tokugawa Ieyasu new Shogun Capital moved to Edo (Now Tokyo) Age of peace/Isolation Outside trading in Nagasaki only (Chinese/Dutch) Christianity suppressed Rigid social hierachy Cities/Commerce flourish Kabuki/Bunraku spring up Books published Education increases 1853 Commodore Matthew C. Perry forces doors of Japan open