1. Eras in Japanese History

2. 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

3. 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.)
A.D. Clans form political units

4. 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

5. Asuka
645A.D – 710A.D.
Taika no Kaishin (Taika Reforms) strengthen emperor’s power
Aristocratic families created
Fujiwara no Kamatari strongest

6. 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)

7. Heian
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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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