Eras in Japanese HistoryEras in Japanese History

JomonJomon 10,000-300B.C.10,000-300B.C. Stone age Stone age

hunters/gatherershunters/gatherers Pottery rope patternedPottery rope patterned Sun Goddess = Sun Goddess =

Amaterasu OmikamiAmaterasu Omikami People believe 600B.C. People believe 600B.C.

Jimmu (Devine Warrior) Jimmu (Devine Warrior) founds Japanese Empirefounds Japanese Empire

YayoiYayoi 300B.C – 300A.D.300B.C – 300A.D. Rice, metalworking, Rice, metalworking,

potters wheel come from potters wheel come from China/Korea.China/Korea.

Yayoi is the place in Tokyo Yayoi is the place in Tokyo where wheel-turned where wheel-turned pottery foundpottery found

Shinto oldest religionShinto oldest religion Kami = divine forces Kami = divine forces Have human characteristics Have human characteristics

(loyalty, wisdom, etc.) (loyalty, wisdom, etc.) 100-300 A.D. Clans form 100-300 A.D. Clans form

political unitspolitical units

KofunKofun

(Yamato)(Yamato)

300A.D. – 645A.D.300A.D. – 645A.D. Powerful clans = Unified Powerful clans = Unified

statesstates Close contact with mainland Close contact with mainland

AsiaAsia Rulers buried in Kofun (tomb Rulers buried in Kofun (tomb

mounds)mounds) Rulers claim descendents of Rulers claim descendents of

A.materasu O. = imperial A.materasu O. = imperial dynasty (still in existence!)dynasty (still in existence!)

Adopts Chinese writing,Adopts Chinese writing, Patterns govt. after China Patterns govt. after China

(Shotoku Tashi)(Shotoku Tashi) Buddhism and Confucian startBuddhism and Confucian start

AsukaAsuka 645A.D – 710A.D.645A.D – 710A.D. Taika no Kaishin (Taika Taika no Kaishin (Taika

Reforms) strenthen Reforms) strenthen emperor’s poweremperor’s power

Aristocratic families Aristocratic families createdcreated

Fujiwars no Kamatari Fujiwars no Kamatari strongeststrongest

NaraNara 710A.D. – 794A.D.710A.D. – 794A.D. New Captial in Nara New Captial in Nara

modeled after Chinamodeled after China Emperors Shinto, but Emperors Shinto, but

make Buddhism state make Buddhism state religion religion believe Buddhism with believe Buddhism with

bring peace and protect bring peace and protect the govt.the govt.

Buddhist monasteries Buddhist monasteries gan political powergan political power

HeianHeian 794-1185794-1185 Nara’s Buddhist forces Nara’s Buddhist forces

Imperial court to move to Imperial court to move to Heiankyo (now Kyoto)Heiankyo (now Kyoto)

Kana invented (syllabary Kana invented (syllabary for writing Japanese)for writing Japanese)

Murasaki Shikibu writes Murasaki Shikibu writes Tale of GenjiTale of Genji World’s first NovelWorld’s first Novel

Court declines in powerCourt declines in power Bushi (warrior class) riseBushi (warrior class) rise

KamaKamakurakura

1185– 13331185– 1333 Minamoto no Yoritomo Minamoto no Yoritomo

establishes military govt.establishes military govt. 1192 Bushi become ruling 1192 Bushi become ruling

classclass Yoritomo becomes seii Yoritomo becomes seii

taishoguntaishogun Barbarian-subduing generalissimoBarbarian-subduing generalissimo

Emperor becomes figureheadEmperor becomes figurehead 1274 & 1281 Kublai Khan 1274 & 1281 Kublai Khan

invades Japan. Repelled by invades Japan. Repelled by kamikazi (divine winds). kamikazi (divine winds).

Invasion weakens ruling Invasion weakens ruling military governemtnmilitary governemtn

MuroMuromachmach

ii

1333 – 15681333 – 1568 Muromachi district is base for Muromachi district is base for

new Shogun Govtnew Shogun Govt Ashikaga Takauji new Ashikaga Takauji new

Shogun/practices ZenShogun/practices Zen Ink paintings, Garden Ink paintings, Garden

designing, Tea ceremony designing, Tea ceremony (chanoyu) popular(chanoyu) popular

1467 – 1568 1467 – 1568 Ten year war (Onin War) Ten year war (Onin War)

destroys central govt.destroys central govt. 100 years Whole country at war 100 years Whole country at war

(Sengoku Jidai)(Sengoku Jidai) Firearms introducedFirearms introduced Christianity introducedChristianity introduced

AzuchAzuchimomimom-oya -oya MaMa

1568-16001568-1600 Japan reunified by Oda Japan reunified by Oda

NobunagaNobunaga Foundation of modern Foundation of modern

japan laid by Toyotomi japan laid by Toyotomi HideyoshiHideyoshi Wants to conquer Korea Wants to conquer Korea

and China. Rest of and China. Rest of population say ENOUGH population say ENOUGH WAR!!!WAR!!!

Painting, huge designs, Painting, huge designs, tea ceremony flourishtea ceremony flourish

Edo Edo (toku(tokugawagawa

))

1600-18681600-1868 Tokugawa Ieyasu new Tokugawa Ieyasu new

ShogunShogun Capital moved to Edo (Now Capital moved to Edo (Now

Tokyo)Tokyo) Age of peace/IsolationAge of peace/Isolation

Outside trading in Nagasaki Outside trading in Nagasaki only (Chinese/Dutch)only (Chinese/Dutch)

Christianity suppressedChristianity suppressed Rigid social hierachyRigid social hierachy Cities/Commerce flourish Cities/Commerce flourish

Kabuki/Bunraku spring upKabuki/Bunraku spring up Books publishedBooks published Education increasesEducation increases

1853 Commodore Matthew C. 1853 Commodore Matthew C. Perry forces doors of Japan Perry forces doors of Japan openopen