Japan

Jomon Period

Period: 14,500 BCE to 300 BCE

Jomon Period in Japan

Ice Age ends, land bridges recede

10,000 BCE

The Ice Age ends and land bridges recede leaving groups of people on an island that is to become Japan.

Late phase of the Jomon Period

Period: 1000 BCE to 300 BCE

The Late phase of the Jomon Period, rice farming and metalworking are brought to Japan.

Yayoi Period

Period: 300 BCE to 250 BCE

The Yayoi Period in ancient Japan

Metal tools from bronze and iron, religion Shinto

100 BCE

Metal tools made from bronze and iron. Primary religion at this time is Shinto.

Ise Grand Shrine

4 BCE

Traditional founding date of the Ise Grand Shrine in honour of the Shinto goddess Amaterasu

reign of Queen Himiko

Period: 189 to 248

The reign of Queen Himiko.

Queen Himiko sends tribute to China

238

Queen Himiko of Japan sends a tribute delegation to China

Kofun Period

Period: 250 to 538

The Kofun Period in ancient Japan.

Yamato Period

Period: 250 to 719

250 CE - 710 CE The Yamato Period in ancient Japa

Haniwa terracotta placed outside Japanese mound tombs/kofun

Period: 300 to 700

Haniwa terracotta figurines are placed outside Japanese mound tombs/kofun

Japan diplomacy with Korea

366

Japan establishes diplomatic relations with Korea.

ambassadors and tribute to China

Period: 413 to 478

Japanese kings send ambassadors and tribute to China.

Toyouke shrine

478

founding of the Toyouke shrine at the Shinto Ise Grand Shrine in Japan

Japanese culture influenced by China

500

Japanese culture is influenced by China. Chinese writing and characters are introduced.

Reign of Emperor Kimmei

Period: 531 to 571

Reign of Emperor Kimmei in Japan

Reign of Emperor Senka

Period: 535 to 539

Reign of Emperor Senka in Japan.

Asuka Period

Period: 538 to 710

The Asuka Period in ancient Japan.

introduction of Buddhism

552

introduction of Buddhism to Japan from Korea.

Emperor Bidatsu

Period: 572 to 585

Reign of Emperor Bidatsu in Japan

Emperor Yomei

Period: 585 to 587

Reign of Emperor Yomei in Japan

Soga clan control government

587

The Soga clan establish control of government in Japan

Emperor Sushun

Period: 587 to 592

Reign of Emperor Sushun in Japan

Empress Suiko

Period: 592 to 628

Reign of Empress Suiko in Japan

Shitennoji Buddhist temple is built

593

The Shitennoji Buddhist temple is built in Japan

Buddhist Gango-ji temple

593

The Buddhist Gango-ji temple, the oldest in Japan, is founded at Asuka.

Reign of Prince Shotoku

Period: 594 to 622

Reign of Prince Shotoku as regent for Japanese Empress Suiko.

Hokoji Buddhist temple

596

The Hokoji Buddhist temple is built in Japan

Seventeen Article Constitution

604

Prince Shotoku draws up his Seventeen Article Constitution in Japan

official embassies sent to Sui China

607

Prince Shotoku of Japan sends the first of many official embassies to Sui China.

Horyuji Buddhist temple is built

607

The Horyuji Buddhist temple is built in Nara, Japan during the reign of Regent Prince Shotoku.

Emperor Jomei

Period: 629 to 641

Reign of Emperor Jomei in Japan

Empress Kogyoku

Period: 642 to 645

Reign of Empress Kogyoku in Japan.

Fujiwara clan

645

The Fujiwara clan in Japan is founded by Fujiwara no Kamatari.
Fujiwara no Kamatari leads a coup d'etat in Japan. they remove the Soga clan from power.

capital is moved

645

The Japanese capital is moved from Asuka to Naniwa

Emperor Kotoku

Period: 645 to 654

Reign of Emperor Kotoku in Japan Japan

Empress Saimei

Period: 655 to 661

Reign of Empress Saimei

Emperor Tenji

Period: 661 to 671

Reign of Emperor Tenji

Emperor Kobun

Period: 671 to 672

Reign of Emperor Kobun

Emperor Temmu

Period: 672 to 686

Reign of Emperor Temmu

Empress Jito

Period: 686 to 697

Reign of Empress Jito

Fujiwarakyo Japanese capital

Period: 694 to 710

Fujiwarakyo is made the Japanese capital.

Emperor Mommu

Period: 697 to 707

Reign of Emperor Mommu

Empress Gemmei

Period: 707 to 715

Reign of Empress Gemmei

Japan's first coin

708

Japan's first coin, the Wado kaiho, is introduced

Buddhist Kofukuji temple

710

The Buddhist Kofukuji temple established at Nara
main temple of the Japanese Fujiwara clan.

Nara becomes japan capital

Period: 710 to 784

Nara becomes the capital of Japan

Nara Period

Period: 710 to 794

The Nara Period
Japanese capital is moved from Fujiwarakyo to Nara
buildings of the Buddhist Horyuji monastery in Nara, Japan are rebuilt

Kojiki is written

712

The Kojiki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion

Japanese Fudoki are composed

713

The Japanese Fudoki are composed and record local kami and associated legends

Reign of Empress Gensho

Period: 715 to 724

Reign of Empress Gensho

Buddhist Gango-ji temple is relocated

718

The Buddhist Gango-ji temple is relocated from Asuka to Nara

Nihon Shoki is written

720

The Nihon Shoki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion

Emperor Shomu

Period: 724 to 749

Reign of Emperor Shomu

smallpox epidemics

Period: 735 to 737

Japan suffers two smallpox epidemics which kills 25-35% of the population

Hall of Dreams

739

The Hall of Dreams or Yumedono is built at the Buddhist monastery of Horyuji, Nara, Japan.

Empress Koken

Period: 749 to 458

First reign of Empress Koken

emperor Junnin

Period: 758 to 864

Reign of emperor Junnin

Manyoshu is written

759

The Manyoshu or 'Collection of 10,000 Leaves' is written, an important Shinto source and classic of Japanese poetry.

Second reign of Empress Koken

Period: 764 to 770

Second reign of Empress Koken, now known as Shotoku

Emperor Konin

Period: 770 to 781

Reign of Emperor Konin

Emperor Kammu

Period: 781 to 806

Reign of Emperor Kammu

Japanese capital moves to Nagaokakyo

784

Emperor Kammu moves the Japanese capital from Nara to Nagaokakyo

Heian Period

Period: 794 to 1185

The Heian Period in Japan

The Pillow Book

1002

Sei Shonagon completes The Pillow Book,
Japanese classic describing court life during the Heian Period

Japanese warrior Minamoto no Yoshiie

Period: 1042 to 1103

Life of the legendary Japanese warrior Minamoto no Yoshiie

Emperor Shirakawa

Period: 1073 to 1087

Reign of Emperor Shirakawa

Hogen Disturbance

1156

Hogen Disturbance

Heiji Disturbance

1160

Heiji Disturbance

Genpei War

Period: 1180 to 1185

The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.

wood statue of Kannon

1254

The large gilded wood statue of Kannon is sculpted at Sanjusangendo, Heiankyo (Kyoto), Japan.

The Mongols attempt to invade Japan

1275

The Mongols, led by Kublai Khan, attempt to invade Japan, but fail when a typhoon destroys much of the Mongol navy.

Onin war

1467

The Onin war occurs.