Transcript Early Japanese History

Early Japanese History
10,500-300
300
57
-300 AD
BC
AD
BC
Jomon Period
Yayoi Period
First mention of Japan in historical
writing (Chinese history)
~250-260
Founding of the Great Shrine of Ise
300-710
Kufun or Yamato Period
552
Introduction of Buddhism into Japan
552-645
Asuka Period, named after the
Asukadera temple in Asuka
592-628
Empress Suiko; Prince Shotoku serves
as regent
604
The Seventeen Article Constitution of
Prince Shotoku
Jomon Period
• 10,000 – 350 BCE
• “Jomon” means “cord pattern” for the cord
patterns found on their pottery
• hunter- gatherers
• relatively isolated
Dogu Figures
Yayoi Period
• 300 BCE – 300 CE
• came from northern Kyushu and then
seemed to replace the Jomon
• agriculturally-based, rice cultivation
• origins? indigenous? from Korea? China?
• lived in clans called uji
• clans connected with “gods” or “spirits”
called “kami” (cf. Shinto)
Yayoi Jar
1st – 3rd Cent. CE
Reconstructed
Yayoi Village –
Yoshinogari
Earliest Historical References
• in 57 CE, a Chinese history mentions that
the Han emperor sent a golden seal to
Japan (called “Wa”) and mentions that
Japan was divided into 100+ communities
and had no political unity
• story of a “queen” called Himiko who sent
a tribute mission to the Chinese state of
Wei in 239 CE (connection to later royal
lineages?)
Ancient Religion
• what we know as “Shinto” develops over time
and isn’t named as such till Buddhism arrives
• clan-based, each associated with a “kami”
• as clans consolidated, multiple kami were
worshipped
• definition of kami
• concerns for purity
• burial rituals
• shrines (founding of Ise)
Shrine at Ise
Yamato or Kofun Period
• 300-710 CE
• called “Kofun” for the tomb-mounds built by this
culture
• “Yamato” is the plain near modern Osaka, where
the Yamato kings established their capital
• Kings in the Yamato plain began to consolidate
power, e.g. Yuryaku (late 5th cent.) – establishes
systems of hierarchy based on Chinese systems
& using Korean nomenclature
“Keyhole”
Kofun of
Emperor
Nintoku, 5th
cent., near
Osaka
Round Kofun, 5th cent. CE, Setagaya-ku,
Tokyo
Prince Shotoku
Summer, 4th month, 10th day.
The Imperial Prince Mumayado no Toyotomimi was appointed Prince Imperial. He
had general control of the Government, and was entrusted with all the details of
administration. He was the second child of the Emperor Tachibana no Toyo-hi. The
Empress-consort his mother's name was the Imperial Princess Anahobe no
Hashibito. The Empress-consort, on the day of the dissolution of her pregnancy,
went round the forbidden precinct, inspecting the different offices. When she came
to the Horse Department, and had just reached the door of the stables, she was
suddenly delivered of him without effort. He was able to speak as soon as he was
born, and was so wise when he grew up that he could attend to the suits of ten men
at once and decide them all without error. He knew beforehand what was going to
happen. Moreover he learnt the Inner Doctrine from a Koryo Priest named Hye-cha,
and studied the Outer Classics with a doctor called Hak-ka. In both of these
branches of study he became thoroughly proficient. The Emperor his father loved
him, and made him occupy the Upper Hall South of the Palace. Therefore he was
styled the Senior Prince Kamu-tsu miya4, Aluma-ya-do Toyotomimi.
Translated by W.G. Aston, Nihongi (London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1896),
278-279
Introduction and edited by Richard Hooker
Shotoku
• reunification in China – Sui/Tang Dynasty
widens influence in Korea and then Japan
(via Paekche)
• factional disputes amongst Japanese
clans
• some clans (e.g. Nakatomi) have a more
traditionalist attitude toward religion (kami)
• others (e.g. Soga) influenced by Chinese
philosophy and theories of government
Shotoku (cont.)
• Suiko (princess from Soga clan) rules until 628 CE, has
capital at Asuka, and opens relations with China
• Prince Shotoku (574-622 CE) appointed as regent in 593
at age 20
• encourages education of elite in Chinese culture portrayed in the attire of the Chinese court
• said to have lectured on the Lotus Sutra in the court in
606 CE and famously said “The world is Illusion; only
Buddha is truth.”
• often regarded as an ideal ruler later in Japanese
historiography