Early+Japan6

= Early Japan  = 



>  >      
 * **Empress Suiko <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">(   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">推古天皇)  <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Born in 554 Suiko, was the 33  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">rd emperor of Japan. She was the first emperor to be a woman.  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">After her half-brothers wife died she became his wife. Under her reign the adoptions of the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System and the Seventeen-article constitution came about.
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Kūkai [[image:Kukai-amida-small.jpg width="20" height="62" align="left"]]**<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">774—835 CE:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Japanese monk, scholar, and artist, founder of the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism.
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Taira no Kiyomori (平 清盛) **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Taira no Kiyomori (平 清盛) **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">1118 - 1181CE:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">As a general,he established the first samurai dominated administrative government in the history of Japan.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Social
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">The Japanese people were organized in to clans by the first centuries C.E.   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">"the land of[japan] is warm and mild. In winter as in summer, the people live on raw vegetables and go about barefooted... When a person dies, they prepare a    <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">single coffin, without an outer one... when the funeral is over, all members of the family go into the water to cleanse themselves on a bath of purification." <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">As in most cultures, the imperial family and those who surrounded them were the highest in power as well as honor. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Due to friendly relations to the kingdom of Kudara (or Paikche) on the Korean peninsula, the influence from the mainland increased strongly. Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the year 538 or 552 and was promoted by the ruling class. Prince Shotoku is said to have played an especially important role in promoting Chinese ideas. He also wrote the Constitution of Seventeen Articles about moral and political principles. Also the theories of Confucianism and Taoism, as well as the Chinese writing system were introduced to Japan during the Yamato period. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Political
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">The control of power had developed, in the fertile Kinai plain, by the beginning of the Kofun Period (300 - 538)Then around 400 AD the country was unified as Yamato Japan with its political heart in and surrounding the province of Yamato. The large tombs that were built for the political leaders of the ear, gave the name of the period. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">The capital where the emperor resided, was moved frequently. The actual political power was taken over by the Soga clan,making the emperors more of a figure heads; to act as the symbol of the state and perform Shinto rituals. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">In 645, Nakatomi no Kamatari started the era of the Fujiwara clan that was to last until the rise of the military class (samurai) in the 11th century. In the same year, the Taika reforms were realized: A new government and administrative system was established after the Chinese model. All land was bought by the state and redistributed equally among the farmers in a large land reform in order to introduce the new tax system that was also adopted from China. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">The first permanent Japanese capital was established in Nara, in the year 710. in the new capital, large Buddhist monasteries were built. The monasteries quickly gained such strong political influence that, in order to protect the position of the emperor and central government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784, and finally to Heian (Kyoto) in 794 where it should remain for over one thousand years. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">When the new emperor Go-Sanjo was determined to rule the country by himself, the Fujiwara supremacy came to an end in 1068. In the year 1086 Go-Sanjo abdicated but continued to rule from behind the political stage. This new form of government was called Insei government. From 1086 until 1156, Insei emperors exerted political power. In the 12th century, two military families with aristocratic backgrounds gained much power: the Minamoto (or Genji) and Taira (or Heike) families. The Taira replaced many Fujiwara nobles in important offices while the Minamoto gained military experience by bringing parts of Northern Honshu under Japanese control in the Early Nine Years War (1050 - 1059) and the Later Three Years war (1083 - 1087). The Taira and Minamoto clans fought a deciding war for supremacy, the Gempei War, (1180-1185). By the end of the war, the Minamoto were able to put an end to Taira supremacy, and Minamoto Yoritomo succeeded as the leader of Japan. After eliminating all of his potential and acute enemies, including close family members, he was appointed Shogun (highest military officer) and established a new government in his home city Kamakura. <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">    <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> === <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Religion   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">    === <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">    **  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">The two main religions of Japan were and still are Shinto and Buddhism   ** <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Shinto **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Shinto cannot be traced to its beginnings, because the myths and rituals were transmitted orally. The written record of the ancient beliefs and customs first appeared in the  //<span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Kojiki   //<span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">, prepared under imperial order and completed in   <span class="smallCap" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">A.D.    <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> 712. From those first Japanese accounts of the religion of times then already far past, it can be seen that a worship of the forces and forms of nature had grown into a certain stage of polytheism in which spiritual conceptions had only a small place. Nor was there any clear realization of a personal character in the beings held to be divine, and there were practically no images of the deities. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; white-space: normal;"> <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">There was no one deity supreme over all, but some gods were raised to higher ranks, and the one who held the most exalted position was the sun goddess, known as the Ruler of Heaven. The emperors of Japan are said to be descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu-o-mi-kami, in unbroken line beginning with the first, Jimmu, who ascended his throne in 660  <span class="smallCap" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">B.C.    <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Thus the emperor was looked upon as divine, even while living; by divine right he was the chief priest, and as such he presided over ceremonies of foremost importance. Aside from this his religious responsibilities were delegated to others. <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">A Shinto shrine,, is a simple unpainted wooden building, having some object within it that is believed to be the dwelling place of the kami. After Buddhism entered Japan in the 6th cent. <span class="smallCap" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">A.D.   <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">, it had some influence on Shinto. In many shrines Buddhist priests serve, and worship under their direction is more elaborate than pure Shinto. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Buddhism  **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">R   <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">eligion and philosophy founded in India c.525   <span class="smallCap" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">B.C.E.    <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> by Siddhartha Gautama(Buddha)   <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">. <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">The basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to all Buddhism, include the "four noble truths": existence is suffering (  //<span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">dukhka   //<span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">); suffering has a cause, namely craving and attachment (   //<span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">trishna   //<span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">); there is a cessation of suffering, which is nirvana; and there is a path to the cessation of suffering, the "eightfold path" of right views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Buddhism characteristically describes reality in terms of process and relation rather than entity or substance. <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Trade and Technology
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Being an island, Japan must mainly import most of its resources. Less than one fifth of the 1400 miles of Japan is good farming land due to being mountainous. The Koreans brought the Chinese chilgraphy to Japan, where it was then "Japanized" to suit the Japanese people better. Bronze and iron were in wide spread use among Yayoi culture for tools and ritual objects. Other resources adopted from the Chinese culture were Digging ponds for irrigation, sewing clothes, horse riding, canal and embankment, weaving, brewing, sericulture, tanning rawhide, Buddhism,  <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">sculpture of Buddhist statues, building temples, calendar and Astronomy, paper, waterwheel. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Economic System
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> There is less written record of the economic system of early Japan   <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times Nwe Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">because the central government ceased to edit official history since the later  <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">    <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">half of the Heian period and most of the remaining paper are letters and diaries of Kuge class in Kyoto who were isolated from the political and economic activity. Each regional section had it own good specific the the surroundings; such as ceramic and forestry in the mountains and salts on the seaside. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">Timeline summary of events ** <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> Link for more information <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2131.html <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e641.html <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"><span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">http://www.academicinfo.net/japanhist.html <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">YAYOI (300 B.C. - A.D. 300) Rice cultivation, metalworking, and the potter's wheel are introduced from China and Korea. Era named "Yayoi" after the place in Tokyo where wheel-turned pottery was found. In Shinto, Japan's oldest religion, people identify kami (divine forces) in nature and in such human virtues as loyalty and wisdom. 100-300: Local clans form small political units.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">KOFUN (YAMATO) (300 - 645) Unified state begins with emergence of powerful clan rulers; Japan establishes close contacts with mainland Asia. Clan rulers are buried in kofun (large tomb mounds), surrounded by haniwa (clay sculptures). Yamato clan rulers, claiming descent from Amaterasu Omikami, begin the imperial dynasty that continues to occupy the throne today. Japan adopts Chinese written characters. Shotoku Taishi (574-622) begins to shape Japanese society and government more after the pattern of China. He seeks centralization of government and a bureaucracy of merit. He also calls for reverence for Buddhism and the Confucian virtues.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">ASUKA (645 -710) A great wave of reforms called the Taika no Kaishin (Taika Reforms) aims to strengthen the emperor's power. New aristocratic families are created. Especially powerful is that of Fujiwara no Kamatari, who helped push the reforms.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">NARA (710 - 794) Imperial court builds new capital, modeled upon Chang-an in China, at Nara. Though emperors are Shinto chiefs, they patronize Buddhism in the belief that its teachings will bring about a peaceful society and protect the state. Legends surrounding the founding of Japan are compiled as history in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan). With the adoption of Buddhism as the state religion, its monasteries gain political power.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">HEIAN (794-1185) Imperial court moves to Heiankyo (now Kyoto) to escape domination of Nara's Buddhist establishment. Official contacts with China stop in 838. Buddhism, in combination with native Shinto beliefs, continues to flourish. Flowering of classical Japanese culture aided by invention of kana (syllabary for writing Japanese language). Court women produce the best of era's literature. Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji (ca. 1002) is the world's first novel. Court undergoes decline of power with rise of provincial bushi (warrior class).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(203, 234, 241);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(249, 246, 246);">KAMAKURA (185-1333) Military government established in Kamakura by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Emperor, as figurehead, remains in Kyoto with the court aristocracy.

Work Cited "History of Japan." Japan Guide. 2009. 29 Jan. 2009 <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e641.html>.

Dictioary.com

"Japanese History - History of Japan - Academic Info." Academic Info: Online Degree Programs, Subject Guides and Resources. 3 Feb. 2009. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.academicinfo.net/japanhist.html>.

Hanes III, William T., ed. World History. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997.