Early Japanese History

10,500-300 BC Jomon Period

300 BC-300 AD Yayoi Period

57 AD 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Earliest Historical References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