Japan’s history in brief (I)

【CATEGORY of ERA】

Birth of Japan

[About 40,000 years ago: Paleolithic]
A band of early humans from Africa reached this land about 40,000 years ago. The time machine of genomic analysis tells us the number of those landed — some 1,000. They are considered as the ancestor of Jomon people who made earthenware vessels with patterns made by pressing ropes on. (“jo” is rope and “mon” means pattern.)

[About 4,400 – 3,000 years ago: Jomon era (Neolithic)]
While the first immigrants lived on foraging, second group of different DNA ethnic groups brought fishing and farming skills. They mixed with the earlier migrants in the central and southern areas of the mainland and Kyushu island, though the mixture is rarely found in Hokkaido, the northern island. The genomic analysis found that some of Ainu people living in this island have almost 100% Jomon DNA people to this date. Ainu people, whose ancestors had come down from northern part of Asian continent, lived in northern area of the mainland, too. However, in 8th century, the central government expanded its power over their land, and expelled them to Hokkaido. You can learn about people’s lifestyle of those days at some excavated places such as Sannai Maruyama Site and Yoshinogari Historical Park.  (Ref: Origin of Japanese, by SAITO Naruya)

[About 3,000 – 1,700 years ago: Yayoi era]
Following the previous incomers, next settlers from the continent, mostly through Korea peninsula, brought rice agriculture and iron-making technique. However, the spread of rice-producing and iron arms production brought on various conflicts and wars. Eventually, war-tired leaders gathered together under the leading shaman, a woman named Himiko to settle their disputes. She managed to calm down those leaders by conveying divine prophesy for extraordinary natural phenomena. But, after her death in 247A.D., the power struggles between those leaders flared up again, which eventually led to the next stage of governance by a few surviving, powerful lords. In late Yayoi era, their power struggles resulted in the establishment of two power bases in northern Kyushu and mainland’s Kinai area (Nara, Kyoto, Osaka and neighboring regions).

 (Yayoi is the name of a district of central Tokyo where earthenware vessels of this era were found first.)

[About 1,700 – 1,300 years ago: Kofun (Mound Tomb) era]
The leading lords established their power further by the advanced craft and cultures brought into through the exchange of people with continent (Korea and China). The lording group in Kinai area gradually expanded their influence over the other places including northern land, thus overshadowing those in Kyushu. Hence, the central government under one great leader (later called the Emperor ) exerted its power through the country, which the Emperor named Yamato. Those in power then started making bigger mound tomb Kofun as a symbol of their power, which eventually spread through the country. The solidified authority made the leadership bolder to get involved in the Korean civil wars, and dispatched troops as early as 369A.D. This continued almost two centuries. Another notable event showing close contact with the continent was propagation of Buddhism through Korea in mid-6th century.

Establishment of Noble Class
[592 – 710 A.D.: Asuka era]
Several revolutionary events happened in this era as follows.

Dispute about the official recognition of Buddhism developed into power struggle in the royal court, since the official religion of the country’s leadership was and still is Shintoism, a polytheistic religion native to Japan.
First Empress Suiko was inaugurated in 592A.D.
Crown Prince wrote Constitution of 17 articles as a conduct code for governing aristocrats and officials.
Nationwide governance mechanism was firmly established by the Reformation of Taika era through various scrap-and-build policies. The reformation, starting in 645A.D., decided country’s name “Nippon,” and official title of emperor/empress as “Tenno.”
From 689A.D., legal system of criminal law and administration law was serially established.
Cupellation furnace for silver production was built.

[710 – 794 A.D.: Nara era]
Genmei Tenno (empress) relocated capital from Fujiwra-kyo to Nara area with a new name of Heijo-kyo. While building many temples throughout the governed areas to pray for the peace and security of the nation, the central government stepped up forced control over the disobedient northern and southern areas. It was to extend the authority of Tenno, and increase areas for taxation to reconstruct economy battered by relocation of capital and construction of many temples.
Japan’s oldest history books “Kojiki” and “Nihon Shoki” were completed. The latter was to trace up emperors’ family tree and their legitimacy.

[794 – 1185 A.D.: Heian era — long-lasting palace politics, and– ]
Emperor Kanmu relocated capital to Heian-kyo (Kyoto) in 794. (After that, there was no relocation of capital until 1868 when reformers toppled Tokugawa Shogunate and Meiji Emperor moved to Tokyo—new center of governance.) Administration by emperors and aristocrats continued almost 390 years without nationwide battles. However, power struggles within the emperors’ families and upper class continued, and their bickering and infighting gradually invited institutional fatigue on the national management and taxation. With the social instability going on, local leaders and rich families armed themselves, and eventually exerted influence on the power struggle of aristocrats.
During such a long governance by aristocrats, people gradually developed cultured mind. In such an environment, the ability to write poem and story was highly appreciated. Thus, Murasaki Shikibu wrote Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji).

(Continued to Japan’s history (II))