Japanese empire:

 According to the myth, the first emperor was Jimmu Tenno.

 They believed that having one line of emperors make Japan different from other
countries.
 He conquered his rival clans in the plain of Kyushu and Honshu and established a
state in Yamato plain

Yamato Period
 Established circa 300 – 720 C.E.
 Often changing capitals
Instead of renovating the emperor’s palace, they build a more modern palace
and place there their capital.
 From 500 – 800 A.D., Japan sent people to China.
- They brought new ideas and customs of the Chinese people. These set of
reforms are called Taika.
- Ideas are the Chinese writing system, model of government, Buddhism,
Confucianism, law, food, architecture, style of dress and ideas of art and life.

 In A.D. 645, a new emperor make great changes.

The emperor now began controlling land and taxes. And a new code of laws
gave greater power to the emperor.

Nara Period
 Established 710 – 794 C.E
 In 710 C.E., they have their first permanent city and named Nara.
 Nara was modeled after the Chang An, capital of the Tang Dynasty in China. They
had palace for emperor, several Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Heian Period
 In 794 C.E., a new capital was built in Heian (present day – Kyoto).
 Heian culture has revealed the elegant writing of poems, meticulous preparation
of clothes and art of calligraphy.
A fine example of this aristocratic culture is the great novel, The Tale of Genji,
written by Murasaki Shikibu or Lady Murusaki.
 Towards the end of the Heian period, wars among Daimyo (feudal lords) created
their own private army composed of warriors and samurai. A military tradition
known as “Bushido” or “Code of Honor”. Loyalty, honor and courage are among
the important qualities of a samurai. They also practice “seppuku” or “harakiri”.
 After the fall of the Heian period, three shogunate ruled Japan. The three
shogunate are Minamoto, Ashikaga and Tokugawa.
Minamoto Period
 First Shogunate of Japan
 Established 1185 and ended 1333 C.E.
 A new city was built as the center of the military government and named
Kamakura.
 1274 and 1281, Mongols invaded Japan but they failed.
 They believed that Kami or spirits sent those typhoons for their protection to the
mongols.
 They called typhoons “kamikaze” or divine wind.
 They improved the…
- Trade with other countries
- Status of Japanese women
 Money is one of the reasons why Minamoto period ended.

Tokugawa Shogunate

 Established 1600 – 1868, headed by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

 Established their capital in “Edo” (Tokyo in present-day)
 He restricted ownership of sword to the samurais only and surrender swords of
non-samurai
3 types of Daimyos
1. Fudai Daimyo – member clan
2. Shimpan Daimto - related clan
3. Tozama Daimyo – outside clan
- former enemy vassals who surrendered and where subjected to restrictions.
Daimyo’s responsibility:
 They could not construct or repair their castles without the permission of the
shogun.
 They also need to maintain two residences: one in Edo and the land given by to
them
 They need to perform “sankin kotai” (visit to Edo)
Ashikaga Period
 Second shogunate of Japan.
 Established 1333 C.E. with Muromachi as its administrative center and
established their capital to Kyoto.
 Ashikaga failed to control all the daimyos who continued fighting among
themselves.
Three Great Warriors
1. Oda Nobunaga (1534 – 1582)
- conquered the rival daimyo
- controlled the Buddhist monks
- killed by a vassal in 1582
2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 – 1598)
- control large part of Japan
- ordered taxation on farmers
- prohibited Christianity in Japan
3. Tokugawa Ieyasu