Yamato period

This is summary of two more detailed articles, Kofun period and Asuka period.

This article is about a period in Japanese history. Many towns and villages as well as a Japanese city have the same name; see Yamato.

The Yamato period (大和時代, Yamato-jidai) is the period of Japanese history when the Japanese Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.

While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710 (Kofun period c 250-538, Asuka period 538-710), the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed. The Yamato court's supremacy was challenged throughout the Kofun period at least by another polity centred in the later Bizen and Bitchū provinces in what is now known as Okayama prefecture, and it was only into the 6th century that the Yamato clans could be said to have any major advantage over their neighbouring clans.

This period is further divided, by the introduction of Buddhism, into Kofun and Asuka periods, a division that roughly corresponds also with the change of Yamato as one local chiefdom into the most important Japanese polity which directly dominated most Central Japan. the Chinese writing system and Buddhism were introduced by Baekje in exchange for military support.

After the fall of Baekje (660 CE), the Yamato government sent envoys directly to the Chinese court, from which they obtained a great wealth of philosophical and social structure, also already in earlier centuries of the period. In addition to ethics of government, they also adopted the Chinese calendar and many of its religious practices, including Confucianism and Taoism (Japanese: Onmyo). Prince Shotoku prescribed a new constitution for Japan based on the Chinese model.

Background of Yamato society and culture

A millennium earlier, the Japanese Archipelago had been inhabited by the hunter-gatherer Jomon people mostly or solely consisting of ancestors of Ainu (presumably Malayo-Polynesian peoples). In centuries prior to the beginning of the Yamato period, elements of Northeast Asian, Chinese, and Korean civilizations had been introduced to the Japanese Archipelago in waves of migration, them becoming the dominant population and driving the Malayo-Polynesian culture(s) to more remote parts of the archipelago. Rather certainly, they were the main ancestors of Yamato clans and culture. This view was popularized in Japan by Egami Namio's theory of a powerful horse-riding race from the north who brought about the dramatic change from Jomon to Yayoi culture (Yayoi period being the era that immediately preceded Kofun period). Archeological evidence indicates contacts between the mainland (China and southern Korea) and Japan from a very early period, and its continuation also at least in the Kofun period.

The rice-growing, politically fragmented Yayoi culture evolved to more centralized, patriarchal, militaristic Kofun period and Yamato society.

Kofun period

Main article: Kofun period

The Kofun period (古墳時代, Kofun-jidai) is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538. The word kofun is Japanese for the type of burial mounds dating from this era.

During the Kofun period, elements of Northeast Asian, Chinese, and Korean civilizations continued to influence the culture in the Japanese archipelago, both through waves of migration and through trade, travel and cultural change. Archeological evidence indicates contacts between the mainland (China and southern Korea) and Japan also during this period.

The archeological record and ancient Chinese and Korean sources indicate that the various tribes and chiefdoms of the Japanese Archipelago did not begin to coalesce into more centralized and hierarchical polities until 300 (well into the Kofun period), when large tombs begin to appear while there were no contacts between the Wa and China. Some describe the "mysterious century" as a time of internecine warfare as various local monarchies competed for hegemony on Kyushu and Honshu.

Japan of the Kofun age was positive in the introduction of Chinese culture, which mostly took place through Korea. Several kinds of apparates were imported. Books from China were one of the most important trade goods. Chinese philosophy that had been introduced in this era, had a big influence on the history of Japan. Decorated bronze mirrors (神獣鏡) were imported from China. Japan was importing iron from Korea until the latter half of the 6th century.

Kofun tombs

Daisenryo Kofun, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku, Osaka, 5th century.

The Kofun period takes its name (古墳, kofun: "old tomb") from the culture's rich funerary rituals and distinctive earthen mounds. The mounds contained large stone burial chambers. Some are surrounded by moats.

Kofun came in many shapes, with round and square being the simplest. A distinct style is the keyhole kofun (前方後円墳 zenpō kōen fun), with its square front and round back. Many kofun were natural hills, which might have been sculpted to their final shape. Kofun range in size from several meters to over 400 meters in length.

By the late Kofun period, the distinctive burial chambers, originally used by the ruling elite, also were built for commoners.

The biggest kofun are believed to be the tombs of emperors like Emperor Ōjin (応神天皇 Ōjin Tennō) and Emperor Nintoku (仁徳天皇 Nintoku Tennō). Kofun are also classified according to whether the entrance to the stone burial chamber is vertical (縦穴 tate-ana) or horizontal (横穴 yoko-ana).

Immigrants in early Japan

"Japan of the Kofun Period was very positive towards the introduction of Korean culture." Iron working technology was introduced into Japan from Korea around 300.

Korean influence on Japanese laws is also attributed to the fact that Korean immigrants were on committees that drew up law codes. Eight of the 19 members of the committee drafting the Taiho Code were from Korean immigrant families while none were from China proper. Further, the system of local administrative districts and the tribute tax were both based on Korean models.

Many important figures were immigrants from China and Korea. The "Shinsen-Joujouroku" (新撰姓氏録), which was used as a directory of aristocrats, lists a number of clans from the Han China, Silla, Baekche, and Goguryeo. Yamato Imperial Court had officially edited the directory in 815, and 163 Chinese clans were registered.

Kofun society

The Kofun period was a critical stage in Japan's evolution toward a more cohesive and recognized state. This society was most developed in the Kinai Region and the easternmost part of the Inland Sea. Japan's rulers of the time even petitioned the Chinese court for confirmation of royal titles.

Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century.

The Yamato polity, which emerged by the late 5th century, was distinguished by powerful great clans or extended families, including their dependants. Each clan was headed by a patriarch who performed sacred rites to the clan's kami to ensure the long-term welfare of the clan. Clan members were the aristocracy, and the kingly line that controlled the Yamato court was at its pinnacle. The Kofun period of Japanese culture is also sometimes called the Yamato period by some Western scholars, since this local chieftainship arose to become the Imperial dynasty at the end of the Kofun period.

Asuka period

Main article: Asuka period

The Asuka period (飛鳥時代, Asuka-jidai) is generally defined as from 538–710. The arrival of Buddhism from Silla marked a change in Japanese society and affected the Yamato government.

The Yamato state evolved much during the Asuka period, which is named after the Asuka region, south of modern Nara, the site of numerous temporary imperial capitals established during the period. The Asuka period is known for its significant artistic, social, and political transformations, which had their origins in the late Kofun period.

Artistically, the term Tori Style is often used for the Asuka period. This is from the sculptor Kuratsukuri Tori, grandson of Chinese immigrant Shiba Tatto. Tori Style inherits Chinese Northern Wei style.

The arts during the Asuka and Nara periods are similar to contemperaneous art in China and Korea. One example of this is Tori Busshi's Shaka triad which reflects the style of early to mid-sixth century Chinese style.

Introduction of Buddhism

Buddhism (仏教, Bukkyō) was introduced by Korean monks, probably in A.D. 538, exposing Japan to a new body of religious doctrine.

With the dawn of the Asuka period the use of elaborate kofun tombs by the imperial family and other elite fell out of use because of prevailing new Buddhist beliefs, which put greater emphasis on the transience of human life. Commoners and the elite in outlying regions, however, continued to use kofun until the late seventh century, and simpler but distinctive tombs continued in use throughout the following period.

The Yamato state

The Yamato state (ヤマト王権, Yamato-Ōken) evolved still further during the Asuka period, which is named after the Asuka region, south of modern Nara, the site of numerous temporary imperial capitals established during the period. The Asuka period is known for its significant artistic, social, and political transformations, which had their origins in the late Kofun period.

The Yamato court, concentrated in the Asuka region, exercised power over clans in Kyushu and Honshu, bestowing titles, some hereditary, on clan chieftains. The Yamato name became synonymous with all of Japan as the Yamato rulers suppressed the clans and acquired agricultural lands. Based on Chinese models (including the adoption of the Chinese written language), they developed a central administration and an imperial court attended by subordinate clan chieftains but with no permanent capital. By the mid-seventh century, the agricultural lands had grown to a substantial public domain, subject to central policy. The basic administrative unit of the Gokishichido system was the county, and society was organized into occupation groups. Most people were farmers; other were fishers, weavers, potters, artisans, armorers, and ritual specialists.

Events

• 538: the Korean kingdom of Paekche dispatches a delegation to introduce Buddhism to the Japanese emperor
• 593: Prince Shotoku of the Soga clan rules Japan and promotes Buddhism
• 600: Prince Shotoku sends the first official Japanese mission to China
• 604: Prince Shotoku issues a Chinese-style constitution (Kenpo Jushichijo), based on Confucian principles, which de facto inaugurates the Japanese empire
• 605: Prince Shotoku declares Buddhism and Confucianism the state religions of Japan
• 607: Prince Shotoku builds the Buddhist temple Horyuji in the Asuka valley
• 645: Prince Shotoku is succeeded by Kotoku Tenno, who strengthens imperial power over aristocratic clans (Taika Reform), turning their states into provinces

References

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