Japan
Japan: Timeline
Imperial Age & Chinese
influence
604-784
Taika Reforms (645)
Nara (710-784)
Heian (794-1185)
Adaptation of
Chinese forms &
“ultra-civilized”
Age of Feudal Warlords
1185-1600
Fun Factoid
Japan has “always” had an emperor
Japan has only had one dynasty
(all members of Yamato clan)
Why?
Japan’s Origins
in the Classical Period
Decentralized Japan (-604)
Shinto, but growing Buddhist influence
Large provincial estates with aristocratic
governors ruling with power derived from
emperor
Japan’s Imperial Age (604-784)
The Imperial Age
Efforts at Centralization (604-784)
→ Taika Reforms (646)
Focused on creating absolute-powered
emperor with Chinese style bureaucracy
Referred to emperor at “Son of Heaven”
Professional bureaucracy
Peasant conscript army
The Imperial Age
Nara (710-784)
“Nara” derived from Japan’s 1st capital city
Intense direct borrowing from China, but
increasing power of Buddhism
The Imperial Age
Why might some historians refer to the late
Imperial Age as the “crisis at Nara”?
What was the response to the crisis?
Heian Period (794-1185)
Early Heian (794-857)
Move capital to Kyoto
Borrowing from China declines as adaptation
begins
Aristocratic families re-exert influence
Court life
Remote from common life
Ultra-civilized – superficial focus on beauty
& social interactions
Early Heian (794-857)
What is “court life”?
Why is the court life during Heian
period called “ultracivilized”?
Late Heian (857-1185)
Sign of failed centralization
Reign of emperor continues, but
Real power rests with most powerful
aristocratic family
Fujiwara
Taira
Minamoto
Feudal Age (1185-1600)
• Most power rests with regional lords
Era characterized by civil war
Bakufu / Shogunate (1185-1600)
Attempt at formalizing rule of
aristocratic house
Create military dictatorship with blessing of
emperor
Shogun
Gov’t sometimes called a Bakufu (military
government) or Shogunate
Feudal Age (1185-1600)
Attempt at centralization fails, but
heritage of political model established
Emperor still in place (figure head)
Shogun in place (increasingly ignored and
treated as figurehead)
Aristocratic families still reign supreme
Daimyo / Bushi
Impact of Feudal Warfare
Regional lords (daimyo) invest in villages
on manor
Irrigation, tax collection, encourage
handicraft production
Economic boom during feudal age & civil war