HISTORY 2023

• During the Asuka period, Japan changed the name of its country from Wakoku (わこく) to Nihon (日本・にほん), which was sometimes pronounced Nippon (にっぽん). “Wa” was the name given to the people whom the ancient Chinese encountered living in the southern area of Japan. 

• Taika (大化・たいか) is Japan’s first Gengo (元号・げんごう) used from 645. Gengo is the Japanese system of naming the years of the Imperial eras. Taika means “Great Change.” 

• Introduced in 708, Wadokaichin (和同開珎・わどうかいちん) was the first widely circulated currency in Japan. It mimicked the currency issued in China. The unit was called mon (もん), which was equivalent to one day of labor for someone who just became an adult. You could also buy 2 kilograms of rice for 1 mon. 

• Noble men during this era wore long tops called Hou and slacks on the bottom. The colors of the outfits were determined by the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System. Female nobles wore loosely fitted colored tops, and a flippy skirts with vertical stripes. 

In 645, Crown Prince Naka no Oe (なかのおおえ) and Nakatomi no Kamatari (なかとみのかまたり) jointly launched political and social reforms called the Taika Reforms (Taika no Kaishin・たいかのかいしん) to enhance the power of the imperial court. They met during a game of court football called Kemari (けまり). Later, Naka no Oe became Emperor Tenji and Kamatari became the founder of the powerful Fujiwara clan. 

Emperor Tenmu (てんむてんのう) became the 40th emperor of Japan in 673 after defeating his nephew, Otomo, in the Jinshin War or Jinshin no ran (じんしんのらん). Tenmu ordered the creation of the Taiho Code or Taiho Ritsuryo (たいほうりつりょう) Japan’s first code of law. 

Before his death, he decreed that his wife Empress Jito (じとうてんのう), who was the daughter of Tenji Tenno, Tenmu Tenno’s brother, would succeed him and become Japan’s third female monarch.

Fujiwara no Fuhito (ふじわらのふひと 659-720), a noble, politician and a son of Nakatomi no Kamatari, made the Fujiwara clan one of the most powerful clans in Japanese history by marrying his daughters to members of the Imperial family. One granddaughter, Empress Koken or Empress Shotoku, reigned as empress twice (749-759;764-770). 

Kanj (かんじ)-Kanji was introduced to Japan in the 5th century from China via the Korean peninsula. 

• Buddhism (ぶっきょう)-Buddhism was introduced to Japan in 538 when Kudara, an old Korean Kingdom that is also called Baekje, sent Buddha statues and Buddha sutra to Japan. It was during the Asuka period that Buddha culture spread in the region, and many temples and Buddha statues were built.

• Japan sent envoys, called Kenzuishi (けんずいし), to the Sui Dynasty in China during the Asuka period to Buddhism, government systems, medicine, architecture, painting, etc. The first Kenzuishi was Ono no Imoko (おののいもこ). 

• Soga no Umako (そがのうまこ) built Asuka-dera Temple, the oldest temple in Japan, in 596.
  Fujiwara Kyo (ふじわらきょう) was a Chinese-style capital constructed by Emperor Jito. 

Toraijin (とらいじん) refers to people who came from the Chinese continent and became naturalized citizens of Japan. They played an important role in the formation of the culture and administration of ancient Japan, spreading Chinese, West Asian, and Indian cultures. 

During Nara period, the Japanese imperial court, and by extension the State, adopted Buddhism or Bukkyo (ぶっきょう) as its official religion, which expanded the power and influence of the religion. Many temples were built to accommodate the growing number of worshippers and clergy. 

Emperor Shomu (Shomu Tenno・しょうむてんのう) was the 45th Emperor of Japan. During Emperor Shomu's rule, there were many riots in the countryside, conflicts among nobles, poor crops, and smallpox epidemics. Since the Emperor had a deep belief in Buddhism, he ordered the construction of large Buddhist temples in the capital and in the provinces to bring protect the country from further disaster. 

Shomu Tenno built Todai-ji Temple (東大寺・とうだいじ) in Nara, one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples. Todaiji houses one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu・だいぶつ). The Great Buddah Hall or Daibutsuden (だいぶつでん) is the largest wooden building in the world.     

Japan has had eight women who became Tenno. Three of them reigned during the Nara period. One of them reigned twice during her lifetime. 

Genmei Tenno 

Genmei Tenno (げんめいてんのう) declared herself as the 43rd monarch after the death of her son, Emperor Monmu, in 707 because his son, Prince Obito, was still too young to rule. She abdicated her throne in favor of her daughter, Gensho Tenno, in 715 when she was in her fifties. 

Gensho Tenno

Gensho Tenno (げんしょうてんのう) was the 44th monarch of Japan. She is the only woman in the history of Japan to have inherited the title from another empress rather than from an emperor. In 724, she abdicated the throne to her nephew, Prince Obito or Shomu Tenno.

Kouken Tenno or Shotoku Tenno

After a 25-year reign, Shomu Tenno abdicated in favor of his daughter, Princess Takano, who became Kouken Tenno (こうけんてんのう). After her abdication in 749, Shomu Tenno became the first retired emperor to become a Buddhist priest. Kouken Tenno abdicated in 758 in favor of a cousin who became Emperor Junnin. She reascended in 764 as Shotoku Tenno (しょうとくてんのう). After she died in 770, it would be another 800 years before a woman sat on the Japanese imperial throne again. 

Kojiki (こじき)-Completed in 712, Kojiki, or the Record of Ancient Things, is the oldest book of Japanese history. The book, written by Ono Yasumaro (おおのやすまろ) at the request of Genmei Tenno, is not an accurate historical record. Rather, it describes the Age of the Gods, or Kamiyo (かみよ), a time when the world and the Japanese islands were created by the gods Izanagi (いざなぎ) and Izanami (いざなみ). Kojiki also describes how a descendant of Amaterasu Oomikami (あまてらすおおみかみ) or the Goddess of the Sun became the first Emperor of Japan, Jinmu Tenno (じんむてんのう).  

Nihon Shoki (にほんしょき)-Completed in 720, Nihon Shoki, or The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of Japanese history and the most complete historical record of ancient Japan that exists today. It includes mythology similar to the Kojiki and also chronicles historical events through the eighth month of the eleventh reign year of Empress Jito in 697. Nihon Shoki, also called Nihonki (にほんき), is made up of 30 volumes plus one volume with a genealogical table, which has since been lost. 

Fudoki (ふうどき)-In 713, Genmei Tenno ordered each province to collect and create a record of each region’s culture, geography and oral traditions, including local products, myths and rituals not mentioned in Kojiki or Nihon Shoki. Fudoki, which was completed over a 20-year period, was meant to help the imperial court centralize and solidify its power by creating an accurate accounting of lands under its control.  

• Noble women and court ladies wore the junihitoe (十二単 じゅうにひとえ) or twelve layers as the formal court dress. Hina Matsuri dolls wear imperial court costumes from the Heian Period. 

• Nobles used Gissha (牛車・ぎっしゃ) or bullock carts for transportation. 

• Shinden-zukuri (しんでんづくり) is an architectural style from the Heian period used for palaces and residences for nobles. Its features include an open structure with square-lattice shutters or shitomi (しとみ), bamboo blinds or sudare (すだれ) and traditional Japanese mats or tatami (たたみ). 

The tradition of Otsukimi (おつきみ), or viewing the full moon, in autumn began during the Heian period. 

Aterui (アテルイ or あてるい) was the most prominent leader of the Emishi. Aterui and his mother More (モレ or もれ) fought against the Imperial Court, but surrendered in 802 when the second Sei-i Taishogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (さかのうえのたむらまろ) conquered them. Aterui appears in many media, including anime and Cinema Kabuki.

Abe no Seimei (あべのせいめい) is the most famous Onmyoji (おんみょうじ), an imperial advisor who specializes in the practice of Onmyodo (おんみょうどう), a Japanese practice of magic and divination based on natural science, astronomy and the almanac. Abe no Seimei advised the Emperor and the Heian government on the spiritually correct way to deal with issues. The Seimei Shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to him. Figure skater Hanyu Yuzuru performed to the soundtrack of the film “Onmyoji” for his Gold Medal program in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Kuzunoha (くずのは) is a folktale of a fox that is believed to be Abe’s mother.  

Taira no Kiyomori (たいらのきよもり) was the head of the powerful Taira or Heike clan. In 1167, he became the first Daijyo Daijin (だいじょうだいじん) or prime minister and established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan. He was defeated in the Genpei War or Genpei Gassen by the Minamoto or Genji clan. His defeat led to the fall of the Taira clan. 

Itsukushima Shrine (Itsukushima Jinja いつくしま神社) 

is a Shinto Shrine rebuilt by Taira no Kiyomori in the Shinden-zukuri style. The shrine is best known for the Torii gate, which appears to float in the water during high tide.   

Byodoin Temple ( びょうどういん) was built in Heian period and redesigned by Fujiwara no Michinaga’s son, Fujiwara no Yorimichi. The Amida-do Hall (Phoenix Hall) is a Japanese National Treasure, and is used for the 10 yen 

coin design. The Phoenix statue or Houou (ほうおう), on 

the roof is used for the 10,000 yen note.

Literature in the Heian Period

During the Heian period, two types of Japanese script emerged, including Katakana and Hiragana, which allowed women of the court, who were not educated in writing Kanji, to produce great literary works.

The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari げんじものがたり) by Murasaki Shikibu (むらさきしきぶ) is generally considered to be the world’s first novel. It is used in many aspects of pop culture. One popular manga series is Asaki Yumemishi (あさきゆめみし) 

The Pillow Book (Makura no Soushi まくらのそうし) by Sei Shonagon (せいしょうなごん) is like a blog, a record of interesting events in court, lists of all kinds, personal thoughts and poetry, and opinions. 

Bushi (ぶし) or Samurai (さむらい) were highly-trained warriors whose occupation was to fight in battles and to protect the emperor and nobles and their lands. Bushi came into existence in Heian jidai but it was during Kamakura jidai that they organized into clans led by powerful warlords who took political power from a weak imperial court. Bushi followed a strict code of conduct called Bushido (ぶしどう) or the Samurai Spirit, which held bravery, honor and personal loyalty above life itself.

The Samurai were trained to use several weapons, such as bows and arrows (yumiya ゆみや), spears (yari やり), but the symbol of their warrior status was the Japanese sword (Nihonto にほんとう). Samurai often carried two swords, the longer sword (blade length of around 60cm) katana (かたな), and the shorter sword (blade length of 30cm) wakizashi (わきざし). During battle, samurai wore a flexible armor called a yoroi (よろい) and a helmet called a kabuto (かぶと).

Japanese horseback archery or Yabusame (やぶさめ) became popular as a military drill for samurai in Kamakura jidai. An archer on horseback shoots an arrow each at three targets that are lined in a row at fixed intervals while riding a horse at full speed. The section where the horse runs is called Umaba (うまば) and is about 220m. The targets or mato (まと) are square boards of about 50cm-60cm. Yabusame is a Shinto ritual that still takes place at Shinto shrines nationwide. The most famous is the Yabusame ritual or Yabusame Shinji (やぶさめしんじ); it takes place every year at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in September. It has been performed for 800 years since the time of Minamoto no Yoritomo. 

Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199), the founder of the Kamakura shogunate, established the first warrior government of Japan, a system of government that lasted nearly 700 years. He lived in exile in Izu (いず) province for 20 years before he defeated the ruling Taira clan in a series of battles called the Gempei War or Genpei Gassen (げんぺいがっせん). He is featured in Heike Monogatari (へいけものがたり) or The Tale of Heike, which chronicles the struggle between the Taira (Heike) clan and the Minamoto (Genji) clan for control of Japan.

The Hojo family (ほうじょうけ) was a powerful samurai clan from Izu province that actually controlled the Kamakura government from 1203 to 1333. The Hojo family gained political power after Hojo Tokimasa (ほうじょうときまさ) helped Yoritomo defeat the Taira clan. After Yoritomo’s death, Tokimasa and his son, Hojo Yoshitoki (ほうじょうよしとき) became regent, or shikken (しっけん), to the child Shogun, giving the Hojo clan effective control of the shogunate. 

Tokimasa’s daughter, Hojo Masako (ほうじょうまさこ), was the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo and mother of Minamoto no Yoriie and Minamoto no Sanetomo, the first, second and third shoguns of Kamakura jidai. She is also known as the Ama Shogun (あましょうぐん) or Nun Shogun because she became a Buddhist nun after Yoritomo's death but remained a powerful political figure in Kamakura bakufu, working with her father, Tokimasa and brother, Yoshitoki, to support her sons.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (つるがおかはちまんぐう) is Kamakura’s most important shrine. It was founded by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi in 1063 and enlarged and moved to its current location in 1180 by Minamoto no Yoritomo. The shrine is dedicated to the kami (deity) Hachiman (はちまん), the patron god of the Minamoto clan and of the samurai class. 

During Kamakura period, Buddhism or Bukkyo (ぶっきょう) flourished. New denominations such as Nichiren Buddhism or Nichiren-shu (にちれんしゅう) and Jodo Buddhism or Jodo-shu (じょうどしゅう) were created and the religion spread to the common people. The Great Buddha of Kamakura or Kamakura Daibutsu (かまくらだいぶつ) is a large bronze statue of Buddha built in 1252 that is located in the temple Kotoku-in (こうとくいん). It measures 13.35m tall and weighs 93 tons. 

The Mongol Invasion 

The Japanese term Kamikzae (かみかぜ) or divine wind was first used in Kamakura jidai to refer to the typhoons that dispersed the Mongol (モンゴル) fleet that was sent by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan (チンギス・ハーン) in 1274 and 1281 to invade Japan. The storms were perceived as a gift from the gods after a retired emperor went on a pilgrimage and prayed for divine intervention.