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, the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed. The court's supremacy was challenged throughout the period from 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 (250-538) and Asuka periods (538-710). Chinese writing and Buddhism were introduced by Baekje, a Korean kingdom. After the fall of Baekje, the Yamato government sent envoys directly to the Chinese court, from which they obtained a great wealth of philosophical and social structure. 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.

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.

The archeological record and ancient Chinese sources indicate that the various tribes and chiefdoms of Japan did not begin to coalesce into states until 300, 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 chiefdoms competed for hegemony on Kyushu and Honshu.

Age of Five Japanese kings,The Yamato dynasty ruled the west of the Japanese Islands, and had the strong influence in the southern part of a Korean peninsula.

According to an official history book at a Liu Song Dynasty (宋書 夷蛮伝 倭国条)[1][2] Liu Song Dynasty appointed Yamato Imperial Court to the ruler in Japan and Silla and Baekje and Gaya confederacy.

興死弟武立 自稱使持節都督倭百濟新羅任那加羅秦韓慕韓七國諸軍事安東大將軍倭國王 詔除武使持節都督倭新羅任那加羅秦韓慕韓六國諸軍事安東大將軍倭王 (宋書 夷蛮伝 倭国条)

Baekje submitted the royal prince of Baekje (Jeonji of Baekje) to the Yamato Imperial Court in 394. Influence of Japan in Korean peninsula continued until being defeated at Silla and Tang Dynasty in the Battle of Hakusukinoe in the 7th century.

Japan of the Kofun age was positive in the introduction of a Chinese culture from a Korean peninsula. And, many kinds of apparatuses were imported. The book on China was one of the most important imports. The philosophy of China that had been introduced in this age had a big influence on the history of Japan. The decorated bronze mirror (神獣鏡) was imported from China. and Japan was importing iron from China and a Korean peninsula until the latter half of the 6th century.

The Kofun culture of Japan had a strong influence on the southern part of a Korean peninsula in the 5th century to the 6th century. However, these ruins have been annulled by the South Korean who believes, "Korea taught Japan the culture".[3] The Korean is making an effort to prove "The origin of Kofun is South Korea". However, there is no archaeological discovery that proves their insistences.[4][5]

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).

Torai-Jin(渡来人)

The foreigner naturalized in ancient Japan is said, "Torai-Jin(渡来人)". They introduced a lot of Chinese cultures to Japan. Yamato Court needed the Chinese cultures. Therefore, Japan gave preferential treatment to Torai-Jin.

Many important figures were immigrants from the China. Chinese had the biggest power in the immigrant according to aristocratic list of names "Shinsen-Joujouroku (新撰姓氏録) [6]" in which Yamato Imperial Court had been officially edited in 815. (163 Chinese clans are registered.]" in which Yamato Imperial Court had been officially edited in 815. (163 Chinese clans are registered. )

Typical Clan is descendant Yamatonoaya-Clan (東漢氏) Descendant of Emperor Ling of Han). This clan's leader was Achi-no-Omi (阿智使主). He introduced a hinese culture to Japan. In Emperor Kimmei's reign, according to the Nihongi, Hata clan ((秦氏) Descendant of Qin Shi Huang) introduced sericulture. Kawachino-Fumi clan (( Descendant of　Gaozu of Han) introduced the Chinese writing to the Yamato court. （Source By "Shinsen-Joujouroku (新撰姓氏録)"）

Baekje was ruined in 660 years. And, the refugee of a lot of Baekje has run away to Japan. Yamato Imperial Court accepted the royal family and the refugee of Baekje. The royal family of Baekje received the Japanese Name (Kudara-no-Konishiki (百済王)) from the emperor. The clan of Kudara-no-Konishiki was naturalized in Japan. And, they commanded the refugee of Baekje. Their clan's women　Takano no Niigasa became the second wife of Emperor Konin. And, She gave birth to Emperor Kammu in 737. A present South Korean is boasting of this episode very much.

A lot of Chinese cultures were imported in this age. The Buddhism and the Confucianism had a big influence on the thought of Japan. A lot of technologies of the Chinese character, construction, and steel manufacture, etc. were introduced to Japan.

Idea of local administrative districts and the tribute tax Ritsuryo are based on Chinese models. (永徽律令 produced in China in 651 years)

Chinese influence on Japanese laws is also attributed to the fact that Chinese scholar (続守言 ＆ 薩弘恪) were on committees that drew up law codes.

The pottery that was called Sueki (須恵器) was told by Torai-Jin. This pottery was used until the Heian era.

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.

Bodhisattva, Asuka period, 7th century, Tokyo National Museum.

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 and Korean style. [7].

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.

Art and architecture

Japan followed Chinese and Korean prototypes very closely in Buddhist arts during this period of time. [8].

Early Buddhist architecture in Japan was so similar to temples on the mainland that because of the lag of development from the mainland to the archipelago, surviving buildings provide scholars with examples of how Chinese and Korean architecture of the same era looked. [9]. Korean architecture of the time was a stylistic link between classical Chinese architecture and later Japanese buildings. The construction of the original and reconstructed Horyu-ji Temple was also strongly influenced by Korea's Baekje architecture. [10]. Also, Hoko-ji (Asuka-dera) Temple closely resembles a temple excavated in northern Korea in the area of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom while Shitennoji and Yamadadera Temples follow Baekje influence. The unusal lateral orientation of the main hall and pagoda of the Horyu-ji Temple is not found in sites in China or Korea. [11]. There are also foundations uncovered in the ancient capital of Baekje, Puyo, that exactly match the early Buddhist temples in Japan because Baekje architects helped build those temples in Japan. [12].

Korean paintings in Goguryeo tombs had important influences in Japan. [13]. Decorated tombs and painted tumuli which date from the fifth century and later found in Japan are generally accepted as Korean exports to Japan. The Takamatsuzuka tomb even has paintings of woman dressed in distinctive Korean pleated skirts. [14].

History texts

Many Koreans, Westeners and some Japanese raise questions about the completeness, objectivity, and reliability of the surviving version of these Japanese sources. They argue early parts of Kojiki and Nihongi were fabricated or exaggerated by the Yamato court to legitimize its rule.

Kojiki and Nihongi, Japanese history chronicles, state that the Yamato kingdom had always influenced events in Korea by sending in troops, sometimes as many as 100,000, and maintained an outpost in Korea. They also state that the Kammu's mother's clan was given the status of a retainer under the emperor after the Baekje kingdom fell. These claims are viewed by many different scholars as unsupported propaganda.

Some Japanese historians and most Korean scholars agree that the Kojiki and Nihongi cannot be read as complete historical truth. Tsuda Sokichi, a Japanese scholar, concluded that the earlier sections of these histories were made up to justify imperial rule. Thus, a myth that Jingu conquered parts of Korea in the Kojiki is rejected as fairy tale inserted by Yamato scholars because of later tense relations between Silla and Yamato. Most scholars agree that the founding date of Japan as 660 B.C.E. and the first thirteen emperors of Japan are mythical and not based on historical fact. Additionally, the Nihongi attributes dates two sexagenary cycles or 120 years of history before they actually happened to make the relatively young Yamato state as respectable as contemporaneous Korean and Chinese states which shows another evidence of bias of the writers. (A sexagenary cycle of sixty years was used to keep a measure of time on a calendar.) [15]. Although the Nihongi and Kojiki state that Korean Kingdoms paid tribute to Yamato, it is not believed by most historians. [16]. [17].

The Nihongi is partly based on Korean history books which have now been lost. [18]. [19]. Korean sources used in the Nihongi are the Baekje-gi (Record of Baekje), Baekje Sinch'an (New Record of Baekje), and Baekje Pon'gi (Original Record of Baekje). Records written in Baekje may have been the basis for the quotes in the Nihongi but textual criticism shows that scholars fleeing the destruction of the Baekje Kingdom to Yamato wrote these histories and the authors of the Nihongi heavily relied upon those sources. [20]. The use of Korean place names in Nihongi is another piece of evidence that the history used Korean sources.

Many of the myths of these two histories also have many similarities with traditions in China, Manchuria, and Korea. [21].

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