It is generally believed that Japan
was founded in 660 BC, with the first emperor, Jimmu.
After ascending the throne and ruling over Kyushu,
Emperor Jimmu expanded his empire northward to Yamato.
During this time, Korea's influence on Japan's culture
was considerable. Korea had made great strides
in their culture, significantly influenced by China,
and these influences were passed on to Japan.
By the 5th century with the help of
the Paekche kingdom in Korea, Chinese writings were
beginning to be used in court and around 430,
historiographers were appointed in an effort to keep
accurate records. Buddhism, along with its
priests, images, scriptures, etc., was brought to
Japan during this time from Korea as well, which made
a noteworthy impact on Japan. Although the
relationship between Korea and Japan was weakening,
Buddhism was firmly entrenched in Japan's culture,
with it becoming the national religion by the 7th
century.
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Using China's centralized
government as a model, Japan drafted their first
constitution, which established court officials on a
hierarchy. In 710, Nara became the capital and
in 794 the imperial residence was moved to Kyoto and
remained the capital until 1868.
The 9th century brought about
change with the emperors becoming private,
disappearing from public life, and leaving
governmental affairs with those under them. It
was during this time that the Fujiwara, the main
aristocratic family, essentially became the leaders of
Japan. In 858 they took power and kept it for
three centuries. The period under Michinaga,
considered to be the supreme Fujiwara leader, is
considered to be Japanese literature's "classical
age." It also brought about a change
from centralized government to one of dividing up the
country into great estates.
Initially joining together for
protection, warriors from the Taira and the Minamoto
clans eventually gained recognition for the military
abilities (the Taira in the southwest and the Minamoto
in the east). When these clans started broaden
their power to the court, a power struggle began.
After two wars, the first in 1156 and the second in
1159-60, the Minamoto were defeated by the Taira who
then took control from the Fujiwara. In 1180,
the same year the Taira leader's infant son became
emperor, the Minamoto's led an revolt that sent the
Taira out of the capital. The war ended in 1185
and Yorimoto, the Minamoto leader, became Japan's
leader.
One of the things Yorimoto did was
create a separation of the military from the
government and established a military capital in
Kamakura in 1185. It was also during this time
that feudalism grew stronger until it surpassed that
of the imperial organization. When Yorimoto was
appointed to the position of "shogun" (Seitaishogun),
it further crystallized his power in Japan,
superceding that of the emperor and his court.
The Minamoto clan was eliminated by
the Hojo family, who then became the military rulers
of Japan in 1219. The Hojo's had the emperor
appoint shoguns, thus allowing the Hojo's to have all
the power as regents. The Hojo's never became
shoguns, in spite of this they kept their power for
over one hundred years.
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