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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provided by the Japanese Embassy
