|
|
| Name
of Period |
Time
Period |
Main
Events and Activities |
|
ca.100,000B.C. |
Start
of human activity on the Japanese islands. |
| Paleolithic |
ca.30,000B.C. |
Spread
of Late Paleolithic Culture. |
|
ca.10,000B.C. |
First
use of pottery on Japanese islands. |
|
ca.7,000B.C. |
First
production of clay images. |
|
ca.3,000B.C. |
First
large Jomon communities. |
|
|
Jomon
is the era's pottery. |
| Yayoi |
|
Introduction
of iron and modern ideas from Korea into Japan. |
|
ca.300B.C
|
Establishment
of Yayoi Culture in northern Kyushu. Start of rice cultivation. |
|
57
A.D. |
King
Na of Wa (Japan) sends tribute to Eastern Han dynasty and his gift
of a gold seal. |
|
ca.200 |
First
construction of large graves with burial mounds in western Japan. |
|
239
|
Queen
Himiko (Pimiku) of Yamatai in Wa sends representatives to Wei in China. |
| Kofun |
ca.300
|
Keyhole-shaped
burial mounds are constructed in many parts of western Japan. |
|
391 |
Wa
sends troops to the Korean peninsula (monument of Haotai Wang). |
|
421 |
King
of Wa starts in this year to send tribute to the Southern Court in
China (until 478). |
|
471 |
Forging
of the iron swords later unearthed at the Inariyama Burial Mound in
Saitama Prefecture. |
|
544 |
The
first "Aoi" Festival was held. |
Kofun
Asuka |
552
or 538 |
Buddhism
introduced from Paikche on the Korean peninsula |
|
600 |
King
of Wa sends representatives to the Sui Dynasty in China. |
|
604 |
Prince
Shotoku creates the Seventeen-Article Constitution. |
|
630 |
First
representatives send to the Tang Dynasty. |
|
645 |
Taika
Reforms. |
|
663 |
Japanese
troops defeated by troops of Tang and Silla on the Korean peninsula. |
|
|
Defenses
of western Japan are strengthened. |
|
701 |
Completion
of the Taiho Ritsuryo Code. Establishment of a state based on the
Ritsuryo laws. |
| Nara
|
710 |
Capital
is moved to Heijokyo (Nagaoka). |
|
724 |
Construction
of Tagajo Castle in Tohoku region (monument of Tagajo). |
|
752 |
Completion
of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple. |
|
758 |
Posessions
of Emperor Shomu moved to Todaiji. Construction of Shosoin. |
|
770 |
Hyakumanto
Darani (Dharani of the Million Towers) is completed. |
| Heian |
794 |
Transfer
of the capital to Heiankyo (Kyoto). |
|
805
|
Tendai
sect of Buddhism was imported from China. |
|
806
|
Shingon
sect of Buddhism was imported from China. |
|
894 |
Practice
of sending representatives to China is discontinued. |
|
995 |
Fujiwara
Michinaga takes hold of power. Flourishing of the Fujiwara family. |
|
1005 |
Murasaki
Shikibu completes The Tale of Genji. |
|
1052
|
Sutra
mounds created in great numbers out of beliefs that Mappo (The Age
of Decline) has started. |
| Kamakura |
1180 |
Minamoto
Yoritomo establishes his headquarters in Kamakura. |
|
1191 |
The
Zen sect was introduced from China. |
|
1192 |
Yoritomo
becomes Seii tai shogun ("Barbarian Conquering General")
and establishes the Kamakura shogunate. |
|
1224 |
Monk
Shinran founds the Jodo Shinshu Sect (Ikko Sect - Pure Land sect). |
|
1253 |
Lotus
Hokke sect was found by Nichiren. |
|
1275 |
Monk
Ippen founds the Ji Sect. |
| Nanbokucho |
1333 |
Collapse
of Kamakura shogunate. Kamakura destroyed in the
flames of war. |
| Muromachi |
1338 |
Ashikaga
Takauji becomes Seii tai shogun and founds the
Muromachi shogunate. |
|
1350 |
Japanese
pirates begin raid along China's coastline. |
|
1401 |
Ashikaga
Yoshimitsu restores relations with Ming China. Ashikaga is recognized
by the Ming court as the "King of Japan". |
|
1422 |
Sho
Hashi unites all of Okinawa and becomes the Ryukyu
King. |
|
1441
|
Doikki
uprising develops in Kyoto and results in the Tokusei edict. Tea ceremony
begins to flourish at this time. |
|
1467 |
Onin
War (1477). Kyoto is destroyed in flames of war. |
|
1488 |
Ikko
ikki breaks out in Kaga and assumes control of the entire
Kaga Province. |
|
1531 |
Asakura
Norikage quells the Ikko ikki. |
|
1536 |
Date
Tanemune enacts the Jinkaishu which established domain. Daimyo in
different areas begin at this time to enact their own legal systems. |
|
1543 |
Portuguese
bring guns to Tanegashima. |
|
1549 |
Francis
Xavier arrives in Japan to begin missionary activities. |
| Momoyama |
1573 |
The
fall of the Asakura daimyo family in Ichijodani, Echizen Province. |
|
1590 |
Toyotomi
Hideyoshi unites all of Japan. Start of printing of Christian books
in Romanized Japanese. |
|
1592 |
Start
of the system of Shuinsen or "red seal ships". Hideyoshi
sends troops to Korea. |
| Edo |
1603 |
Tokugawa
Ieyasu becomes Seii tai shogun, establishes the Edo shogunate. |
|
1607 |
Ieyasu
has bronze movable type forged to print the Suruga edition. |
|
1619 |
Ieyasu
has bronze movable type forged to print the Suruga edition. |
|
1635 |
The
hishigaki kaisen (lozenge-fenced cargo ships) begin to sail regularly
between Edo and Osaka. |
|
1639 |
Entry
of Portuguese ships forbidden. Start of sakoku, a period in which
Japan was closed off to the outside world. |
|
1641 |
Dutch
Trading Mission is moved to Dejima in Nagasaki which becomes the only
port in Japan where foreign trade is allowed. |
|
1649 |
Distribution
of the Keian no ofuregaki, a document outlining the duties and conduct
of the farmers. |
|
1657 |
Major
Edo Fire. Following this, large spaces are created in the city to
prevent further fires. |
|
1669 |
Ainu
rebellion in Ezochi (Hokkaido). |
|
1671 |
Kawamura
Zuiken opens eastern sea route. Western sea route is opened in following
year. |
|
1688 |
Start
of Genroku Period (to 1703). Development of Edo culture including
Kabuki and Bunraku. |
|
1732 |
Kyoho
Famine. Rice stores broken into as prices on rice soar. |
|
1778 |
Russian
ships land in Ezochi, request trade. |
|
1821 |
Ino
Tadataka produces first accurate maps of the Japan's coastline. |
|
1828 |
Franz
von Siebold, a German physician of the Dutch Trading Mission, is banned
from Japan for bringing maps of Japan out of the country. |
|
1853 |
Admiral
Perry arrives in Uraga and demands that Japan opens its ports. |
|
1854 |
Japan
concludes friendship treaties with the United States, Britain, Russia,
France and the Netherlands. The ports of Hakodate, Shimoda and Nagasaki
are opened to foreign trade. |
| Meiji |
1868 |
Meiji
Restoration. Edo's name is changed to Tokyo ("Eastern
Capital"). |
|
1879 |
The
Ryuku Islands become Okinawa Prefecture. |
|
1889 |
Distribution
of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan. |
|
1904 |
Outbreak
of Russo-Japanese War (to 1905). |
|
1910 |
Korea
becomes a Japanese colony. |
| Taisho |
1915 |
Japan
presents China with a set of 21 demands for expanding
its rights in China. |
| Showa |
1927 |
Start
of a financial panic. Government declares moratorium
on gold standard. |
|
1931 |
The
so-called Liutaochu Incident is used as a pretext for the start of
military maneuvers in northeast China. Start of invasion of China. |
|
1941 |
Start
of Pacific War (to 1945). |
|
1946 |
Distribution
of the Constitution of Japan. Farming reforms. |
|
1951 |
Signing
of the Treaty of San Francisco. |
|
1961 |
Start
of the Basic Agricultural Law. |
|
1964 |
Start
of the New Tokaido Railway (Shinkansen). Beginning of free economic
system. |
|
1967 |
Outbreak
of itaiitai sickness in Toyama Prefecture (first case of pollution
related diseases due to industrial wastes). |
|
1983 |
Opening
of National Museum of Japanese History. |
