Japan
An island civilization that blended Chinese influence with a fiercely distinct tradition.
Overview
Japan emerged as a unified state under the Yamato court around the 4th century CE. Its history includes the Heian courtly age, the samurai shogunates, two and a half centuries of Tokugawa isolation, and the Meiji leap into industrial modernity.
Basic Information
History Timeline
- c. 300 CEKofun period; Yamato state consolidates
- 794Heian capital established at Kyoto
- 1192Kamakura shogunate founded
- 1603 – 1868Tokugawa shogunate; sakoku isolation
- 1868Meiji Restoration
- 1945Surrender ends WWII; American occupation
Ancient Peoples
- Jōmon
- Yayoi
- Ainu
Ancient Kingdoms
- Yamato
Empires
- Empire of Japan
Religions
- Shinto
- Buddhism
Culture
Tea ceremony, Noh and Kabuki theater, haiku poetry, ukiyo-e prints, manga and anime.
Language
Japanese is written with a mix of Chinese-derived kanji and native syllabaries (hiragana and katakana).
Important Battles
- Battle of Sekigahara1600
Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidates power
- Battle of Tsushima1905
Japanese victory over Russia
Historical Figures
Regent who introduced Buddhism and law
Unifier of warring-states Japan
Presided over Japan's modernization
Archaeological Sites
- Yoshinogari
- Sannai-Maruyama
- Kofun tombs
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Historic Kyoto
- Himeji Castle
- Itsukushima Shrine
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Dynasties
- Yamato imperial line
- Fujiwara
- Minamoto
- Ashikaga
- Tokugawa
Colonial Period
Never colonized; Japan itself colonized Korea, Taiwan and much of East Asia in the early 20th century.
Modern History
Postwar Japan rebuilt as a pacifist constitutional monarchy and industrial superpower.