Japan: Political History and Notable Figures

660 BCE - 585 BCE - Jimmu Tenno (All Facts)

• Legendary First Emperor and Founder of Japan

• In Japanese mythology, he is considered to have descended from the solar goddess Amaterasu

• He ascended the throne after vanquishing the Yamato Kingdom

• Reputed to have been born in Kyushu, which he left to conquer Eastern Japan

190 CE - 248 CE - Queen Himiko of Yamatai (All Facts) 

• Japanese Queen 

• She sent an envoy to China that came back with a golden seal by the Chinese emperor 

  • This confirmed the Queen and her state was allied with China at the time 

• She went to war with the King of the state of Kunukoku

  • When she requests aid from China, they reject her 

• When she is overthrown by her brother who usurped the throne, peace became restored only after her daughter Iyo regained power as priestess-queen 

313 - 399 - Nintoku (All Facts)

• Legendary 16th Emperor of Japan

• Sometimes referred to as the “Saint Emperor”

• He was buried in the largest mound / tomb yet known to man at that point

  • To this day, it is the largest known tomb in Japan

  • The actual site of his burial, however, is still a mystery

500s - Otomo no Kanamura (All Facts) 

• Japanese Warrior and Statesman, he was an Imperial Chieftain 

• He agreed to the accession of the four provinces of Mimana in southern Korea to Paekche, a larger state in southwest Korea 

538 - 710 - Asuka Period / “Classical” Japan (All Facts)

539 - 571 - Kinmei (All Facts)

• 29th Emperor of Japan and First Emperor of “Classical” Japan / The “Asuka” Period of Japan

• He accepted a gift from King Syong Myong of Paekche, a state of Korea, which was and a gold and copper image of the Buddha, in which King Myong of Paekche sent it to him as a symbolic request for military help and as a request for alliance as rival kings

• While the namesake Emperor was fond of the statue and impressed by Buddhist religion, his court was split over those who favored Buddhism and new ideas and those who were more traditionally bound to Shinto beliefs while hostile to alien influences

• During his reign, the Korean Kingdom of Koguryo sent their first embassy to Japan

587 - 592 - Sushun (All Facts) 

• 32nd Emperor of Japan 

• His assumption to the throne represented Japan’s supremacy of Buddhism over Shintoism, when the Soga family clan overcame the Mononobe family clan

• However, he overstepped his role as puppet emperor and was replaced by another

593 - 628 - Suiko (All Facts)

• 33rd Empress of Japan

  • Prince Shotoku Taishi served as regent during most of her reign

• Niece of Soga no Umako, he was her chief minister

• She was expected to cooperate with Soga no Umako, unlike her predecessor

Soga Clan (All Facts)

• One of the most powerful aristocratic kin groups of the Asuka period of Yamato Japan

• They played a major role in the spread of Buddhism in Japan

551 - 626 - Soga no Umako (All Facts) 

• Ruled as regent of Japan during Empress Suiko’s reign as 33rd Ruler of Japan

• Powerful figure at the Yamato Court

• He put the emperor before him, his nephew, to death 

• He was a devout Buddhist but a ruthless politician 

• His ambition was to establish the Soga family’s supremacy at court 

• His predecessor was put on the throne by him when the Soga family overcame the anti-Buddhist Mononobe family 

593 - 622 - Shotoku Taishi of Yamato (All Facts)

• Ruled Japan as regent for his aunt, Empress Suiko, since the year after the assassination of the last emperor, as 33rd Ruler of Japan

• He is most famous for his 17-article constitution, which

  • Directed the members of the ruling class to

    • believe in Buddhism

    • unite under the authority of the emperor

  • Stressed the virtues of harmony and obedience, elements of which derive from Confucianism

• He

  • Adopted many forms of Chinese culture and politics

  • Admired the Chinese model of centralized government

  • Adopted the Chinese calendar, which confirmed the official date of the foundation of the Japanese state, which was 660 BCE

  • Sent an emissary by the name of Ono no Imoko to China in order to further good relations between China and Japan

• He

  • Was a scholarly Buddhist

  • Did much to encourage the spread of Buddhism in Japan

  • Established the Horyuji Monastery under his rule

• He had great administrative skill

600s - Ono no Imoko (All Facts)

• Japanese Emissary sent by Shotoku Taishi to China to establish diplomatic ties between Japan and China

600s - 645 - Soga no Iruka (All Facts)

• Final member of the tyrannical Soga family to rule from the imperial throne, having been murdered in the family’s palace’s crowded audience hall in a coup d'état staged during a reception for Korean envoys

• He and his father had enraged the court by manipulating state affairs for themselves

• He was killed by Prince Naka no Oe and his father committed suicide the following day, having been deserted by his supporters following his son’s murder

645 - 654 - Kotoku (All Facts)

• 36th Emperor of Japan

• Oversaw the Taika Reforms, which

  • Brought all private land under public ownership

  • Centered power on the Emperor in imitation of the Chinese system

697 - 707 - Monmu (All Facts)

• 42nd Emperor of Japan

• He oversaw

  • The issuing of the Taiho Code

  • The founding of the Ommyoryo, or “Ministry of Divination of Yin and Tang”

710 - 794 - Nara Period (All Facts)

707 - 715 - Empress Genmei (All Facts)

• 43rd Empress of Japan and First Ruler of Japan during the Nara Period

• She established Japan’s capital at Nara, to which the government and court was moved

  • It was chosen under the Taika Reforms

• She oversaw

  • O No Yasumaro author the “Kojiki”

724 - 749 - Shomu (All Facts)

• 45th Emperor of Japan

• Under his reign, the Japanese government decreed that Buddhist temples were to be established throughout Japan

• He oversaw widespread imitation of Chinese culture

• His possessions were famously housed in the “Shosoin,” a wooden treasure house which was built near the Toshodaiji Temple

749 - 758 - Empress Koken / Empress Shotoku (All Facts)

• 46th and 48th Empress of Japan

• During her (first) reign, she attended a ceremony before the great bronze Buddha in the Toshodaiji Temple in Nara; where she attested that she, as empress, was the servants of the “Three Jewels” of Buddhism

781 - 806 - Kammu (All Facts)

• 50th Emperor of Japan

• He moved the capital of Japan from Nara to Kyoto