Japanese Chronology
Jomon Culture (2000 b.c. [?]-ca. 300 b.c. )
Yayoi Period (ca. 300 b.c-ca. a.d. 300)
Mound Tomb Era (ca. a.d. 300-552)
Asuka Period (552-645)
Buddhism introduced (552)
Chinese government and institutions copied
Early Nara Period (645-710)
Late Nara Period (710-794)
Japan ruled from replica of Chinese capital of Ch’ang-an built at Nara (710)
Bronze Buddha largest in world dedicated at Nara (752) Compilation of early poetry anthology Manyoshu (780)
Scholarly Buddhist sects dominate Nara
Heian Period (794-1185)
Capital established at Heian-kyo (Kyoto) (794)
Saicho (767-822) introduces Tendai Buddhism from China (806)
Kukai (774-835) introduces Shingon Buddhism from China (808)
Last mission to Tang court ends direct Chinese influence (838)
Tale of Genji written by Lady Murasaki (ca. 1002-1019)
Honen (1133-1212) founds Pure Land, or Jodo, sect (1175)
Taira clan takes control of government, ousting aristocracy (1159)
Minamoto clan replaces Taira (1185)
Kamakura Period (1185-1333)
Warrior outpost in Kamakura becomes effective capital (1185) Eisai (1141-1215) introduces koan-oriented Rinzai sect of Zen on Kyushu (1191)
Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199) becomes shogun (1192)
Hojo clan assumes real power in Kamakura (1205)
Shinran (1173-1262) founds rival Amidist sect called True Pure
Land, or Jodo Shin (1224)
Dogen (1200-1253) founds zazen-oriented Soto Zen (1236)
Nichiren (1222-1282) founds new sect stressing chants to Lotus Sutra (1253)
Ashikaga Period (1133-1573)
Hojo regency ended; Kamakura destroyed (1333)
Emperor Godaigo briefly restores imperial rule (1334)
Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) ousts Godaigo, who establishes rival court (1336)
Takauji becomes shogun, beginning Ashikaga era proper (1338) Muso Soseki (1275-1351) convinces Takauji to found sixty-six
Zen temples throughout Japan (1338)
Landscape gardens evolve to reflect Zen aesthetic ideals Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408) establishes relations with Ming China (1401)
Zeami (1363-1443), encouraged by Yoshimitsu, creates No theater
Golden Pavilion built by Yoshimitsu (begun 1394)
Sung monochromes imported, inspiring re-creation of Chinese schools (fourteenth century)
Yoshimasa (1435-1490) becomes shogun (1443)
Onin War begins, to devastate Kyoto for ten years (1467)
Silver Pavilion built by Yoshimasa; Zen architecture (1482)
Tea ceremony begins to take classic shape as a celebration of Zen aesthetics
Sesshu Toyo (1420-1506), greatest Japanese landscape artist Abstract stone gardens appear (ca. 1490)
General anarchy envelops country (ca. 1500)
Portuguese discover Japan, introduce firearms (1542)
Francis Xavier arrives to preach (1549)
Ashikaga shogunate overthrown by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
Momoyama Period (1573-1615)
Nobunaga begins unification of Japan (1573) Nobunaga assassinated (1582)
Hideyoshi (1536-1598) assumes control and continues unification (1582)
Sen no Rikyu (1520-1591) propagates Zen aesthetics through tea ceremony
City of Edo (Tokyo) founded (1590)
Hideyoshi unsuccessfully invades Korea, returns with Korean ceramic artists (1592)
Momoyama Castle built by Hideyoshi, giving name to the age (1594)
Rise of elaborate arts in opposition to Zen aesthetic ideals Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) appointed shogun (1603)
Ieyasu defeats forces supporting Hideyoshi’s heir (1615)
Tokugawa Period (1615-1868)
Ieyasu founds Tokugawa shogunate (1615)
Daimyo forced to begin system of attendance on Tokugawa in Edo
Basho (1644-1694), greatest Haiku poet
Popular arts of Kabuki and woodblock prints arise in Edo
Classic Zen culture no longer supported by shogunate
Hakuin (1685-1768) revives Zen and broadens appeal
Zen culture influences popular arts and crafts
Major Chinese Periods
Han dynasty (206 b.c.-a.d. 220)
Six Dynasties (220-589)
Sui dynasty (589-618)
Tang dynasty (618-907)
Five Dynasties (907-960)
Northern Sung dynasty (960-1127)
Southern Sung dynasty (1127-1279)
Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1279-1368)
Ming dynasty (1368-1644)