Japan

By bostonceltics0
  • Introduction of Zen Buddhism – 500 CE
    500 BCE

    Introduction of Zen Buddhism – 500 CE

    Introduction of Zen Buddhism:
    Around 500 CE, Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China. Emphasizing meditation, mindfulness, and inner peace over rituals, Zen became a major influence on Japanese culture, shaping art, philosophy, and the disciplined mindset of the samurai.
  • Rise of the Samurai Class - 1185
    1185

    Rise of the Samurai Class - 1185

    Rise of the Samurai:
    In 1185, Japan entered a new era as the samurai rose to power after the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The Minamoto’s victory established the first shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo, marking the beginning of samurai rule and Japan’s feudal age.
  • 1281

    The Mongol Invasions of Japan

    The Mongol Invasions of Japan:
    The Mongols attempted to invade Japan twice, in 1274 and 1281, under Kublai Khan’s rule. Both invasions failed due to strong samurai resistance and powerful typhoons, later called kamikaze or “divine winds,” believed to have protected Japan from conquest.