Japan Timeline

By Evan Beach Arnond
  • Period: 400 to Jan 1, 794

    Nara period

    Power is held by the Yamoto clan emperors.
    The establishment of the Imperial dynasty; the first central government of Japan.
    550- The Japanese adopt Buddhism and Chinese script.
  • Period: Jan 1, 794 to Jan 1, 1185

    Heian period

    Power is held by the Emperors.
    Kammu makes Heian-kyo (Kyoto) his capital, the first shoguns are appointed, there is a growth in power with the Daimyo and the Samurai.
    1005- Murasaki Shikibu writes the classic work of Japanese literature- The Tale of Genji.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1185 to Jan 1, 1333

    Kamakura period

    Power is held by the Kamakura shoguns.
    There has been a stable government for 150 years. The Mongols have been defeated.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1336 to Jan 1, 1573

    Ashikaga period

    Power is held by the Ashikaga shoguns.
    The gradual breakdown of the shogunate begins.
    1467- 100 years of civil war begins.
    1543- Portuguese introduce Christianity and firearms to Japan.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1573 to

    Warring States period

    Power is held by Oda Nobunaga-a cruel military genius, Toyotomi Hideyoshi-soldier turned leader and Tokugawa Leyasu-founder of a new shogunate.
    The breakdown of the Shogunate rule, which centralises the government under the 'three great unifiers'.
    1575- Oda Nobunaga unifies central Japan.
  • Period: to

    Edo period

    Power is held by the Tokugawa Shoguns.
    The capital is moved to Edo (Tokyo), there is stable government under the Shogunate and isolation from the rest of the world.
    1853- Commodore Perry arrives in Japan and on the behalf of the U.S. government forces the Japanese into trade.
  • Period: to

    Meiji restoration occurs