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300 BCE
Introduction to rice
The importance of rice in Japan can not be emphasized enough. It is the staple food; the source of traditional spirit, sake; and it is left as offering to gods and ancestors. Japan consume about 9 million tons of rice a year, compared to 200 million tons in China. About three quarters of Japanese people eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some anthropologists have suggested wet-rice farming was introduced from China and Korea 2,500 to 3,000 years ago. Rice once served as currency. -
Period: 300 BCE to 250
Yayoi period
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Period: 538 to 710
Asuka period
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593
Prince Shotoku
Prince Shotoku (574-622 CE) he promoted Buddhism, and brought peace, as he ruled as regent of Japan from 594 to 622 CE and is one of the most celebrated figures in all of Japanese history. The prince was a great supporter of Chinese culture and Buddhism, spreading both during his reign by encouraging closer ties with China, introducing principles of Chinese government, creating a constitution, and building many temples across Japan which included such famous sites as Shitennoji and Horyuji. -
Period: 710 to 794
Nara period
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Period: Jan 1, 794 to Dec 31, 1185
Heian Period
Heian meaning peace and tranquility run by emperor kammu -
Aug 21, 1192
First Shogun of Japan
On August 21 1192, Minamoto Yorimoto was given the role of the first Shogun (Japanese military leader). -
Period: Aug 21, 1192 to Dec 31, 1335
Kamakura period
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Sep 12, 1274
The attack of the Mongol tribe
The tribe of the Mongols was led by Kublai Khan. Japan being the only country in the east that wasn’t under the power of the Mongols. Almost 900 ships and huge boats were used to carry over 40,000 Mongol soldiers, were sent to invade and conquer Japan. However the weather seemed to have been protecting Japan, as an extreme storm hit the coasts of Japan killing over 13,000 Mongol Troops as the remaining soldiers retreated back to Korea. -
1333
Kemmu Restoration
The Kemmu Restoration Emperor Go-Daigo to abolish shogunate rule. Forces led by Nitta Yoshisada successfully overthrew the Kamakura shogunate in Go-Daigo's name, restoring power to the Imperial institution. However, following a series of complex side-switching and betrayals, Ashikaga Takauji, who had aided Go-Daigo in the Restoration, then led his forces to seize Kyoto, suppress Go-Daigo's power, establish a new Ashikaga shogunate in 1336. -
Period: Jan 1, 1336 to Dec 31, 1534
Ashikaga period
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Jan 5, 1467
The Ōnin war
The Onin War was fought between the families of two samurais who were close to the Ashikaga Shogun. Each had a mansion that acted as a military base within Kyōto, where the Shogun was also located. The first was Yamana Sozen, nicknamed the Red Monk. His rival was his son-in- law, Hosokawa Katsumoto. -
Period: Jan 1, 1534 to
Sengoku-jidai
period of country at war -
Christianity banned
In 1587, in an era of European colonization and Christianization of the nearby Philippines, Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued an edict banning missionaries from the country due to the religion's growing power, intolerant behavior towards Shinto and Buddhism, and involvement in the sale of Japanese people as slaves overseas. In 1597, Hideyoshi proclaimed a more serious banning edict and executed 26 Christians in Nagasaki as a warning. -
Battle of Sekigahara
On October 21, 1600, there was a civil war that took place in Central Honshu between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu who’s troops were led by Daimyō Ishida Mitsunari. Over 160,000 warriors participated in the battle In fewer than six hours, Tokugawa Ieyasu achieved victory over Ishida Misunari and took control of Japan. -
Period: to
Tokugawa period
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Japan Sakoku
The main elements of the policy were the exclusion of Roman Catholic missionaries and traders, the proscription of Christianity in Japan, the regulation of foreign trade, and the prohibition of foreign travel by Japanese. The seclusion was not total, because Dutch, Chinese, and Koreans were permitted access to Japan. All ships and Japanese subjects were forbidden to leave Japan for a foreign country without a license; and those caught doing otherwise were to be executed. Sakoku lasted until 1854 -
Meiji restoration/The birth of Tokyo
Emperor Meiji decided to put an end to the shoguns. Meiji wanted japan to live under a constitutional monarchy. (A constitutional monarchy where the Emperor's power is limited to mainly ceremonial duties.) The government has three branches: the executive, legislature, and the judiciary. The Emperor is the Head of State and the imperial family. The Meiji Restoration was a coup d’état, (meaning a swift, and forceful overthrow of the Government/people in power).
