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200
Korean Emergence
China held power over Korea until 200, when they were driven out. Three kingdoms emerged-Koguryo in the north, Paekche in the southwest, and Silla in the southeast. They were bitter rivals. Buddhism was introduced to Korea in this time period as well. However, Silla became more allied with the Chinese and adopted Confucian ideals. Silla gained control of the peninsula and adopted Chinese political institutions. -
Period: Dec 14, 600 to Dec 14, 1392
Korean and Japanese Civilizations
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Dec 14, 622
Shotoku Taishi's Life and Death
Taishi was a prince who tried to unify all the clans in Japan to resist invasion from China. He created a government to match the Chinese. Taishi created the position of ruler of Japan, who became a divine figure. He also divided Japan into four territories , with a new tax system and farmland. With his death in 622 power fell into hands of Fujiwara clan. -
Oct 14, 1192
The Kamakura Shogunate
In the 12th century, wealthy families were constantly having civil wars with each other. A powerful noble named Minamoto Yoritomo defeated several rivals and set up power in Tokyo. To strengthen the state, he created a more centralized government under the control of a shogun. In 1333, the Kakamura shogunate was overthrown by a group of powerful families led by the Ashikagas. -
Dec 14, 1392
Koreans Seize Power
Mongols seized power, and in order for the Koreans to keep power the had to accept Mongol rules. This led to suffering for the working class. In 1392, Yi Songg-gye seized power and founded the Yi dynasty, which ruled Korea for the next five hundred years. -
Dec 14, 1500
Collapse of Central Rule
Japan was close to chaos. A civil war called the Onin War led to the virtual destruction of the capital city of Kyoto. Central authority disappeared and powerful aristocrats in rural areas seized control over large territories, which led to almost constant warfare. -
Heian Period
In 794 the empror moved the capital to modern-day Kyoto. The government was returning to the decentralized system before the time of Shotoku Taishi. Local aristocrats took power into their own hands and created a security force called saumrai. They lived by the Bushido code. -
Trade and Culture
Trade was slow to develop, and barter was used rather than money. Manufacturing began to develop during the Kakmura period, and markets appeared in larger towns. Japa traded raw materials, paintings and swords for silk, porecelain, and books. Culture-wise, women were the most productive writers. In Japanese art and architecture, landscape was an important means of expression. -
Religion and the Role of Women
In early Japan, women may have had equality with men. Women had rights, and women who were abandoned could divore and remarry. Although women did not possess the full legal and social rights of men, they played an active role at various levels of society. In religion, early Japanese worshipped spirits called kami. Those beliefs eveolved into a religion called Shinto. Shinto was not popular with wealthy artistocrats, however, so they developed a new religion, called Zen, out of the samurai's code
