Kofun and Asuka Periods (AD 300-710)
These periods in Japanese history are sometimes referred to as the Yamato period.
The Kofun period gets its name from the tombs, Kofun (古墳), which are huge toms that look a bit like a keyholes from above and are sometimes surrounded by moats and guarded by great statues. This is the oldest era of recorded history in Japan. The Soga, the Japanese court family, rose to power with the accession of Emperor Kimmei, but in the late 5th century, the power went to the Yamato clan that unified Japan and became the Imperial Dynasty at the end of the Kofun Period. The Yamato clan had their political center in and around Yamato (today the Nara prefecture).
Buddhism was introduced from Korea around AD 538. This leads us to the Asuka period which was different from the Kofun period with a greater focus on artistic, social and political change – and of course the Buddhism. With the introduction of Buddhism, the Kofun tombs were no longer made (in some parts they were still made up until the early 7th century) due to the Buddhist beliefs with a focus on transience of life.
The Prince Charming of Japanese history, Prince Shotouku (574-622) introduced a legal code and the Chinese calender and wrote the Constitution of Seventeen Articles (Kenpo jushichiju) about moral and political principles. The Taika Reform, presented by Emperor Kootoku, led to greater centralization and ensured the power of the imperial court.
Japan adopted the skill of writing from China, and the first Japanese historical document (the Kojiki) and the history of Japan (the Nihon Shoki, finished in 720) was written down and submitted to the sovereign by officials. In these periods, Japan also asked China for recognition of the Japanese royal titles, and China also recognized Japanese military control over parts of the Korean peninsula.
After the Asuka period, the Japanese capital Heijoo-kyoo was established (in present-day Nara) by Empress Gemmei. This leads us into the Nara period…
