Japan History : When asked "what kind of country is Japan?", the Japanese would probably answer "a country where history and tradition blend exquisitely with modern society." History is the key to knowing modern Japan. This time around, let's take a quick look at the historical news that marked a milestone in Japan.
The Jmon period, which lasted from 12,000 to 800 BCE, was the time when Japan's oldest culture flourished.
From the ruins of the early Jomon period, pottery with a pattern created by pressing a rope and a string against the soil has been excavated. This rope pattern attached to pottery is called "Jmon" and is also the name of this era.
The life of the Jomon people was centered on hunting and harvesting, but farming began in the Yayoi period (300–250 BC).
The use of paddy fields and the production of rice gave rise to the prosperity of the country and the first status class was established in Japan during this era. It is said that Japan was called Wakoku during the Jmon and Yayoi periods
Himiko: First Queen of Japan
And Himiko, a young woman who had captured people's hearts by fortune telling, became queen. The country ruled by Himiko is called Yamatai.
Prayers such as "Kotoki-do" and "Noh-sh" that Himiko performed are derived from ancient Shinto. At the same time she was a queen, she was also a tirtha maiden (female prayer).
According to ancient Chinese records, the Yamatai nation peacefully expanded its territory under its rule.
There are various theories about Queen Himiko and Yamatai, and discussions are still ongoing about that country. He is one of the most mysterious creatures in Japanese history.
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The coup and the beginning of the emperor system
Subsequently, Yamato Province, the oldest monarchical nation in the world, was established in Japan. It was the emperor who ruled Yamato, and this family is inherited by the Japanese imperial family, which continues to this day.
In 538, Buddhism was introduced from Baekje (now South Korea), and the Asuka period began. One of the most important figures of this era, Prince Shotoku, was instrumental in the mission of Buddhism.
He, who was in charge of politics on behalf of the emperor, sent it to the emperor of the Sui Empire (now China) in a sentence of a letter saying, "Tenshi for sunrise, Tenshi for sunset." The country is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun," that is, Japan.
Prince Shotoku was from Sri Soga, who has power under the Emperor's rule. The Soga was also a clan that supported Buddhism.
Eventually, the Soga clan rose to power, living in a royal house, building a massive mausoleum, and acting like a ruler.
After the death of Prince Shotoku, a group of people who could not stand the Soga clan's arrogance led a coup called the "Yin Wood Snake" and assassinated Soga no Iruka, the leader of the Soga clan.
After that, Emperor Kotoku reformed the law according to Chinese philosophy in order to regain the rule centered on the imperial court. This is called "taika reform".
International Nara period
The Taika Reform was just the first step in political reform. During the Nara period (710-794), the imperial court established a system called the Ritsuryo system, which consists of numerous laws such as taxes, military service, and ranks, based on the literature brought back from the Tang Dynasty (now China), and made efforts to govern Japan.
did In this way, the Nara period had active diplomatic relations, and was particularly influenced by China. In the early Nara period, "Kojiki" and "Nihonshoki", which are the oldest historical books in Japan, were written. These books also had the meaning of supporting the authority of the emperor.
In addition to Daian-ji and Kofuku-ji, many temples such as Todai-ji, which is known as the Great Buddha of Nara, were built, and it was a time when Buddhism prospered.
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Elegant peace culture
The imperial court, which was the center of politics until 1185, was also the source of art and culture. The world's first novel "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu and "The Pillow Book" by Sei Shonagon, which depicts the gorgeous life of the imperial court, are also documents written during this period.
In addition, many things known as Japanese tradition, such as the custom of dyeing teeth black called "Ohaguro" and the syllable system of hiragana, were established in this era.
The beauty of the women living in the imperial court symbolizes this era. They had long black hair and wore 12 layers of colorful kimono called Junihitoe.
While an elegant culture flourished, the court was declining due to internal power struggles. The aristocrats' devotion to play rather than politics contributed to the development of culture and art, but had a negative impact on the administration.
On the other hand, apart from the aristocrats who drown in pleasure, some aristocrats who organized samurai as servants and shrines and temples that have an influence on the people began to gradually gain power.
The dawn of the shogun era
Despite political instability, those who gained military power became more and more powerful. Eventually, a dispute over the succession of the emperor to the throne broke out, and a civil war broke out between Mr. Taira, who had been in power for a long time, and Mr. Genji, who had been growing his military power despite his relatives.
The battle reached its peak in the "Genpei War" (1180-1185). The Heike Story, written in 1300, depicts the fall of the Heike due to this bloody and sad battle.
After the Genpei War, Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was the leader of the Genpei, became a shogun and opened the Kamakura Shogunate.
From this time on, the de facto ruler of Japan changed from the emperor to the shogun. However, peace did not come, but rather Japan faced a world of tension and war due to the repeated struggles of the samurai who tried to seize power. This era was later called the Shogun era, or the Warring States period (1497-1603).
Sanei-Ketsu during the Warring States period
It was three warlords who decided the fate of Japan during the Warring States period. They had many vassals and were also lords of their land.
The keys to tactics in this era are trickery and betrayal. The most famous event is the "Honnoji Incident" in which Nobunaga Oda, who tried to unify Japan one step further, was betrayed by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide and was assassinated.
Immediately after that, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a vassal of Oda, executed Akechi Mitsuhide and succeeded Nobunaga Oda. In the end, it didn't go as Akechi Mitsuhide expected.
It was the Hojo clan who ruled Odawara who opposed the Toyotomi administration to the end. However, it will also be defeated by the siege of Odawara Castle by the Toyotomi army who also joined hands with Ieyasu Tokugawa.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who unified Japan in this way, organized the Council of Five Elders, which consisted of five influential samurai families, including Ieyasu Tokugawa, and died.
In 1598, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who had already gained power, attacked Osaka Castle, where Hideyoshi's son lives. As a result,
Japan is divided into two major powers, the daimyo who was attached to Ieyasu Tokugawa and the daimyo led by Mitsunari Ishida. In 1600, the two governments clashed in the "Battle of Sekigahara", but Ieyasu Tokugawa became the champion when several daimyo on the Ishida side turned over.
The Edo period when popular culture flourished
Due to the overwhelming leadership of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the center of Japanese politics was moved from Kyoto, where the emperor lived, to Edo, which is now Tokyo.
1603 is the beginning of the Edo period. During the Edo period, many world-renowned traditional Japanese cultures such as ukiyo-e, kabuki, and kimono were established.
It is believed that these cultures flourished largely because of the many years of peaceful and war-free era, and the fact that the masses, not the aristocrats, became familiar with art.
The arrival of Kurofune and the end of the Edo period
In 1853, an event that could be called the "beginning of the end" of the Edo period, which continued for a long time of peace, occurred. A black ship led by an American soldier, Perry, arrived in Japan, which had been isolated until then.
The name "Kurofune" is said to have been named because the black smoke emitted by this small steamship made the Japanese fear.
The purpose of Admiral Perry's arrival was to give the general a letter from the 13th President of the United States, Miraldo Fillmore, who demanded a trade agreement between Japan and the United States.
Faced with overwhelming military power, the Edo Shogunate had no choice but to drink this request. About a year later, the Convention of Kanagawa was signed, ending the long-standing policy of seclusion. However, some oppose this treaty, and Japan will re-enter the era of civil war.
Goodbye Chonmage! Emperor system again
Eventually, there was a movement to push the emperor back to the ruler of Japan, and a movement to eliminate "Western barbarians".
The shogunate tried to suppress this with military force, but the tension continued to rise. Eventually, the Boshin War that involved the whole of Japan broke out, but the government army with the emperor as the ruler won.
Then, in 1868, the Meiji Restoration, a political reform to abolish the military government by the Shogunate, was carried out.
The influx of Western culture has brought about many changes in people's lives. For example, kimono is for suits, pants, dresses and skirts.
Also, the hairstyle called "chonmage", which shave the hair and tie the hair left on the front of the head to the top of the head, is no longer seen.
The Meiji era was also an era in which culture and industry were rapidly modernized in an attempt to catch up with the world.
To Asia's Largest Economic Power
With rapid technological advances in just a few decades, Japan has deepened its ties to Western society. During World War I, which began in 1914, Japan had a substantial cooperative relationship with the Triple Entente, which consisted of France, Great Britain, and Russia, which fought against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In addition, Japan seizes the territory of the Pacific Ocean from the defeated Germany. As a result, it has expanded its power both politically and militarily.
When World War II broke out in 1939, Japan was an Axis power along with Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy.
He gained most of Asia, but eventually lost to the United States and was unconditionally surrendered in 1945. After years of democratization and US occupation, Japan joined the Western nations in 1952.
After that, Japan, which achieved high economic growth between the 1960s and 1970s, eventually became one of the most economically powerful countries in the world. Japanese products full of originality are still highly regarded in the world.