Japan: early feudal history AD 400–1192

For the earlier history of Japan, see Japan: prehistoric and ancient history to AD 400.

The period AD 400 to 1192 saw the establishment of a feudal society, initially under the Yamato dynasty. The Yamato era (5th–9th centuries) saw the adoption of Chinese culture and political organization, particularly during the Taiku government reforms of the 7th century. Buddhism was introduced in the 6th century. The Fujiwara family dominated the government and emperor from the 9th century to 1068, but were eventually ousted by the Taira family in 1160. In 1192 their rivals, the Minamoto, introduced the shogunate system which was to rule Japan until 1868.

Other developments during the period include the introduction of writing in the 5th century, and the building of Japan's first capital, Nara, in 710.

The beginnings of Yamato rule The Yamato dynasty may have originally come from Manchuria or Korea. Stories of its origins are mainly mythical, such as Kojiki/Record of Ancient Matters written in Japan in the late 7th century. However, the tales have similarities with the myths of the kingdom of Korea in the same period.

During the 4th century AD the Yamato dynasty (which was to become the imperial dynasty) began to extend its power from the Yamato area in central Honshu, unifying the warring classes of the region and building huge tombs (the largest, that of Emperor Nintoku near Osaka, being nearly 500 m/1,640 ft). Gradually a feudal society was established, and by the 5th century the art of writing had been introduced from Korea as a technical skill used by clerks for government records and letters.

The Yamato dynasty was strong enough to have territory in south Korea in the 5th and 6th centuries, but did not manage to take full control of Japan until it lost its Korean lands in 562. After this it began to copy the Chinese civilization and methods of government, and this helped to strengthen their control in Japan. Buddhism was introduced in either 538 or 552 from Korea. At first it was only practised by members of the royal court, and it took several centuries to spread to the ordinary people of Japan.

The Taika Reform In 604 Prince Shotoku, a practising Buddhist, introduced a new 17-section constitution for the government of Japan. It was based on Confucian ideas and was influenced by Buddhist principles. At the same time Japan began to use the Chinese calendar. In 646, after the overthrow of the powerful Soga clan, the Taika (Great Change) Reform was introduced by the emperor Kotoku. Copying the ideas of the Tang dynasty in China, it reformed the system of government in Japan to make it more organized. The government took control over all land (although in reality its control in the provinces was very weak), and. various taxes were introduced. For the first time in Japanese history, a permanent capital at Nara was built in 710.

However, unlike the Chinese system, it was not necessary to pass examinations to work in the government, and only members of noble families held office. This custom would eventually weaken the whole government system. Influential families also received tax-free estates (shoen). These grew until finally the Yamato government's income became too small for its needs.

During the Taika Reform period massive groups of Japanese officials were sent to China, and Chinese and Korean scholars, priests, and craftsmen played an important role in upgrading Japanese cultural life. The Shōsōin imperial treasure house in Nara and the Horyuji temple complex survive from this time.

The Fujiwara period By the 9th century power had passed from the Yamato into the hands of the Fujiwara dynasty. The family had played an important role in the Taika Reform and had given tax-protection to many shoen. It had also married into the imperial dynasty. From the 9th century members of the Fujiwara family acted as regents, giving them effective control over the government as the emperors were forced to abdicate the throne. They were able to dominate the Yamato emperors until 1068, when their power was challenged by the emperor Go-Sanjo. For the next 90 years his successors, beginning with the emperor Shirakawa, built up their private lands and wealth while claiming that they had abdicated the throne. Eventually, between 1156 and 1160, the Yamato emperors were able to defeat the Fujiwara and regain power.

The Taira period However, the Yamato emperors had only defeated the Fujiwara with the help of the Taira. The Taira were important military leaders descended from the imperial family. They had served the empire in Japan's provincial regions, where they had gained the strong support of many of the bushi or samurai (warriors). The numbers of samurai had grown with the expansion of private estates and the weakening of central government. It was the Taira who actually took power after Taira Kiyomori emerged as the winner in the conflicts between the emperor and the Fujiwar between 1156 and 1160. Taira Kiyomori replaced the Fujiwara regent and now controlled Japan and the emperor.

The Kamakura shogunate The rule of the Taira was to last only 25 years, as in 1185 they were defeated by a rival military family from east Japan, the Minamoto. Their conflict was known as the Taira–Minamoto Wars (also known as the Gempei Wars or Heike Wars). Yoritomo, the Minamoto leader, established a feudal government in Kamakura, near present-day Tokyo. The old imperial administration in Kyoto was left to stand, but no longer had any real power. In 1192 Yoritomo received from the abdicated Yamato emperor the title of Sei-i-tai-shogun. This was the beginning of the shogunate system which was to rule Japan until 1868, and in which real power was in the hands of the hereditary shoguns.

For subsequent history, see Japan: shogunate and restoration history 1192–1869, Japan: history 1869–1912, Japan: history 1912–41, and Japan: history 1941–45. For the history of Japan since 1945 see Japan.