History of Japanese Culture

What's Asuka Period? The term of ancient Asuka Period began in 592 and ended in 710. "Asuka" is the southern area of Nara Prefecture.     In this period, Buddhism was the most essencial things of the culture. With Buddha statue, the religion had  already came to Japan in the middle of 6th. And the two powerful family, Soga clan（蘇我氏） and Mononobe clan（物部氏） fought with each other whether accepting it or not.   Shotoku Taishi (center)Sh...

Nara Period and the ancient capital, Heijo-kyoWhat is Nara PeriodIn 710, the capital in Asuka Period was moved to Nara. It was the end of Asuka Period and the start of the completely different time. The new capital was named as Heijo-kyo(平城京). And the leaders at that time planned to imitate the regime of China. So they made Heijo-kyo resembled Chang'an.  Wakakusayama Hill and Nara Park from Nara prefectural government office, by Degueulasse  In 630, the Japanese Imperia...

The culture of aristocracy/ Kokufu Culture(国風文化)After the accession to the throne, the Emperor Kanmu(桓武天皇) moved the capital from Nagaoka-Kyo to Heian-Kyo, Kyoto, in 794. The event finished the Nara Period and its culture(Tenpyo Culture) , instead of starting Heian Period(平安時代).    The inflow of the culture from the Asian Continent came to an end with the abolition of the envoy to Tang Dynasty China in 894. It fostered the unique culture that the nobles created deli...