CHRONOLOGY OF JAPANESE HISTORY
2000
B.C.E.
250
B.C.E.
250
C.E.
552
647
794
1185
1333
1392
1573
1615
1868
Jomon period
Ya y o i p e r i o d
(ca. 250 B.C.E.–250 C.E.)
Kofun period (Old
To m b s ) 250–550 C.E.
Asuka period (552–710)
Ya m a t o S t a t e
Nara period (710–794)
Heian period
(794–1185)
Kamakura period
(1185–1333)
Shogunate
Nambokucho period
(1333–1392)
Muromachi period
(1392–1573)
Momoyama period
(1573–1615)
Edo period [Tokugawa]
(1615–1868)
Modern period
(1868–present)
Meiji period 1868–1912
Ta i s h o p e r i o d 1912–1926
Showa period 1926–1989
Heisei period
1989–present
Hunting and gathering
660–585 legendary first emperor Jimmu
350 B.C.E. introduction of wet-rice cultivation
Rice cultivation, bronze
183–248 Queen Himiko (Chinese texts)
Monumental tombs
Building of Ise Shrine
552 arrival of Buddhism from Paekche (Korea)
574–622 Prince Shotoku
607 first embassy to China
645 Taika reform
710 founding of Nara
712 Kojiki
720 Nihon Shoku
Assimilation of Buddhism
837 end of embassies to China
Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji
1180–1185 Gempei War
1185 founding of Shogunate by Minamoto no Yoritomo at
Kamakura
The monk Eisei (1141–1215) introduces Zen Buddhism
1274 and 1281 Mongol invasions repelled
Rise of powerful daimyos challenge the Shogun
1467–1477 Onin War
1568 invasion of Kyoto by Oda Nobunaga
Tokugawa Shogunate founded at Edo (Tokyo)
1853 Perry Expedition
1867 end of Shogunate; return to power of emperors;
Emperor Meiji
Rapid modernization and industrialization
1937 War with China
1939–1945 WWII
1989 death of Emperor Hirohito
Ancient Period
Classical Period
Medieval Period
Early Modern
Modern