The Asuka Period in Japan started at the end of the 6th century and lasted about 100 years. During this period, the Japanese palaces of the Royal Family (Tenno clan) remained in the Asuka region, located inside the current Nara prefecture.  The location of the palaces had been changed by various Emperors and Empresses many times always staying within the Asuka area . The term Asuka can be illustrated by two Chinese characters “to fly” and “bird”.

During the Asuka Period, various factors contributed to the enhancement of Japanese politics and culture. These enhancements were primarily a result of the significant influence of foreign powers. There were complicated and intense relationships between Japan and the Far East Asian Tang Dynasty of China, Koryo of northern Korea and the Silla of southeastern Korea.

Generally speaking, this period was the time that the relatively small island of Japan gradually began to build a centralized government. They absorbed and imitated the centralized governmental system from neighboring countries like Korea and especially China. Behind the development of Japan's centralized government is a notable relationship among East Asian countries. It can be said that the birth of Asuka Period can't be discussed without discussing the influence of foreign power at that time.

“Buddhism,” introduced to Japan around the middle of 6^th century, was one of the most significant cultural concepts to come to Japan from the outside. Initially, Buddhism was mainly worshiped by specific people known as the “Soga Family (including Shotokutaishi).” The Soga eventually succeeded in influencing their rivals who were anti-Buddhism. Only then could the famous Asuka Buddhist culture, which represented such various Buddhist works as “Asukatera,” flourish.

The Soga family was a distinctively powerful regional authority (Gozoku) who succeeded in forming a relationship with the Royal family. Japan's first Empress, Suiko-Tenno, along with a famous and talented prince called Shotokutaishi who served as Regent, were both related to the Soga family.

Because of Shotokutaishi's skillful political abilities, several significant systems were developed during this time. They were “Kani-Junikai” and the “Constitution of Seventeen Articles (Kenpou-Junanajo)” which were revolutionary institutions at the time. They were established for the purpose of reorganizing the existing hereditary system into a bureaucratic system and conferring moral caution or general duty to each powerful clan.

In terms of diplomacy, Shotokutaishi's second official mission was a letter to the Sui Dynasty (China) in AD607. He attempted to establish a better relationship with China than he had with other countries in the Chosong peninsula. The level of diplomacy among East Asian countries at the time was intense, especially when a united powerful dynasty appeared in China. The inevitable threat of China caused serious pressure on other East Asian countries. The influence of power from the Sui and Tung Dynasties in China was increasing in the Korean peninsula. It became stronger and stronger and even a small country such as Japan became involved in a war in the Korean Peninsula called the Hakusukinoe War (in Japanese) under the leadership of Naka-no-Oe (Emperor Tenji).

As mentioned above, the Soga Family was in power for a long time in Japan, but Naka-no-Oe and his trusted obedient vassal (Nakatomi-no-Kamatari) attempted to establish a new centralized government (the Taika Reform of 645 AD). Since the 4^th and 5^th century until the Taika Reform, each region of Japan was under the control of the powerful and near-autonomous wealthy family Gozoku. Therefore, the primary accomplishment of the Taika Reform was the exclusion of the Gozoku authority from the region and the establishment a strong central government by the Japanese Royal Family.

Naka-no-Oe focused on establishing new systems (from the Chinese and Korean model) in order to centralize Japan more powerfully. He also decided to assist the Korean Paekche Dynasty from the threat of their neighbor Silla and a powerful Chinese dynasty Sui. However, the result of the reckless battle against great China was costly for Japan. In short, Naka-no-Oe of Japan and the Korean Paekche were completely defeated. As a result, many Paekche people escaped Korea bringing a variety of significant skills with them into Japan.

Ever since Buddhism came to Japan, innumerable carved images, temples, and decorations of Buddha have been made. The Asuka Period, which was the first to accept Buddhism, had two distinctive stages of Buddhist art. The first stage was mainly guided by a powerful clan, the Soga and Shotokutaishi. Buddha images of the Soga era are known as “Tori-shiki” influenced by the northern Wei Period in China. Their characteristics include marked, almond-shaped eyes, upward-turned crescent-shaped lips, and symmetrically arranged folds in the clothing. Asuka Daibutu, the Shaka triad produced by Kura-tukurino-Tori, is one of the best Buddha arts at that time.

The second stage of Buddhist art is known as Hakukoo culture and is generally known from Taika reform until moving to Nara capital. During the latter half of the 8^th century, a large number of songs and poems were sung by various ranked people from warriors to the Emperor. The earliest collection of these poems is known as Man'yoshu. It includes several remarkable poets such as Nukatano-Okimi and Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro. “Waka,” which literally means “Japanese song,” is well known as a Japanese anthology, one of various styles of reading Waka known as Tanka. It consists of a total of 31 words with 5 lines and each line has a limited number of words, from beginning to end, 5.7.5.7.7. These words must fit to each line. This restriction helps express beautiful tunes and distinctive taste of word choice done by each singer. Because of the limited word use, it is said to be almost impossible to translate Tanka or Haiku (5.7.5.) into foreign languages even though they can be explained with longer sentences.

After Emperor Tenji's death, his younger brother fought against his son to win the rank of Emperor, and eventually Tenji's younger brother, Emperor Tenmu came into power. He is credited as the one who developed the term for Japan as Nihon (Japan's name in Japanese) and for O'kimi (King) as Tenno (Emperor) which appeared in this period for first time. In contrast to Emperor Tenji's strong favor to Buddhism, lasting since the Soga age, Emperor Tenmu paid significant attention to the existence of a Japanese local religion (Shinto) in addition to Buddhism. He is the one who ordered the construction of several remarkable temples such as Yakushi-ji.  He is also credited with editing Japan's oldest record which consists of mainly royal family legend (Kojiki and Nihonshoki).

During the period of Tenmu and his wife (Empress Jito), Japan's first standard capital with castle walls was established (Fujiwara-kyo). The structure of the government was called the “Ritu-ryo” (legal code of ancient Japan) system. His political accomplishments led to the establishment of a foundation of Japanese traditional structure. The Asuka Period came to an end when the capital was moved to another area under Empress Genmei. The Asuka Period was followed by the Nara Period.

Written by Taku Kurashige, 2001 and Rie Yamada, 2003

Return to Japanese History