Page 73 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

2

3 4

From Nara to Heian
Beginning with the establishment of an imperial capital in 710, PERIODS OVERVIEW
the Nara Period saw spectacular literary, artistic, architectural Jomon 14,500–300 BC
and religious advances. The era ended with the relocation of Yayoi 300 BC–AD 300
the capital to Heian-kyo (Kyoto) in 794. There, Chinese influences Yamato 300–710
blended with native Japanese elements in painting, calligraphy, Hakuho 645–710
poetry and prose. After the collapse of the Chinese Tang dynasty
in 907, Japan began to distance itself from its neighbor and Nara 710–794
developed a culture that was more distinctly Japanese. Heian 794–1185
Kamakura 1185–1333
Kamakura Period Muromachi 1333–1568
In 1185, the elegant world of the Heian court was shattered by Momoyama 1568–1600
the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto warrior clans. Tokugawa (Edo)
The result was the establishment of Japan’s first shogunate – 1600–1868
rule by warriors – and power shifted from the imperial court Meiji 1868–1912
to Kamakura, near modern Tokyo. The Mongols launched two Taisho 1912–1926
invasion attempts in 1274 and 1281, both of which were halted Showa 1926–1989
by the weather, leading the Japanese to coin the term “kamikaze” – Heisei 1989–present
divine wind. In 1333, the Kamakura shogunate collapsed after
the emperor Go-Daigo attempted to reassert imperial control.

c 1000 1274 1333
Tale of Genji – The first Mongol The Kamakura
possibly the world’s invasion attempt shogunate
oldest novel – is lands in Kyushu. collapses.
written by court lady
Murasaki Shikibu.

1180–85
1087 Minamoto clan
Emperor Shirakawa defeats the Taira
abdicates and becomes and establishes
first cloistered emperor. Kamakura shogunate.
73

072-077_EW_Japan.indd 73 19/02/2019 12:00