Asuka period

History of Japan
Periods Paleolithic before 14,000 BC Jōmon 14,000 – 300 BC Yayoi 300 BC – 300 AD Kofun 300–538 Asuka 538–710 Nara 710–794 Heian 794–1185 Kamakura 1185–1333 Kenmu Restoration 1333–1336 Muromachi (Ashikaga) Nanboku-chō Sengoku 1336–1573 Azuchi–Momoyama Nanban trade 1573–1603 Edo (Tokugawa) Sakoku Convention of Kanagawa Bakumatsu 1603–1868 Meiji Boshin War Restoration First Sino-Japanese War Boxer Rebellion Russo-Japanese War 1868–1912 Taishō World War I 1912–1926 Shōwa Financial crisis Militarism World War II Occupation Economic miracle Post-occupation Bubble economy 1926–1989 Heisei Lost Decade Great Hanshin earthquake Great East Japan earthquake Imperial transition 1989–2019 (planned) Reiwa 2019 (planned)
Topics Currency Earthquakes Economy Education Empire Historiography Military Naval Post-war
Glossary Timeline

The , sometimes called Suikochō-jidai ("period of the Suiko court"), was a time in the history of Japan which lasted from around 538 through about 710. There is some overlap with the Kofun period which came before. There is also some overlap with the Nara period, which comes after.

The Asuka period is named after the Asuka region, about 25 km south to the modern city of Nara.

Timeline

• 538: Introduction of Buddhism from China via Korean peninsula
• 593: Prince Shōtoku is regent for Empress Suiko
• 600: Yamato state sends the first Japanese diplomatic mission to China
• 607: Prince Shōtoku builds the Buddhist temple Hōryūji in Ikaruga.
• 645 (Taika 1): Emperor Kōtoku moves his capital from Asuka to Naniwa near the Bay of Osaka.
• 645 (Taika 1): Taika Reform and the establishment of provinces
• 672: Prince Ōama, later Emperor Temmu usurped the throne by winning the civil war (Jinshin no Ran) against Emperor Kōbun.
• 701 (Taihō 1): Code of Taihō was proclaimed.
• 708 (Keiun 5): A mint was established in the province of Ōmi. The mint made coins which are recognized as the first Japanese currency.
• 710 (Wadō 3, 3rd month): Empress Gemmei established her new capital in Nara, which was known then as Heijō-kyō.

Gallery

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  Wadōkaichin coin, minted starting in 708

Asuka Period Media

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  The Daibutsu at the Asuka-dera in Asuka, the oldest known statue of the Buddha in Japan with an exact known date of manufacture, 609 AD; the statue was made by Kuratsukuri-no-Tori, son of a Korean immigrant.

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  A stone foundation section of the Mount Shioji Ōnojō Castle Ruins, where construction began in 665

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  A wall mural depicting ladies, from the west wall of the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, late 7th century, Asuka period

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  A dragon-head pitcher with Pegasus pattern incised, gilded bronze with silver, Asuka period, 7th century, former Horyu-ji Temple treasures, Tokyo National Museum

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  Bronze plaque depicting Shaka delivering a sermon, dated 698 AD, Hase-dera Temple, Sakurai, Nara

Related pages

• List of Japanese eras

Other websites

Media related to Asuka period at Wikimedia Commons

• Metropolitan Museum of Art, Asuka and Nara Periods
• Japan-guide.com, Early Japan