Explore the ancient and awe-inspiring history of Japan, from the early civilisations of the Jomon period to the legendary kings and queens of antiquity, the feudal era of the samurai and the great upheavals of the 19th century and beyond. See how Japan came back from the brink in the 20th century to become a futuristic hi-tech haven for the 21st, and how its thousands of years of history continue to influence its unique culture today.
Heavenly jewelled spear Stirs the depth of formless earth Land becomes itself
1 LAND of the RISING SUN • Ancient islands war Land of eight million gods Kingdom lines are drawn
PERIODS & ERAS
GOD EMPERORS & WARRIOR QUEENS • THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF JAPAN IS SHROUDED IN MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF EMPERORS DESCENDED FROM GODS AND QUEENS WHO WAGED BLOODY WARS
THE TŌDAIJIYAMA SWORD • The Kofun tombs of Japan were the burial sites of important Japanese people – people who were often sent to the afterlife with rich grave goods like swords
THE GRASS-CUTTING SWORD • Each person who takes the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan is presented with three legendary items
The CONQUEST of NORTHERN HONSHU • NORTHERN HONSHU WAS NOT ALWAYS PART OF JAPAN; ITS COLONISATION AND CONQUEST, AND THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE BY THE EMISHI EVEN AFTER THEIR MILITARY DEFEAT, HAD A FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE ON JAPANESE POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY
NORTHERN HONSHU AFTER THE EMISHI
8 MILLION GODS • WHAT ARE THESE BEINGS CALLED KAMI, WHAT DO THEY REPRESENT, AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN TO THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN?
BECOMING JAPAN The Asuka Period • THE RISE OF IMPERIAL POWER AND A FLOURISHING OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN JAPAN CAN BE TRACED TO THE EVENTS OF THE ASUKA PERIOD
TIMELINE OF ASUKA HISTORY CE
BLENDING SHINTO & BUDDHISM
FIVE PROVINCES & SEVEN CIRCUITS • BY THE ASUKA PERIOD MORE OF JAPAN HAD COME UNDER THE SWAY OF THE IMPERIAL THRONE, AND SYSTEMS HAD TO BE CREATED TO ADMINISTER IT
A CENTRE OF POWER • THE KINAI PROVINCES OF JAPAN WERE THE LOCATION OF THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL FOR CENTURIES AND FORMED THE HUB OF IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATION
HISTORY OF KYOTO
CONQUERING A COUNTRY • BEFORE A NATION CAN BE BROUGHT TOGETHER AS A SINGLE ENTITY, CONTROL MUST FIRST BE EXERTED OVER ITS LAND – BY BATTLE OR MORE SUBTLE METHODS
TAKING HOKKAIDO
UNITING OF A NATION • OUTSIDE OF THE HEARTLANDS OF JAPAN, CONTROL OF A SOMETIMES FRACTIOUS PEOPLE HAD TO BE EXERTED CAREFULLY TO BIND THEM TOGETHER INTO ONE LAND
STATION BELLS
The AGE of TRANQUILLITY • THE HEIAN PERIOD WAS A CULTURAL HIGH POINT OF JAPAN, BUT IT ALSO SAW SOME OF THE MOST VICIOUS STRUGGLES FOR CONTROL
LADIES OF THE COURT
TOMOE GOZEN: A FEMALE SAMURAI
2 THE SHOGUN & THE SAMURAI • Emperor withdraws Castles rise like red-crowned cranes Nest for centuries
TAIRA MASAKADO the First Samurai • AMONG THE SAMURAI, THERE WERE NONE LIKE THE FIRST, TAIRA MASAKADO, WHOSE PREMATURE REBELLION BROUGHT THE IMPERIAL COURT TO ITS KNEES
RISE OF THE SAMURAI • Masakado’s uprising marked the rise of the samurai warrior class
MASAKADO’S LEGACY • More than 1,000 years after his death, Japan still fears the wrath of Masakado
Feudal JAPAN
The WAR for JAPAN’S FUTURE • WHEN A POWER VACUUM LEFT JAPAN WITHOUT AN EMPEROR, TWO BROTHERS PREPARED TO FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR THE ULTIMATE PRIZE
TAMETOMO THE TERRIBLE • Not all war stories are about the victors – some tell the tales of power-hungry men
THE NINE-TAILED FOX • Uncover the story of Tamamo-no-Mae
A New POWER RISES • DETERMINED TO AVENGE THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS CLAN, AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG MAN PICKED UP A BLOODIED GAUNTLET AND REJUVENATED A NATIONAL STRUGGLE THAT WOULD RESULT...
