The Early Asuka Period: The Beginning of Classical Japan (538–645)
The ascent of Emperor Kinmei to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 539 marked the end of the Kofun Period and the start of the new Asuka Period, named after Japan’s first permanent capital. Kinmei is regarded as the first historical emperor of Japan. This shows a pivotal development in Japanese historiography, as history retelling in this epoch made the transition from mythological belief to historical reality.
The first major event in this era were when some emissaries from the Korean kingdom of Baekje went to meet with the Japanese emperor in 538, bringing with them Buddhism. The Japanese had known about this religion for over a century already through trade with the mainland and had a large practicing Korean diaspora in Japan, but they had mostly kept to themselves. The Japanese government came to endorse it publicly in 552, integrating it into Japanese culture over time.
This was also the period when Japan’s name changed from Wa (dwarf kingdom in Chinese) to the current Nippon (the land of the rising sun). Japan began to affirm its own sovereignty, independent from the recognition of China, which had provided the Japanese with regional legitimacy for well over a century. In this period, the Yamato clan started to suppress clan leaders and acquire agricultural lands.
These agricultural lands were then redistributed equally among the peasants of the country (who only lived in Kyushu and Honshu, as Japan was not united yet). During the Asuka Period, Japan became increasingly more and more centralized around the emperor’s court in Asuka.
The basic administrative unit was the Gokishichido, a network of commercial roads. The normal occupations of the populace included farmers, weavers, fishers, armourers, artisans and potters.
In 593, Empress Suiko inherited the throne from her half-brother Sushun. He had been assassinated by his prime minister, Soga no Umako. He was the head of the Soga clan, which were the real rulers of Japan. Umako suspected that Sushun had had him on his deathlist, and got rid of him, fearing that his power was threatened.
Empress Suiko governed religious affairs, while her regents Prince Shotoku and Soga no Umako wielded all secular power (primarily militaristic and political pursuits). The Soga clan held supreme political power in the Yamato state, solidifying their rule by intermarrying with the Yamato imperial house.
Prince Shotoku enacted a series of reforms to modernize the state and crack down on corruption and nepotism. In addition he improved the cultural bonds between Japan and Tang China by sending Japanese exchange students there. This ushered in a period of intellectual and societal flourishing, with Konfucianism, Buddhism, Taoism as well as Chinese astrology and technology enriching Japanese culture.
However, by sending a letter to the Chinese with the address of “From the Son of Heaven in the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan) to the Son of Heaven in the Land of the Setting Sun (China)” he upsetted the Chinese Emperor greatly. Japan didn’t want the subordinate role in political relations anymore.
He passed the Seventeen Articles Constitution (a handbook on ethical principles for a government bureaucrat) and the cap rank system (denoting 12 court ranks which was merit-based after coloured or feathered hats).
Moreover, Shotoku was also an ardent supporter of Buddhism and built several temples during his lifetime. The prince passed away in 622, Soga no Umako and Empress Suiko dying in 626 and 628 respectively.
After the death of Soga no Umako, his son Soga no Emishi took power. Together with his son, Soga no Iruka, he installed two puppet monarchs: first Emperor Yomei and then Empress Kogyoku. The Soga clan wanted non-reformist subordinate emperors which were easy to control. If they tried to change anything about the current system, the Soga clan supremacy would be at stake.
Emishi and Iruka chose these two persons as emperors by passing over the beloved son of Prince Shotoku and legitimate heir to the throne, Prince Yamashiro. Because Soga no Iruka and his father were rather stern and brutal rulers, the prince’s sister gave them a solid tongue-lashing in public. His rage boiling over, Iruka killed not just Yamashiro and his sister, but their entire family, which was a branch of the imperial dynasty. This was unacceptable for the Japanese public. The Soga clan lost a lot of its legitimacy by doing this.
Nakatomi no Kamatari, a noble who had supported Prince Yamashiro’s claim to the throne, became sick and tired of the Soga clan’s tyrannical behaviour and wanted to oust the Soga clan from the reins of power. He convinced Naka no Ōe, the prince of Japan and son of Empress Kogyoku, to join his cause. Kamatari also got the support of the powerful grandson of Soga no Umako, Soga no Karayamada no Ishikawa no Maro. He took a dislike to Soga no Iruka. Maro also had a mighty army who could help beat the numerous Soga military forces.
Naka no Ōe, Nakatomi no Kamatari and Maro staged an assassination of Iruka during some Korean envoys’ official visit to Japan in 645. This event later came to be known as the Isshi incident. The plan almost failed horribly, but in a moment of spontaneity, Naka no Ōe emerged from the background and struck Soga no Iruka’s head with a knife. He then accused him of his despotic misdeeds in front of the crowd.
The dictatorial regent was now helpless, in an instant abandoned by his empress. A group of assailants (the guys who were originally going to kill Umako, but were too afraid to do it) finished him off quickly afterwards.
The Soga army dispersed immediately following this shocking setback. Facing no other choice, Iruka’s father Soga no Emishi burnt down his house with himself inside it. The Soga era of 587–645 had come to an end.
Afterwards, a new government was founded, with Empress Kogyoku’s younger brother Kōtoku as new emperor. Naka no Ōe became prime minister, and Maro attained a high position in the central government. Kumatari, whose name was now exalted to Fujiwara no Kamatari, maintained a high degree of influence and power over the court. His family, the Fujiwara clan, subsequently came to dominate Japan for the next 300 years.
