Asuka and Nara periods in Japan

Asuka and Nara periods in Japan are very important; it was the first official, documented time when Buddhism was officially introduced as an official religion. It was utterly something new for Japan and its people which were organized within Shinto culture. Images, signs, sounds, colors and doctrines revolutionized their way of thinking.

Shinto refers to practices and beliefs, a dance, a song, all around a particular community and a particular religion. Its culture were written down in the historical books of Kojiki and Nihon. It is set of mythological stories, loose one, instead of firm religious facts. The objects of beliefs were gods and spirits. In Kami theology natural places were worshiped, trees, rocks, rivers, they all created sacred places.

It is the oldest Japanese shrine.

Apart from the Buddhism religion, other important elements were incorporated into the Japanese culture; [1]the Chinese language – its written form, recording history by means of keeping it in books, the weights and measures were of one standard and common in all country, as well as usage of coins as real money. The state  was based on [2]Chinese model of the state; it was centralized, bureaucratic; well-organized alike in China and Korea. It shaped Japanese society forever. The most noticeable part of Nara period was Ritsuryo system which preliminary part consisted of Taiho code. In 701AD the very important changes occurred, Taika reforms were implemented; the changes in establishment; Chinese style state marked tremendous diversification in Japan. The political and social system were governed by the Grand Council State with eight ministers patronizing the power and decisions. It was the emperor who appointed, chose and dismissed ministers. For the reason of centralization of power the Japan was divided into the provinces; the provinces consisted of districts. During the Nara period there were 67 documented provinces with 55 districts and over 4.000 villages all around. All the units were governed and administrated by governors. The people of Japan were vassals of the emperor. The rice land was not a particular belonging to a particular subject it was a public domain. Every six years a family or single individuals got a piece of land to rule provided that they were over six years of age, they were usually given 0.12 hectare. The register was updated every six years. New taxes were implemented; a rice tax, a local products tax, labor tax. The taxation was very severe to peasants whose income was depended on crops and seasonal harvests; sometimes they did not have enough money to pay the taxes because their income was far too low. For that reason, people abandoned the land they were not able to keep, lots of wastelands appeared and went into the ownership of rich nobility. The political and social reality did not change under the leadership of Prince Nagaya. Shortly after the proclamation he was falsely accused of treason and rebellion, forced to commit suicide which he did.  The Tempyo culture was much more influential – Japan was so eager to see new innovations, new development China had, they started the oversea  travels which were fatal and cost many lives, namely, Japan was not advanced enough to start and endure oversea voyages. When it finally became firm – oversea visitors from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, India visited Japan and endorsed the Tempyo culture. Every period has its decline, so does Nara, which was marked by strong position of Buddhism and Confucianism, monks became religious councilors, the clergy dominated the court politics. The farm villages were reinstated, Buddhism was acclaimed as a state and prime religion. The peasant who were not able to keep their lands and pay their debts were encouraged to return to their lands; the debts were ‘cancelled’ – the peasant could borrow the seed rice and the crops he had allowed him to pay back 20% of the debt he had, it meant he was not put into more debts, instead he earn of what he harvested. The authority of the central government diminished especially in North Japan. The quite big decentralization of power at the end of Nara period left it unsolved till the new dynasty emerged – powerful, organized, one. But it took time till Heian Period began.

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[1] Written Chinese consists of Han characters, the system of letters is logo syllabic, one syllable of spoken Chinese might be a spoken word. Characters often represents pairs which may stand for physical objects, abstract notions. The Chinese written language is dated back to Shang Dynasty 1200-1050BC, however the standardization of the language started and developed during the Quin Dynasty 221-205BC. It took centuries since well-developed and shaped Chinese calligraphy emerged in a notion of modern Chinese. Written form is based on standard spoken Chinese – Mandarin.

[2] This type of a city is dated back to Tang dynasty which ruled between 618-906 AD. It bloomed after the fall and decline of Han dynasty 220AD. China went through the civil wars and inside skirmishes till the rule and supremacy of Sui dynasty which successfully united China. Its rule was positively marked by successful diplomacy, political allies, economic growth and expansion and cultural vivid life and cosmopolitan style influenced mostly in big cities. Tang dynasty made China an empire like state, medieval world might be envy of. The villages and settings were of nomadic character, educated men who didn't have family served as state officials, new rich and powerful urban elite gradually replaced aristocracy.