📖 Asuka Period

The period from the ascension of Emperor Suiko in 592 AD to the relocation of the capital to Heijōkyō (present-day Nara) in 710 AD is known as the "Asuka Period." With the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, various cultural, political models, and ways of thinking continuously flowed in, resulting in significant changes in all aspects of Japanese society. During the Asuka Period, the Japanese state implemented a series of reform measures aimed at strengthening national power and established a system and constitution centered around the emperor. This article introduces the changes in Japanese social structure and the trajectory of cultural development during the process of establishing a ritsuryō state centered on the emperor.

The establishment of a centralized state centered around Prince Shōtoku begins. The "Taika Reforms," marking the starting point for the establishment of a ritsuryō state, commence. Japan experiences its first major expedition. The "Jinshin War" breaks out over the dispute for the imperial succession. A series of policies aimed at establishing a ritsuryō state centered around the emperor are implemented. Various temples are constructed to deepen the faith in Buddhism.