Yamato Court
The Yamato Court, which dominated central Japan from 660 BCE to 697 CE, was pivotal in establishing the foundations of what would become the Japanese state. Its influence expanded through strategic alliances, often cemented by marriage, and military conquests, which helped secure the loyalty of surrounding clans. This period saw significant cultural exchange, particularly following the influx of Korean and Chinese professionals, especially after 366 CE, which enriched the Japanese aristocracy. The adoption of Buddhism in 587 CE marked a critical turning point, leading to the emulation of Chinese culture and governance. Japan actively sought expertise from China, sending missions as early as 604 CE to foster this exchange. The adaptation of Chinese writing systems and administrative practices played a crucial role in Japan's development. The establishment of a permanent capital in Nara symbolized the culmination of these efforts, signaling the emergence of a unified Japanese state. The Yamato Court thus represents a complex interplay of indigenous and continental influences that shaped early Japan’s political and cultural landscape.
Yamato Court
Related civilizations: Japan, Korea, China.
Date: third-seventh centuries c.e.
Locale: Yamato plain in central Japan
Yamato Court
From Jimmu Tennō’s traditional ascension to the throne in 660 b.c.e. to that of Mommu in 697 c.e., the Yamato (YAH-mah-toh) court, as the predominant power in central Japan, extended its influence by securing the allegiance of surrounding families through marriage or military conquest and enlisting them in household organizations of increasing size and strength until it finally claimed sovereignty over Japan.
Continental influences, vital to Japan’s development, produced an influx of Korean and Chinese professionals after 366 c.e., through the Korean kingdom of Paekche, which swelled the Japanese aristocratic class by one-third. However, the rise of Silla, which snuffed out Paekche, forced Japan to rethink its continental connections.
Official Japanese acceptance of Buddhism in 587 c.e. signaled the beginning of a wholehearted emulation of Chinese culture. Missions were sent directly to the Chinese capital starting in 604 c.e. to acquire Chinese expertise. Japan adapted the Chinese ideographs in order to write Japanese, accepted as much of the Chinese administrative system that fit the Japanese scene, and produced formal histories based on the Chinese model.
With the construction of a permanent capital at Nara in the Yamato plain, the Japanese state had finally come into being.
Bibliography
Hall, John W. Japan: From Prehistory to Modern Times. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1991.
Sansom, George B. Japan: A Short Cultural History. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1952.