Nine Amazing Ancient Japan Facts That Kids Will Definitely Love

Japanese history is as vibrant and colorful as the nation itself.

From the arrival of immigrants from mainland Asia and the rule of samurai warriors to the rise and fall of emperors and isolation from the rest of the world, Japan has witnessed it all. Indeed, it is quite interesting to see what today's ultra-modern Japan was like in its ancient days.

Located in the northwest Pacific Ocean, Japan is an island nation of east Asia. Its capital is Tokyo.

Spanning an archipelago of over 6,000 islands, Japan is bordered by Taiwan and the East China Sea in the south, the Sea of Japan in the west, and the Sea of Okhotsk to the north. The five main islands of Japan are Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu, Hokkaido, and Okinawa.

One of the great powers in the contemporary world, the earliest evidence of human habitation in Japan dates back to the upper Paleolithic period. The period between the 4th and 9th centuries saw the unification of several kingdoms in Japan with the imperial court based in modern-day Kyoto.

Then, with the ushering in of the 12th century, the samurai warrior class gained supremacy in Japan. A century-long civil war was followed by the reunification of the country in 1603 and its isolation from the rest of the world for over 200 years, imposed by the Tokugawa military government.

The imperial power was restored in 1868, and the Empire of Japan embraced modernization and industrialization.

Japan entered the Second World War in 1941 as an Axis power and surrendered in 1945. The country adopted its new constitution in 1947 and since then followed a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

With that brief overall history of Japan, let's delve into ancient facts about Japan and see what ancient Japan was known for and what the civilization and culture were like in the bygone days.

If you like reading these ancient facts about Japan, do check out interesting ancient Greece factsandancient Indian factsas well!

Ancient Japan Civilization

The timeline of Japanese history can be divided into distinct periods, each dominated by civilizations that had their unique culture, habits, and lifestyle. Prehistoric and ancient Japanese history spans four periods: the Japanese Paleolithic age, the Jōmon Period (Jomon Period), the Yayoi Period, and the Kofun Period.

Paleolithic Period: The Paleolithic Period in ancient Japan began from about 100,000 BCE-30,000 BCE and continued until about 12,000 BCE or the late stone age.

However, very little is known about the Japanese civilization of this period, mainly because of the Japanese paleolithic hoax. It was a major archeological scandal of the 19th century that resulted from amateur archeologist Shinichi Fujimora's fake discoveries.

Archeological evidence not related to Fujimora's discoveries show that humans inhabited the Yamashita Cave in Okinawa of present-day Japan about 32,000 years ago and the Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave on the Ishigaki Island.

Jomon Period: The Jomon Period spanned roughly between 13,000-300 BCE, its onset corresponding to the same time as the end of the last ice age and the start of the Mesolithic period.

Interestingly, the early stages of the Jomon Period flourished when global climatic warming led to rising sea levels in Japan, and the land bridges connecting the island to the Asian continent were submerged. The Jomon culture was mainly characterized by a hunter-gatherer and nomadic lifestyle.

People during the ancient Jomon Period lived in coastal regions.

Huge heaps of seafood shells discovered during archeological studies indicate that Jomon people consumed lots of bivalves, fish, and other marine animals. There is also evidence of cutting tools forged out of stone.

Jōmon pottery is a particularly remarkable aspect of this period; the word Jomon translates to "a straw rope pattern," and the pottery was characterized by impressing damp clay with cords and sticks.

Yayoi Period: Lasting from about 1,000 or 800 BCE-250 CE, the Yayoi Period is named after the Yayoi town, an archeological site in the present-day Japanese capital city of Tokyo.

In a major transition from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Jomon period, the Yayoi Period saw the emergence of rice farming, weaving, glass-making technology, woodworks, and iron and bronze-making.

This sharp cultural shift is believed to have been driven by immigration and links with China and the Korean Peninsula. Hence, the Japanese people, whose primary subsistence to date was hunting, began to settle down in societies based around rice cultivation.

The growth of these agrarian settlements was most rapid in Honshu and Kyushu, the southernmost island of the Japanese archipelago.

Kofun Period: The Kofun Period that followed lasted from about 250 CE-538 CE. The term kofun refers to burial mounds that were constructed for the new leaders of Japan, and some tombs, such as the one built for Emperor Nintoku, measured about 1,595 ft (486 m) long!

It was common practice to fill kofuns with haniwa clay sculptures and belongings of deceased leaders.

This phase of Japan's history was marked by the unification of Japan under a single kingdom, the center of which was Yamato in Japan's Kinai region. Ancient Yamato emperors who ruled Japan were a hereditary imperial line of rulers who exercised control over their territories through military conquests and mutual settlements with local leaders.

The ancient Japanese period was followed by the culturally and politically distinct Classical Period of Japan, divided into the Asuka Period (538-710 CE), the Nara Period (710-794 CE), and the Heian Period (794-1185 CE).

Ancient Japanese Culture

The culture of ancient Japan mostly has its origins in the Jomon and Yayoi Periods. Even though Japanese culture has constantly been evolving, many of Japan's past traditions are revered in the country today.

Ancient Japanese cuisine: The ancient Japanese diet was strongly influenced by geography, religious beliefs, culinary habits imported from continental Asia, and an appreciation for the aesthetics of food. With the advent of rice farming, people of Japan replaced millet with rice as their staple food in about 300 CE.

Further, since the introduction of Buddhism in Japan in the 6th century CE, the Japanese preferred seafood over meat since Buddhism stressed avoidance of animal killing. Agricultural produce in ancient Japan mainly consisted of rice and vegetables.

Tea and sushi were brought into Japan by Chinese immigrants. Rice remained a staple and was made into rice cakes.

Seafood eaten included seaweed, sea cucumbers, shellfish, mackerel, carp, eel, trout, salmon, sardines, squid, jellyfish, prawns, and crabs. A traditional Japanese drink that is popular even today is rice wine.

Ancient Japanese literature: Literature in ancient Japan was heavily influenced by Chinese writing systems. However, even though Chinese characters were used as the literary language, the phonetics resembled Japanese words.

Records of the earliest works of Japanese literature are from the Nara Period. Notable works of the time include 'Kojiki' (a work of Japanese mythology and history), 'Man'yōshū' or 'Ten Thousand Leaves' (a collection of Japanese poetry), and 'Nihonshoki' (a historical chronicle).

Ancient Japanese music and art: The earliest documented history of Japanese music dates back to the Nara Period of the 8th century CE. Like most other aspects of its culture, the folk music of Japan is heavily impacted by Chinese influence.

Some of the most popular and traditional Japanese musical instruments are of Chinese origin with local modifications.

For instance, the stringed musical instrument called the koto is believed to have been invented in China between the 5th-3rd century BCE and brought to Japan during the Nara Period.

The shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and shamisen (resembling a guitar) are some of the other traditional musical instruments. Two of the oldest musical traditions of Japan include a form of theatrical court music known as gagaku and ritualistic music called shōmyō performed by Buddhist monks.

Ancient Japanese art dates back to the prehistoric period. Jōmon pottery, dōtaku bronze bells of the Yayoi Period, and haniwa clay sculptures of the Kofun Period are remarkable examples of art from the era. With the introduction and popularity of Buddhism in 6th and 7th-century Japan, religious paintings became a prominent feature of Buddhist temples constructed by the nobility.

Ancient Japan Religion

Buddhism and Shinto were primary religions in ancient Japan.

Buddhism was introduced in ancient Japan in the 6th century BCE via Korea and China. Of the main schools of Buddhism, the Mahayana branch of Buddhism made its way to Japan. Although there were initial conflicts between Buddhism and the native Shinto, these two religions were eventually able to co-exist and even complement each other.

The Shinto religion is considered as old as Japan itself and is the native faith of the Japanese people. Apart from Buddhism, Shinto remains a major religion in Japan to this day.

However, unlike Buddhism, Shinto does not credit its origin to any sacred scripture, spiritual leader, or founder. It has its roots in the indigenous traditions of Japan and is devoid of religious teachings.

According to the Shinto religion, sacred spirits known as kami take the form of natural elements and phenomena such as fertility, rivers, trees, rain, wind, and mountains. The most important Shinto kami is the Sun Goddess Amaterasu.

People of the Shinto faith believe that when humans die, they become kami, and the family of the deceased revere them as ancestral kami.

The kami have designated Shinto shrines where they are worshipped by Shinto priests and people of the Shinto faith. Priesthood is open to both men and women, and interestingly, Shinto priests are allowed to marry and have families of their own.

However, younger women that help priests during Shinto rituals must be unmarried and are most often the priests' daughters.

During the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Shinto was made the state religion of Japan, and Shinto shrines and priests enjoyed government patronage. However, Shinto was separated from the state after World War II.

Ancient Japan Samurai

Going by the historical timeline, samurai of Japan were the hereditary ruling military class and the highest-ranking social caste of medieval and pre-modern Japan.

Samurai of Japan made up the highest social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). These ancient warriors of Japan lived a life guided by the ethical code of bushido or the 'way of the warrior' and stressed discipline, respectful behavior, and loyalty to one's master.

While their main weapon was the sword, samurai were equally adept at using spears, guns, bows, and arrows. Both Confucianism and Buddhism played major roles in the life of a samurai.

The origin of the samurai can be traced back to the Heian Period. During this time, many Japanese landowners hired warriors and built armies for their own protection.

Taira and Minamoto, two of the most powerful landowning clans of the time, challenged the central government and each other over the control of the entire country. Minamoto was victorious in the ensuing battle. Led by samurai lords known as shogun, Minamoto set up a new military government in 1192 which ruled Japan until 1868.

The Edo Period was marked by a rigid caste system, and samurai occupied the top tier of society. They were the only ones permitted to own and carry swords and lived in castle towns.

Feudal lords paid their samurai in rice. As the significance of martial skills declined and the feudal era of Japan came to an end in 1868, samurai shifted to other professions like teaching, art, and bureaucracy. The samurai class was officially abolished a few years after the last of them ruled Japan.

Did you know?

The Japanese names for Japan are Nihon and Nippon. Before these names came into official use, Japan was known as Wakoku or Wa, referring to an ancient ethnic group living in Japan. Both Nihon and Nippon translate to 'land of the rising sun.'

The Nara Period (710-794 CE) in the history of Japan experienced a series of natural disasters, including famines, droughts, wildfires, and a smallpox epidemic.

An ancient Japanese practice called ohaguro dates back to before the Heian Period and involved dyeing one's teeth black. As odd as it may sound, ohaguro was pretty common among aristocratic young women. Black teeth against white-painted faces were quite a fashion statement at the time.

In 1860, a group of 76 samurai was dispatched to New York City as diplomats. Tateishi Onojiro, the youngest of them, was nicknamed Tommy Polka by Americans and became somewhat of a national celebrity.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ancient Japan facts then why not take a look at ancient Africa facts or ancient Mayan facts.