Asuka jidai　飛鳥時代

KEY WORD :　art history / general terms

The Asuka period (538/552-645). So called because the capital of the new Yamato 大和 region was located in the Asuka district, part of modern Nara prefecture. Between 530 and 680, Buddhism was introduced to Japan. Around the same time, literacy spread, a literate bureaucracy formed, advanced technologies in architecture and specialized knowledge in engineering introduced. Furthermore, there were developments in politics and religion. During this time, extensive histories were composed, including the K0JIKI 古事記 (Record of Ancient Matters) and NIHONSHOKI 日本書紀, although they were disseminated after the end of the period. Buddhist culture flourished during the reign of the Empress Suiko 推古 (r. 592 - 628) with the assistance of Prince Shoutoku (as detailed in the Shoutoku Taishi den 聖徳太子伝). Thus, the period also is known as the Suiko period *Suiko jidai 推古時代. The Asuka period ends with Taika-no-kaishin 大化の改新 (the Taika Reform), a coup that displaced the usurping Soga 蘇我 family and restored imperial supremacy. After the Taika Reform, the capital was moved to Naniwa 浪速 (also written 難波) in modern Osaka. The year 646 is sometimes cited by political scholars as the end of the Asuka period, for in that year the Taika Reform edicts brought sweeping changes in government. Culturally, however, the immense changes brought by Buddhism clearly signify the beginning of a new and important period of Japanese history, the first in which contemporary events were recorded.

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