A History of Japan日本歴史

An encyclopedia of Japanese history

From the Age of the Gods to the Reiwa era

People, places, texts, myths and events, written for students and enthusiasts. Every page is referenced to published books and journals.

1,441articles
9topic types
16periods

Featured articles

One from each kind of topic, changed every month.

帝FEATURED EMPEROR
Emperor Jimmu
神武天皇
The first emperor in traditional accounts, said to have founded the imperial line in 660 BCE.
歌FEATURED POET
Ono no Komachi
小野小町
Heian-period poet, counted among the Six Poetic Geniuses.
妖FEATURED YŌKAI
Tengu
天狗
Winged mountain yōkai, long linked with Shugendō.
神FEATURED DEITY
Amaterasu
天照
The sun goddess of Shintō myth, enshrined at Ise.
寺FEATURED PLACE
Enryaku-ji
延暦寺
Head temple of the Tendai school, on Mount Hiei.
書FEATURED TEXT
Kojiki
古事記
The oldest surviving chronicle of Japan, presented in 712 CE.

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Every article belongs to one of nine types.

人PeopleEmperors, poets, writers and more 氏Clans and familiesFujiwara clan, Soga clan 神Deities and mythKami, Buddhist deities, mythic figures 妖Yōkai and folkloreCreatures, folk tales, legends 書Literature and textsChronicles, anthologies, diaries, tales 地PlacesMountains, provinces, temples, shrines 戦Events and conflictsWars, battles, incidents, reforms 官Institutions and titlesCourt ranks, offices, legal systems 芸Arts and cultureCrafts, performing arts, customs

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Choose an era to see its people, places, texts and events.

Age of the GodsMythologicalLegendary periodfrom 660 BCE (traditional)Jōmonc. 14,000 – c. 300 BCEYayoic. 300 BCE – c. 250 CEKofunc. 250 – 538 CEAsuka538 – 710 CENara710 – 794 CEHeian794 – 1185Kamakura1185 – 1333Muromachi1336 – 1573Azuchi–Momoyama1568 – 1600Edo1603 – 1868Meiji1868 – 1912Taishō1912 – 1926Shōwa1926 – 1989Heisei and Reiwa1989 – present

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