Yoshinogari Remains, the 3rd century B.C.

 

The largest archeological remains in Japan.  Lie on the spacious hilly area in the north-eastern

part of Saga. Remains of a ringed-dugout settlement presumably dating back to the 3rd century

B.C. were unearthed there, and excavation is still underway at the site. They are among the

largest archeological remains in Japan.

Kentoshi, envoy to Tang Dynasty from 630 to 894

 

Kentoshi is the Japanese envoy to China during the Tang Dynasty, and was held

20 times from 630 to 894.

The purpose was to collect the advanced technology, political system, and culture

of the Tang Dynasty, as well as Buddhist scriptures.

The envoy’s route to Tang Dynasty departed from Osaka, passed through the Seto

Inland Sea, and headed for Tang from Hakata Port.

The mission consists of the ambassador, his emissaries, an entourage of international

students, monks and others.. Groups ranged in size from 240 to 250 people to

more than 500 people.

The envoys greatly contributed to introduce Tang culture and systems and Spread of

Buddhism to Japan.

Many cultures and Buddhism spread throughout Japan from Hakata, which was

the gateway for the envoys sent to China.

Therefore, there are many temples in Hakata.

Dazaifu was the western capital of Japan from 7th century

 

From the late 7th century to the late 12th century, Dazaifu was the western capital

of Japan and controlled Kyushu as an administrative institution.

Geographically, it served as the front line of Japan’s diplomacy and defense, as well

as it is gate way to the Asian continent.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine was built in 919 and Dazaifu is now Fukuoka most

important tourist destination with more than 8.5 million tourists visiting annually.

Beginning of Japanese Christianity in 1550

 

Christian missionary activities in Japan began after Francis Xavier came to

Hirado in 1550.

The Jesuit missionaries who accompanied Francis Xavier carried out missionary

activities in Hirado, Omura, Nagasaki, Goto, Kuchinotsu, Shimabara, Iki,

Amakusa, Bungo, etc. And then many people converted to Christianity.

main missionaries;

Cosme de Torres (Spanish), Juan Fernandes (Spanish), Luis de Almeida (Portuguese),

Gaspar Vilela (Portuguese), Luis Frois (Portuguese), Melechor de Figueiredo

(Portuguese), Alessandro Valignano (Italian)

Nagasaki Port opened in 1571

 

Nagasaki is Japan’s first international city with a history of trading with many countries

since Nagasaki port opened to Portugal in 1571.

 

Afterwards, artificial islands such as Dejima in 1636 and Shin Jizo (near present-day

Chinatown) were built in 1702, and greatly contributed as trading port place only in

Japan during the period of national isolation.

Society of Edo period from 1603

 

The Edo period began in 1603 by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu who won the Battle

of Sekigahara and lasted for 260 years until 1868.

The Tokugawa shogun granted territory to feudal lords throughout Japan and  

controlled from Edo (current Tokyo).

The Tokugawa shogunate established many rules to prevent civil wars among feudal

lords and maintain a stable government.

Samurai laws; feudal lords were prohibited from repairing their castles or getting married

without permission from the shogunate.

Sankin Kotai : the party of feudal lords should visit Edo with own expense every two

years for preventing rebellion.

Establishment of Class system : classify samurai, farmer and merchant  

Ban on Christianity

The emperor became a symbol of traditional authority, delegating government to

the shogun.

National isolation in the Edo period

 

Edo period ruled by the Tokugawa Shogun and was a period of 265 years

from 1603 to 1867.

The national isolation of the Edo period is that prohibited Japanese people

from traveling abroad and returning home.

And, Nagasaki became the only place for foreign trade, and restricted to Dutch

trading posts and Chinese ships.

Hirado Dutch Trading Post, established in 1609

 

The Hirado Dutch Trading Post was a trading base in East Asia that was established

in Hirado by the East India Company in 1609.

Hirado was developed as a trading center until 1641, when the trading post was

moved to Dejima, Nagasaki.

History of Dejima from 1636

 

Dejima was the fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki where was used

as a trading port during Japan’s National isolation of Edo period.

In 1636, the artificial island, Dejima was constructed to accommodate  Portuguese

who lived in Nagasaki and to prohibit Christian missionary work.

In 1638, trade with Portugal was prohibited and Dejima becaome an uninhabited island.

In 1641, the Dutch trading post in Hirado was moved to Dejima, and then the history of

trade with the Netherlands began at Dejima as only the gateway to European in Japan.

Accurate Japanese map completed by Ino Tadataka in 1821

 

Ino Tadataka started surveying the land of Japan at the age of 56, and

spent 17 years creating Japan’s first accurate map of Japan based on actual

measurements.

The map was completed in 1821, three years after his death.

Siebold came to Japan in 1823 as a Dutch doctor, and not only introduced

Western culture to Japan, but also passionately researched and collected

materials about Japan.

When he was returning to Dutch, he was found hiding a secret Japanese

map made by Ino Tadataka, and was ordered to be deported.

However, at that time, he succeeded in secretly copying the map and

taking it with him.

Siebold introduced Japan to the West through the maps and materials he

brought back.

This information served as a reference when Mathew C Perry came to

Uraga in 1853.