1.The situation on the Korean Peninsula and the influence of the Yamato regime
The Korean Peninsula in the 6th century was undergoing major changes amidst the upheaval in East Asia. In the first half of the 5th century, Goguryeo moved its capital from Mando(丸都) to Pyongyang, and as it pursued a policy of expansion southwards, Baekje and Silla were under pressure and expanded their power to the south. In particular, Silla succeeded in reforming its national government and annexed the Gaya confederation one after another. As a result, in 562 the Gaya confederation came completely under the control of Baekje and Silla, and the influence that the Yamato court had over the southern part of the Korean peninsula declined significantly.
As Gaya was an important region for the Yamato court, not only as a source of iron resources but also as a source of new culture and technology, the decline in its influence had a major impact on the court. The Yamato Court strengthened its diplomatic relations with Baekje, and as part of this, King Seong(聖明王) of Baekje introduced Buddhism to Emperor Kinmei(欽明天皇). This introduction of Buddhism was not just the introduction of a new religion, but also had a significant cultural and technological impact on the Yamato Court, including the introduction of gilt bronze Buddhist statues and temple architecture techniques.
2. The political structure of the Yamato Court and the rise of the Soga family
In the Yamato Court, a system of collective decision-making centered on the ōkimi(great king) was at the heart of politics, with influential clan leaders such as ōomi(supureme omi.”omi” is reigoal elites claiming royal descent) (大臣)and ōmuraji(supreme muraji.”muraji”is prominent regional elites) (大連)taking the lead in discussing important policies, and the ōkimi making the final decision. However, in the early 6th century, the failure of the policy towards the Korean Peninsula led to the downfall of Otomo no Kanamura(大伴金村), and thereafter, Soga no Iname(蘇我稲目) and Mononobe no Okoshi(物部尾輿) emerged to the fore.
The Soga family took charge of the management of the granary (Miyake(屯倉)) and, while seizing control of the financial rights, strengthened their influence by entering into marriage relationships with the imperial family. In particular, Soga no Umako(蘇我馬子) destroyed Mononobe no Moriya(物部守屋) in 587, and in 592 assassinated the Emperor Sujin, whom he had himself installed, and came to seize political power.
After the death of Emperor Sujin, Empress Suiko (Japan’s first female emperor) ascended the throne and, in cooperation with her nephew Prince Umayato (Shotoku Taishi) and Soga no Umako, worked to improve the political system. During this period, the political system functioned as a “cooperative system” in which the emperor, the Soga family, and Prince Umatyato worked together to maintain national stability.
3.Development of the national system and introduction of a legal system
During the reign of Empress Suiko, the development of a large-scale national system progressed. In 603, the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System(冠位十二階) was established, and a system was introduced whereby official positions were awarded according to an individual’s talent and achievements, rather than according to clan affiliation. This was a revolutionary system that aimed to recruit talented people based on their abilities, rather than according to traditional kinship-based order.
Furthermore, in 604, the Seventeen-Article Constitution was established. This was a law based on Buddhist and Confucian thought that encouraged officials to be aware of their role as state bureaucrats, and also set out political principles and ethical standards.
4.The dispatch of envoys to Sui and East Asian diplomacy
In 589, when the Sui Dynasty unified the Northern and Southern Dynasties in China, East Asia entered a new period of order. In 600, the Yamato Court sent its first envoy to Sui in an attempt to establish diplomatic relations. In 607, Ono no Imoko (小野妹子)was sent as an envoy to Sui, and formal exchange with Sui was resumed.
However, the letter of submission to Sui contained the phrase “the King of Wa” (the Japanese name for Sui at the time), which was considered “impolite” by Emperor Yang. Nevertheless, Emperor Yang avoided confrontation with Wa, and the following year he sent Pei Shiqing(裴世清) as an envoy to Wa to maintain diplomatic relations.
The Japanese envoys to Sui were accompanied by students and academic monks such as Takamuko no Genri(高向玄理), Minabuchi no Shōan(南淵請安) and Min(旻), who studied the political system, ideology and culture of Sui on their return to Japan, and had a major impact on the Taika Reforms that followed.
5.The Development of Asuka Culture and the Rise of Buddhism
During the reign of Empress Suiko, Asuka culture flourished. The cultures of Baekje, Goguryeo and Sui were introduced, and temple architecture, Buddhist statue carving and craft techniques developed.
Asuka-ji Temple (Hōkō-ji) (飛鳥寺)was built by Soga no Umako and completed in 596. New techniques were introduced, such as foundation stone construction and tiled roofs.
Horyu-ji Temple(法隆寺) was built by Prince Umayato. The Shakamuni Triad, which is said to have been made by Kuratsukuri no Tori(鞍作鳥) was created.
As for craftwork, the Horyu-ji Temple Tamamushi Zushi(玉虫厨子) (Buddhist reliquary) and the Chuguji Temple Tenshukoku Shucho(中宮寺天寿国繍帳) (Buddhist embroidered hanging) were created, demonstrating a high level of technical skill.
The spread of Buddhist thought also progressed, and Prince Umayato is said to have written the “San-kyo-gi-so(三経義疏)” (a commentary on the Lotus Sutra(法華経)) the Vimalakirti Sutra(維摩経), and the Shoman Sutra(勝鬘経)).
6.Conclusion
From the 6th century to the beginning of the 7th century, the Yamato Court achieved great political, cultural and religious development through its interactions with the Korean Peninsula and diplomacy with China (Sui and Tang). The rise of the Soga family, the development of the national system through the cooperation of Empress Suiko and Prince Umayato, diplomatic activities by the envoys to Sui, and the flourishing of Asuka culture – this period was a time when the foundations for the formation of the Japanese nation were laid.
The results of this period led to the Taika Reforms(大化の改新) and the establishment of a state based on the Ritsuryo State(律令国家), and it is regarded as a pivotal period in Japanese history.