Timelines of Japan

The period of Japanese history relevant to this Ancient/Classical History site consists of 3 eras all with imprecise dates.

1. Jomon
   10,000-300 B.C. - the prehistoric period of tribes and mesolithic-neolithic stone age hunter gatherers. Jomon refers to jomon or rope-patterned pottery. During this period Jimmu, a mythological descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, founded an empire.
2. Yayoi
   300 B.C. - 300 A.D. - Immigration from the mainland. China and Korea introduce rice cultivation, metal working and the potter's wheel. Japan's oldest religion, Shinto, takes hold. Japan appears in historical writing from China.
3. Kofun or Yamato
   300-710 - Unified states period with imperial dynasty that still exists. Kofun is the word for a type of funeral mound. Buddhism is introduced. Also see Yamato Kings.

Sources:

Cross Cultural Timeline
From The History Channel, this graphic timeline shows what was happening in America, Europe, Middle East, Egypt, India, China, Japan, and Africa for 500 years starting in 500 B.C.

Historical Japanese Time-Line [ URL = www.geocities.com/Tokyo/4856/timeline.html ]
Periods from the Jomon (10,000-300 B.C) to the Showa (1926-1989) with their salient points.

History Overview
Japanese dates from 300 B.C., name of period (linked to description and bibliography) and summary of major events.

Timeline of Japanese History
Explanations of the major periods in Japanese history. Three ancient eras are: Jomon (10,000 - 300 B.C.), Yayoi (300 B.C. - A.D. 300), and Kofun (Yamato) (300 - 645).