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The history of Japan and its people gives you background so you can understand what records are available for certain time periods.  
==Online Resources==
*[http://www.samurai-archives.com/ The Samurai Archives Japanese History Page]
*[http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-historical-periods.cfm Japanese history and artifacts, from Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
*[http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/japan/history Brief summary of Japanese history from Michigan State University]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=aGQPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=false "An Introduction to the History of Japan," a Google eBook, published in 1920]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=gp1xAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP10#v=onepage&q&f=false "The Midado's Empire, Vol 1: The History of Japan from 680 B.C. to 1872 A.D.," a Google eBook, published in 1903]


==History==
==Local Histories==
''Chihoshi'' are Japanese local histories. Significant biographical, genealogical, and historical information can be gleaned from this type of source.<ref>Dr. Kin-itsu Hirata, "The Search for My Japanese Roots: Using Buddhist and Local Sources," ''World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage, August 12-15, 1980,'' Vol. 11: Asian and African Family and Local History. {{FSC|33546|item|disp=FS Library US/CAN Book 929.1 W893 1980 v. 11}}</ref>


== Timeline  ==
"Virtually every community in Japan had its own publication on its local culture and history."<ref>Dr. L. Keith Brown, "The Family in Japan," ''World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage, August 12-15, 1980,'' Vol. 11: Asian and African Family and Local History. {{FSC|33546|item|disp=FS Library US/CAN Book 929.1 W893 1980 v. 11}}</ref>
 
with emphasis on events that affect records:
 
{| width="63%"
|-
| '''500 AD''' <br>
|
Japanese society and government came under the strong cultural influence of China and Buddhism in the sixth century. The writing system for names and the religious records that were made date from this time period.  


|-
==Country History==
| '''800 AD'''
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the south. Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands.
|
The authority of the imperial government declined. ''Kana'' writing began to be used in records.  


|-
From the 12th century until 1868, Japan was ruled by successive feudal military shōguns who ruled in the name of the Emperor. Japan entered into a long period of isolation in the early 17th century, which was ended in 1853 when a United States fleet pressured Japan to open to the West. After nearly two decades of internal conflict and insurrection, the Imperial Court regained its political power in 1868 through the help of several clans from Chōshū and Satsuma and the Empire of Japan was established.  
| '''1192 AD''' <br>
|
A feudal system developed with the rise of a warrior class called the ''samurai'', and military rule was established under ''shoguns''. For the next 700 years Japan was ruled by warriors.
 
|-
| '''1200 AD'''
|
<span />Earliest known ''kakocho'' (Buddhist temple records) were made.
 
|-
| '''1400—<br>1500 AD'''<br>
|
<span />The centralized ''shogun'' power declined. The period was marked by civil <span />wars, during which the feudal lords and the Buddhist monasteries built up local power. Census records were made because the feudal lords began counting the inhabitants of their domains.
 
|-
| '''1549 AD'''
|
Christianity was introduced by Jesuit priests. Roman Catholic Christianity gained many converts despite disapproval and persecution by the ''shoguns''.
 
|-
| '''1600 AD'''
|
The country was unified under the Tokugawa clan, who established a centralized, efficient, but repressive ''shogunate'' in Tokyo. A lot of records were made at this time.
 
|-
| '''1639 AD'''
|
Japan closed its ports to all foreigners and Christianity was suppressed. This gave rise to the religious census records. Japan isolated itself and its culture turned inward.
 
|-
| '''1644 AD'''
|
The ''shogunate'' conducted a census (''ninbetsu aratame’'' of its own domains [''tenryo'']). These censuses were usually prepared by village and town officials upon instruction from district and town administrators.
 
|-
| '''1670 AD'''
|
<span />Buddhist shrines began to keep ''kakocho records.''
 
|-
| '''1671 AD'''
|
Religious registers (''shumon aratome'') came into existence because of a Tokugawa government policy that excluded Christian and foreign influences.
 
|-
| '''1726 AD'''
|
<span />National surveys were scheduled every six years.
 
|-
| '''1852—<br>1945 AD'''<span /><br>
|
Records (Enshrined Patriots’ Lists) were kept of the soldiers who gave <span />their lives in battles during these years.
 
|-
| '''1853 AD'''
|
The U.S. naval officer, Matthew C. Perry, arrived in Japan and forced the opening of trade with the West.  
 
|-
| '''1867 AD'''
|
<span />The last ''shogun'' resigned and control of the government passed to the boy emperor, Meiji. A new government was established under the leadership of former ''samurai''. Adopting the techniques of Western civilization, Japan modernized rapidly into an industrial state and military power.<br>
 
|-
| '''1872 AD'''
|
A family registration law that produced a nationwide compilation of records called the ''jinshin koseki'' was begun, and was completed in 1873. This record exists, but at present it is not available to the public.
 
|-
| '''1873 AD'''
|
The Christian church was no longer absolutely prohibited in Japan. Because of this, religious inquisition census records were no longer kept.
 
|-
| '''1889 AD'''
|
A constitutional monarchy and a parliament (diet) were established by the constitution.
 
|-
| '''1894 AD'''
|
Japan was successful in wars with China. Useful gazetteers of Manchuria were written by Japanese people in the Japanese language.
 
|-
| '''1898 AD'''
|
The ''koseki'' included all of the members of a household owner’s extended family.
 
|-
| '''1948 AD'''
|
The ''koseki'' was changed to include only the householder’s immediate family.  
 
|}


Japan benefits from a highly skilled and educated workforce; it has among the world's largest proportion of citizens holding a tertiary education degree. Japan is a highly developed country with a very high standard of living and Human Development Index. Its population enjoys the highest life expectancy and third lowest infant mortality rate in the world, but is experiencing issues due to an aging population and low birthrate.
<br>
<br>
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan Wikipedia - Japan]


== Online Histories ==
== Timeline  ==
1603 - 1868 The isolationist closed country policy spanned two and a half centuries of tenuous political unity known as the Edo period<br>
1852 — 1945 Records called Enshrined Patriots’ Lists were kept of the soldiers who gave their lives in battles during these years<br>
1854 -  Commodore Matthew Perry and the Black Ships of the United States Navy forced the opening of Japan to the outside world with the Convention of Kanagawa<br>
1904 – 1905 Japan gained control of Taiwan, Korea and the southern half of Sakhalin<br>
1931 - Japan invaded and occupied Manchuria<br>
1937 - 1945 The Empire of Japan invaded other parts of China, precipitating the Second Sino-Japanese War<br>
1941 - Japanese forces carried out surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor<br>
1945 - Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender but the war cost Japan, its colonies, China and the war's other combatants tens of millions of lives<br>


*[http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/bender4/eall131/EAHReadings/module02/m02japanese.html Japanese History, from Ohio State University]
== References  ==
*[http://www.samurai-archives.com/ The Samurai Archives Japanese History Page]
*[http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-historical-periods.cfm Japanese history and artifacts, from Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
*[http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/japan/history Brief summary of Japanese history from Michigan State University]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=aGQPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=false "An Introduction to the History of Japan," a Google eBook, published in 1920]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=gp1xAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP10#v=onepage&q&f=false "The Midado's Empire, Vol 1: The History of Japan from 680 B.C. to 1872 A.D.," a Google eBook, published in 1903]


<br>  
<references />  


<br> {{Japan}}  
<br> {{Japan}}  


{{H-langs|en=Japan History|pt=Japão História}}<br>
[[|en:Japan History[[pt:Japão História]]<br>


[[Category:Japan]] [[Category:History]]
[[Category:Japan]] [[Category:Histories]]

Revision as of 11:54, 20 March 2024

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Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Chihoshi are Japanese local histories. Significant biographical, genealogical, and historical information can be gleaned from this type of source.[1]

"Virtually every community in Japan had its own publication on its local culture and history."[2]

Country History[edit | edit source]

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies off the eastern coast of the Asian continent and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the south. Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago consisting of about 6,852 islands.

From the 12th century until 1868, Japan was ruled by successive feudal military shōguns who ruled in the name of the Emperor. Japan entered into a long period of isolation in the early 17th century, which was ended in 1853 when a United States fleet pressured Japan to open to the West. After nearly two decades of internal conflict and insurrection, the Imperial Court regained its political power in 1868 through the help of several clans from Chōshū and Satsuma and the Empire of Japan was established.

Japan benefits from a highly skilled and educated workforce; it has among the world's largest proportion of citizens holding a tertiary education degree. Japan is a highly developed country with a very high standard of living and Human Development Index. Its population enjoys the highest life expectancy and third lowest infant mortality rate in the world, but is experiencing issues due to an aging population and low birthrate.
Wikipedia - Japan

Timeline[edit | edit source]

1603 - 1868 The isolationist closed country policy spanned two and a half centuries of tenuous political unity known as the Edo period
1852 — 1945 Records called Enshrined Patriots’ Lists were kept of the soldiers who gave their lives in battles during these years
1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry and the Black Ships of the United States Navy forced the opening of Japan to the outside world with the Convention of Kanagawa
1904 – 1905 Japan gained control of Taiwan, Korea and the southern half of Sakhalin
1931 - Japan invaded and occupied Manchuria
1937 - 1945 The Empire of Japan invaded other parts of China, precipitating the Second Sino-Japanese War
1941 - Japanese forces carried out surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor
1945 - Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender but the war cost Japan, its colonies, China and the war's other combatants tens of millions of lives

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Dr. Kin-itsu Hirata, "The Search for My Japanese Roots: Using Buddhist and Local Sources," World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage, August 12-15, 1980, Vol. 11: Asian and African Family and Local History. FS Library US/CAN Book 929.1 W893 1980 v. 11
  2. ↑ Dr. L. Keith Brown, "The Family in Japan," World Conference on Records: Preserving Our Heritage, August 12-15, 1980, Vol. 11: Asian and African Family and Local History. FS Library US/CAN Book 929.1 W893 1980 v. 11


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