Today we accept the coexistence of Shinto and Buddhism without any discomfort, visiting at a shrine or entering a temple grave when we die.
In ancient Japan, nature worship, which was the prototype of Shinto, was the mainstream.
However, around the Asuka period, Buddhist paganism was transmitted from the continent. The pros and cons were in a fierce conflict over the acceptance of Buddhism.
Buddhism was officially introduced in 538 It is said that.
Buddhism has been secretly worshiped by migrants for some time, but officially this year the King of Baekje presented Buddhist statues and Buddhist texts to the central government.
In this article, I would like to write the flow from the Asuka period to the Nara period.
Conflict within the Yamato administration over the acceptance of Buddhism
Regarding the acceptance of Buddhism, he had a close relationship with the migrants during the Yamato administration [ Soga no Iname . ] And was in charge of military rituals [ Mononobe no Okoshi ] Was in conflict with the opposition.
The two men, who had been fighting for the hegemony of the government before that, are deeply in conflict on this Buddhist issue.
Accepting Buddhism has become a religious issue as well as an issue related to the political struggle over who will take power and in what form.
The Yamato administration of this era had the same ancestors [ Mr. ] Was a coalition government composed of.
And in ancient Shinto, [ Mr. ] Was enshrined as the ancestor of the god, so the gods enshrined were different for each god.
On the other hand, Buddhism, a foreign religion, was a religion that had nothing to do with the surname system, as there was no Buddhism for each person. From there, the pros and cons of accepting Buddhism are based on the surname system [ Coalition Government of the Australians ] Continue, or the king unites all the [ central government nation ] There was a conflict over aiming.
This conflict between Mr. Soga and Mr. Mononobe will be settled by Soga no Umako, who defeats Mr. Mononobe with Prince Shotoku and others.
Buddhism was officially recognized in this way, and Soga no Umako became the temple of his clan [ Hokkoji . ] Was erected. In this way, Japan was on the path to becoming a centralized nation centered on Buddhism.
Asuka period ... Prince Shotoku and Soga no Umako
Prince Shotoku , a politician known to all Japanese ..
The establishment of Buddhism and Empress Suiko He is a person who has achieved many policies as a regent of.
However, Prince Shotoku was not the only one who was at the center of the administration due to the conflict with Mr. Mononobe. It was Soga no Umako.
Prince Shotoku's father, Emperor Yōmei, is the blood of the Soga clan and is enthroned by the power of horses. In addition, Taishi's wife was married to Mako's daughter, and she had an inseparable relationship with Mr. Soga. Therefore, the shadow of Soga no Umako was always flickering behind the policy of the prince.
603 years [ Twelve Stage Cap and Rank ] Is to abolish the hereditary surname system and give individuals the crown, which was an epoch-making system at that time when they could be promoted if they had the ability. However, in reality, it was not given to the influential tribes such as the Soga clan, which indicates that the Soga clan was on the side of giving the crown.
That said, it is true that Prince Shotoku had set out a policy for the construction of a nation, and the Constitution of Article 17 is not a constitution in the modern sense, but an article that shows the knowledge of officials. Contains the ideal of Prince Shotoku, who seeks to reconcile the tribes and promote Buddhism and the creation of a country centered on the emperor.
In addition, the prince is also demonstrating his skill in foreign policy, resuming diplomatic relations with China, and dispatching a mission to Sui for the first time in 600 years. After that, he established the 12th floor of the crown and the Article 17 Constitution and sent the envoys of Ono no Imoko and others again.
However, Prince Shotoku has too many legendary episodes, and it is unclear how true it is. It is strange that he retired a few years after taking office and died a mysterious death.
For that reason, many researchers say that many legends about Prince Shotoku are myths, and in recent years, the theory that he was a fictional character has emerged.
Yin Wood Snake and the destruction of the Soga clan
Mr. Soga, who was in control of the Yamato administration, will eliminate Prince Yamashiro, the next emperor candidate, and support Emperor Tenji in order to make his close relatives the emperor in order to further expand his power. ..
It was Prince of the Middle Ages and Nakatomi Kamatari who had a sense of crisis. was.
In particular, the middle-aged and big brothers are also involved in the issue of succession to the throne, so if Mr. Soga remained in power, there was a possibility that not only the emperor but also his own life would be threatened.
Therefore, the Prince of the Middle Ages, along with Nakatomi Kamatari, devised a plan to subdue Mr. Soga, and lure Soga no Iruka to the Emperor's Palace and assassinated him. Knowing this, Soga no Emishi set fire to his home and ended up committing suicide.
In this way, the Soga clan, who had been in control of the Yamato administration for three generations, including Mako, Ezo, and Iruka, were destroyed. This coup is Yin Wood Snake The reform that begins there is [ Taika Reform 】Is called.
Taika Reform
The middle and big brother Prince and Nakatomi Kamatari, who succeeded in the transformation of Otomi, establish a new government with Emperor Kotoku.
Year number [ Taika ] And show the basic policy of the government [ Taika Reform Edict ] Was announced.
- Prohibit the land of the tribes and the private ownership of the people and make it a national property
- Establish transportation and military systems with metropolitan and local administrative organizations
- Implement family register, account book, and group field collection
- Introduce a new tax system
These were the four ritual nations that I learned from China.
The greatest civil war in ancient times, the Yang Water Monkey
The Jinshin War was a matter of succession to the throne of Emperor Tenji, and it was his younger brother, Prince Oumi, and Emperor Tenji's son, Prince Otomo, who fought for the throne that became blank after the death of Emperor Tenji.
It was a power struggle between his uncle and his nephew, but it is said that it was very vague at that time which was the legitimate successor. In such cases, the intention of Emperor Tenji himself was important, but it is the established theory that Emperor Tenji himself wanted to make Prince Otomo his successor.
However, Emperor Tenchi told the Prince of the Sea two months before his death [ next is you . ], On the other hand, the Emperor Tenmu said, [ I will not succeed to the throne ] Was answered. He was an Emperor Tenmu who had not shown his intention to succeed to the throne, but [ showing sex appeal here would reveal his ambition ] It was a priesthood remark for fear.
There, the Emperor Tenmu retires to Yoshino to show that he has no ambitions.
However, when Emperor Tenji passed away, he left Yoshino and gathered soldiers to attack the capital of Omi, where Prince Otomo was. Then, he forced Prince Otomo into suicide, and in September 672, Emperor Tenmu and Prince Oumi became the emperor.
Japan's first basic code, Taiho Code
Emperor Tenmu took the throne, and in 701, it was Japan's first basic code [ Taiho Code . ] Was enacted.
The [Ritsu] of the Ritsuryo corresponds to the criminal law, and the [Ordinance] corresponds to the administrative law and the civil law. Regarding the decree, it was enacted during the times of Emperor Tenji and Empress Jito, but the Taiho Code was the first full-scale basic code with vinaya and decree.
Japan has been aiming for the completion of the Ritsuryo nation since the Taika Reform, but with the establishment of the Taiho Ritsuryo, the Ritsuryo nation project has become one form.
With the enactment of the Taiho Code, various bureaucratic organizations will be born, but the current bureaucratic organizations are not unrelated. Eight ministries, the Ministry of the Center, the Ministry of Shikibu, the Ministry of Ceremonies, the Ministry of Popular Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Imperial Household, and the Ministry of War, are profitable.
It goes without saying that the Ministry of Finance remained until recently, and the Ministry of the Imperial Household is the roots of the current Imperial Household Agency.
Also, in the Taiho Code, as a rule of the government office, [ use the era name for sentences handled by the government office ] [ Stamp your seal ] [ We will not accept anything other than sentences that have been fenced according to the specified format ] And so on. These rules still remain in the current government office, and in that sense, modern Japanese are also under the influence of the Taiho Code.
Heijokyo, modeled after a state-of-the-art city in 710
In the capital of the Asuka period, in addition to the poor location such as inadequate drainage and overlooking the palace, the era after moving the capital to Heijokyo in Nara for the purpose of diminishing the power of the former powerful tribes around the Asuka region. It points.
The son of Emperor Tenji, Empress Genmei, built Heijokyo and was modeled after Chang'an, the capital of the Tang dynasty.
The characteristic of Heijokyo is that the Ouchi Ura, where the Chodoin and each palace office are lined up, is located in the north centering on the inner lining, which is the residence of the emperor, and Suzaku Avenue extends toward the south, east and west. It is divided into two and has a go board.
Most of the buildings are white walls, vermilion pillars, and green roof tiles, which are Chinese-style, and there are also carpets and glass products from Persia.
Only some of the influential privileged classes lived in these houses, and depending on their status, many lived in Japanese-style architecture with thatched roofs away from Heijokyo, and in rural areas, they also lived in pit-houses. say.
Heijokyo prospered as Chang'an in Japan, but smallpox became popular because the river flowing through the city was used for drinking water and excretion treatment. In addition, it seems that the atmosphere was polluted because a large amount of roof tiles were burned, and environmental problems were serious.
Fujiwara's expansion of power
In the Nara period, the imperial court will be tossed by Mr. Fujiwara, who has been living in place of Mr. Soga.
Fujiwara's ancestor was Nakatomi Kamatari, who was active in the confidant of Emperor Tenji. ] The history began with the giving of the surname. Mr. Fujiwara will control the Emperor's family and take control of the government like Mr. Soga once.
That power began when the four Fujiwara brothers, the children of Fujiwara no Kamatari and Fujiwara no Fuhito.
720 years Prince Nagaya who was a candidate for the emperor at that time Will collide with the four Fujiwara brothers when they rise.
The four Fujiwara brothers try to take control of the empress by setting up a daughter, Mitsuakiko, who is unmatched.
Prior to that, the Empress was unprecedented, as she was limited to followers. It was Prince Nagaya who tried to prevent this marriage story, but the four Fujiwara brothers accused him of rebellion and forced him to commit suicide.
This is the change of Prince Nagaya in 729.
In this way, Mitsuakiko was erected by the Empress and the four Fujiwara brothers took control, but in 737, smallpox spread in Heijokyo and all four died.
After that, Mr. Fujiwara wasn't surprised, Hirotsugu Fujiwara Rebelled in 740 with a local tribe, but was defeated and beheaded. In 757, Minamiya Nakamaro wiped out the opposition and took control, but in 764 he was defeated by the opposition and died in Omi.
In this way, the Nara period was also a time when power struggles continued and the people in power changed rapidly.