A Chronology of Japanese
History
Historian David Turkington’s timeline of key events from the myths of the Kojiki
to today’s economic woes.
Digital Burial Mound
Encyclopedia
Information on the “keyhole mounds” that entomb some of the early
emperors.
Japan – A Country
Study
Library of Congress timeline and articles
Ancient Japan
Early history, folklore, sumo wrestling and more
Lisa’s Japanese Pages
MENSA special interest group on feudal Japan
Japanese
Timeline
Timeline of key events and personalities in Japanese history, from earliest times to
the collapse of the bubble economy. Detailed discussions are linked to at least some names and
events.
Emperors of the Sangoku
Complete list of emperors, shoguns and regents, with historical information and
genealogical charts
Guide to Japanese Castles
History, defenses etc. of surviving castles, with photographs, individual castle
homepages, etc.
Samurai Archives
A very comprehensive site on the history of the samurai. More than historical
background, this gives banners, daimyo house codes, maps, a 16th century registry, and more.
Kusado Sengen
Archeological excavation of a medieval village
The Documents of Iriki
Documents maintained by a samurai family of southern Kyushu, during the period from
1135 to 1867.
A Short Introduction to
Japanese History
A breezy overview of Japanese history from earliest times to the present. Everything from Meiji on
is still under construction.
Jo-Bo System of
Heijo-Kyo
City planning in ancient Japan
Aizu History Project
Excellent academic site, primarily on the region’s rich Buddhist heritage that
goes back to the Heian era.
Familial Japan and the
Native Tradition
Illustrated lecture on Japanese prehistory
A Witness to
History
Warriors weren’t the only people who valued their family heritage. This museum
exhibit shows the lineages and religious traditions of itinerant craftsmen and merchants.
The Tale of Murasaki
Cosmetics, clothing, pets and games, beliefs and cultural details of the Heian court.
Samurai Sisters: Early
Feudal Japan
Sample background essay for a course in women’s history.
Books on Ancient Japanese History:
Morris, Ivan. The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan. Penguin Books, 1985.
Hane, Mikiso. Premodern Japan: A Historical Survey. Westview Press, 1991. ISBN 0-8133-8065-0
Hall, John Whitney. Government and Local Power in Japan 500 to 1700: A Study Based on Bizen Province. Princeton University Press, 1966.