The Sengoku period (1477 - 1573) 戦国時代

The Sengoku era: the time of castles, samurai and zen

The Sengoku period (1477 - 1573) marked a turning point in the history of Japan. During this period of wars and internal strife, the power of the shoguns was weakened and passed into the hands of the local lords. It is also a period of cultural evolution: Zen influences culture and Westerners arrive.

Foreign ships thus arrived at this time in the ports of southern cities, in Kyushu, in particular in Hirado, Funai, Kagoshima, then mainly Nagasaki from 1571. The western imprint of this time is moreover very visible in this city, through villas and churches.

It was also the time when the first Christian missionaries arrived in Japan: many Japanese, including daimyos, were then converted. In the early sixteenth century, it is estimated that there were around 700,000 Christians in Japan.

European ships arriving in Japan (16th century)

European ships arriving in Japan (16th century)

Wikimedia Commons

The Glover Garden of Nagasaki

The Glover Garden of Nagasaki

JNTO

Latest Articles

circle-pillars-jomon

The Jomon period (13,000 BC to 400 BC)

Prehistory is divided into two sub-periods in Japan. The Paleolithic, which begins almost 40,000 years ago BC, and the so-called Jomon period, which begins almost 13,000 years before our era.

Yayoi era storage jar

The Yayoi period (400 BC to 300 AD)

The Yayoi period (400 BC to 300 AD) is a pivotal period in the history of Japan during which Japan starts cultivating rice and the first sedentary communities appear.

L'architecture du sanctuaire d'Ise

Japanese History: Simplified Timeline

The history of Japan is both rich and old, and it is often difficult to situate the many Japanese historical sites in time. To simplify, here is a simplified chronology of the History of Japan.

See All (56)