HIST 80a Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Japanese Archipelago, Empress Suiko, Yamatai
23 Nov 2016
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Early state and society in japan (to 794) pages 114 128. It appears that the island"s earliest inhabitants came from the south rather than the asian continent. The northern trade route brought pelts and marine products, while the tsushima strait provided a bridge for agriculture. A queen called himiko dominated an alliance of 30 chieftains and rarely appeared in public her brother conveyed her commands to the public. Early japanese historians claimed that japan had one ruling family descended from the sun goddess, amaterasu, who decreed that her descendant jimmu was to rule. Beginning in the early 5th century, chieftains faced competition from new migrants who came from the korean peninsula with more advanced technology that gave them an edge in agriculture, statecraft, and warfare. Each extended family or lineage had its own guardian god to whom it made offerings, and prayed for help.
