270-310 – The reign of the legendary Emperor Ojin.
300 – Japan is for the first time more or less united.
313-399 – The reign of the legendary Emperor Nintoku.
391 – The Japanese invade Korea, defeat the armies of Koguryo and Silla Kingdoms and establish a small colony at the southern end of the peninsula. This area is called Mimana. As thanks to Japanese troops for helping to save his territory from the Silla Kingdom, the king of Paekche sends scholars to Japan, who will bring the Chinese writing system.
Aprox. 400 – Chinese culture and technology began arriving in Japan. New ideas such as writing, Confucianism, and Buddhism spread quickly. Horses introduced into Japanese fighting.
Large groups of people migrate from Western Kyushu (where the strongest, most advanced, and most well organised clans – uji lived until then) to the north-east and settle in the Yamato Plain. (Other clans migrate North and settle in the Izumo area).
There are three types of clans (uji): the shinshoku (those who claime descent similar to the imperial family and descent from gods dating prior to Emperor Jimmu Tenno – Japan’s first legendary emperor), the koshitsu (those claiming imperial descent after the time of Emperor JimmuTenno), and the banmin (powerful clans of non-imperial descent). The Mononobe are a strong military clan belonging to the shinshoku. The Nakatomis are belonging to the shinshoku as well. The Soga are managers of the imperial estates and of the koshitsu clans.
400-405 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Richu.
406-410 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Hanzei.
412-453 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Ingyo.
453-456 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Anko.
456-479 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Yuryaku.
480-484 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Seinei.
485-487 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Kenso.
488-498 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Ninken.
498-506 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Buretsu.
507-531 – Reign of the legendary Emperor Keitai (the 26th Emperor of Japan).
531(4)-535 – Reign of Emperor the legendary Ankan.
532 – The forces of Paekche and Silla Kingdoms recapture half of the Japanese sphere of influence in Mimana, Korea.
535-539 – Reign of Emperor the legendary Senka.
536 – Soga Iname becomes Great Minister and advisor to the throne. (He adopts the system of nobility controlling the Imperial House by marrying Soga daughters to the Emperors or to his possible heirs).
539-571 – Reign of Emperor Kimmei. He has a daughter by a Soga mother. This daughter later marries Emperor Bidatsu and later becomes Empress Suiko.
To be continued: Asuka (Suiko) Period
