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egion (present-day Nara prefecture) where one dynasty was able to consolidate
power, later claiming supreme rulership of the Japanese people and
eventually establishing itself as the imperial family.
The imperial family founded its court with the support of a few powerful
families, namely the Soga, in charge of finances; Mononobe, in charge
of arms and warfare; and Nakatomi, in charge of religious affairs. However,
the introduction of Buddhism (ca. 530) in Japan was followed by
strong disputes concerning the acceptance of a system of belief that, the
Soga argued, would pose a threat to the sanctity of the Japanese people and
the imperial family. The court finally recognized Buddhism when Prince
Shôtoku patronized the construction of a Buddhist temple, eventually leading
to the popularization of Buddhism among elite court families. Prince
Shôtoku’s patronage of Buddhism, together with other reforms, set the
stage for a series of political, land, and judicial reforms.
Rivalry at court among its elite families resulted in the rise to power
of the Soga family at the expense of the Nakatomi and Mononobe. The
Soga became influential in court matters to the degree of making decisions
concerning imperial successions. Naturally, the other court families sought
an opportunity to eliminate the Soga family. In 645, an imperial prince,
Naka-no-ie, with the support of Nakatomi-no-Kamatari and others, rallied
against the Soga family and was victorious. Following his success, Prince
Naka-no-ie promulgated a series of reforms known as the Taika Reforms.
He then became Emperor Tenji, while Nakatomi-no-Kamatari was given a
new family name, Fujiwara. While Emperor Tenji’s lineage ended rather
quickly, the Fujiwara family became the most influential court family in the
following centuries and survived in that position until the modern period.
In any case, under the reign of Emperor Tenji, Japanese forces experienced
a defeat on the Korean peninsula (Battle of Paekcheon River, 663); this affair
prompted Tenji to adopt the Chinese model of state, which led to the
promulgation of the Imi Codes (668).
Emperor Tenji’s reign came to an abrupt end in the Jinshin War
(672–673). The war was the result of a succession dispute between Tenji’s
son, who was named by Tenji as his successor, and Tenji’s brother. Tenji’s
brother won the war and became Emperor Tenmu. Supported by Kantô
warriors, Tenmu emphasized constructing a strong army to achieve a formidable
position at court. His foot soldiers used crossbows, and his officers
were mounted. He establishing a system of decentralized militia units
(gundan) based on a conscription system. Each conscript had to provide
himself with the necessities for war, including weapons and food. Naturally,
such a system placed a heavy burden on impoverished peasants recruited
as soldiers. Militarily, the gundan provided guards at court, participated
in clashes, and helped settle disputes that took place in the capital.
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