Immigrants from the Continent and the Introduction of Continental Culture

During the Kofun Period, many people came to Japan from the Korean Peninsula and China. Called “immigrants from the continent,” they brought advanced cultures such as Chinese characters, Buddhism, Sue ware, sericulture, and weaving.

Basic Knowledge

Immigrants from the continent were people who came to Japan from the Korean Peninsula and China between the 4th and 7th centuries. They possessed technologies, knowledge, and culture and were highly valued by the Yamato government.
Main immigrants:
・Wani: Came from Baekje and introduced the Analects and the Thousand Character Classic (traditional account)
・Achino Omi: Ancestor of the Aya clan; introduced weaving and other skills
・Yuzuki no Kimi: Ancestor of the Hata clan; introduced sericulture and weaving
Things brought by immigrants from the continent:
・Chinese characters: Began to be used in Japan around the 5th century
・Confucianism: Introduced through the Korean Peninsula
・Buddhism: In 538 (or 552), King Seong of Baekje introduced it to Emperor Kimmei
・Sue ware: Hard gray pottery fired at high temperatures using a potter's wheel
・Technologies such as weaving, sericulture, and metalworking

Further Study (Background and Impact)

At that time, the Korean Peninsula was in the Three Kingdoms period of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. These countries had adopted advanced civilizations from China, including those of the Jin, Song, Northern Wei, Sui, and Tang, and Japan absorbed this culture through the Korean Peninsula.
Baekje had friendly relations with Japan and was the main route for cultural transmission. Buddhism was officially introduced from Baekje. Goguryeo, meanwhile, was a powerful northern country that often fought Baekje, Silla, and Wa. In 391, Goguryeo's King Gwanggaeto fought Wa forces, as recorded on the Gwanggaeto Stele.
Immigrants from the continent were not merely “foreign workers”; they were active at the center of the Yamato government. The Eastern Aya clan handled writing, while the Hata clan handled finance and construction. The Hata clan was based around Uzumasa in Kyoto and is said to have contributed to the construction of Heian-kyo.
The introduction of Buddhism was a great revolution in Japanese culture. In 538, or according to one theory 552, King Seong of Baekje presented Buddhist statues and scriptures to Emperor Kimmei. This was the official introduction of Buddhism. The pro-Buddhist Soga clan and anti-Buddhist Mononobe clan came into conflict over it, and in 587 the Soga clan destroyed the Mononobe clan. This led to the beginning of the Asuka Period.

Points to Note (Easily Confused)

① The dates for the official introduction of Buddhism are 538 (the Jōgū Shōtoku Hōō Teisetsu) and 552 (the Nihon Shoki). Textbooks mainly use 538. ② Remember the locations of the Three Kingdoms: Goguryeo (north), Baekje (southwest), and Silla (southeast). ③ “Immigrants from the continent” and “naturalized people” have the same meaning, but modern textbooks mainly use “immigrants from the continent.” ④ Soga clan = pro-Buddhist; Mononobe clan = anti-Buddhist. In 587, Soga no Umako destroyed Mononobe no Moriya in the Jinshin Conflict. ⑤ Sue ware was high-temperature fired and gray, while Haji ware was low-temperature fired and reddish-brown. Both were used together.

Practice

1. State the year Buddhism was officially introduced to Japan, the country that introduced it, and the person to whom it was introduced.
2. Name three cultures or technologies brought by immigrants from the continent.
3. Name the three countries of the Korean Peninsula during the Kofun Period.