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| 10,500-300 BC | Jomon Period |
| 10,500-8000 BC | Incipient Jomon |
| 8000-5000 BC | Initial Jomon |
| 5000-2500 BC | Early Jomon |
| 2500-1500 BC | Middle Jomon |
| 1500-1000 BC | Late Jomon |
| 1000-300 BC | FinalJomon |
| 300 BC-300 AD | Yayoi Period |
| 57 AD | First mention of Japan in historical writing (Chinese history) |
| ~250-260 | Founding of the Great Shrine of Ise |
| 300-710 | Kufun or Yamato Period |
| 552 | Introduction of Buddhism into Japan |
| 552-645 | Asuka Period, named after the Asukadera temple in Asuka |
| 592-628 | Empress Suiko; Prince Shotoku serves as regent |
| 604 | The Seventeen Article Constitution of Prince Shotoku |
| 645 | The Taika Reform |
| 645-710 | Hakuho Period: begins after the Taika Reform |
| 710-794 | Nara (or Tenpyo) Period |
| 712 | Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters), the first Japanese history |
| 720 | Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan), the second Japanese history and major source of Shinto mythology |
| 767-822 | Saicho |
| 774-835 | Kukai |
| 788 | Saicho founds the Enryaku-ji (temple) on Mt. Hiei |
| 793-864 | Ennin, founder of Tendai Buddhism in Japan |
| 794-1192 | Heian Period |
| 794 | Capital of Japan moved to Heian-kyo |
| 794-951 | Early Heian Period |
| 806-809 | Final compilation of the Manyoshu (Ten Thousand Leaves Collection), the first collection of Japanese poetry |
| 816 | Kukai founds the Koya-san monastery |
| 838-847 | Journey of Ennin to China; on his return, he introduces Tendai Buddhism into Japan |
| 903-972 | Kuya; introduced Amida Buddhism into Japan |
| 909 | Taketori monogatari (Tale of the Bamboo Cutter); first Japanese monogatari , or long story |
| 942-1017 | Genshin; established popularity of Pure Land Buddhism |
| 951-1086 | Middle Heian Period |
| 973-after 1013 | Murasaki Shikibu, author of Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) and the Murasaki Shikibu nikki (Murasaki Shikibu Diary) |
| 994-996 | Sei Shonagon writes the first draft of Makura soshi (The Pillow Book) |
| Late 900's | Rise of yamato-e , or secular painting on Japanese topics and landscapes |
| 1001-1013 | Approximate dates for the composition of Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) by Murasaki Shikibu |
| 1068-1072 | Reign of the Emperor Gosanjo, who broke the power of the Fujiwara family and developed the practice of insei , or "cloistered government by retired emperors" |
| 1086-1185 | Late Heian (or Insei) Period |
| 1156 | Taira Kiyomori seizes control of the civil government; beginning of the Heiji War |
| 1185 | Defeat of the Taira; Minamoto Yoritomo seizes control of the government |
| 1192 | Beginning of the Kamakura Shogunate |