飛鳥時代Asuka period

The Asuka period (飛鳥時代, Asuka jidai; Japanese pronunciation:) was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710, although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period. The Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after the Asuka region, about 25 km (16 mi) south of the modern city of Nara.

The Asuka period is characterized by significant artistic, social and political transformations, which originated earlier during the late Kofun period. The introduction of Buddhism and the widespread adoption of Chinese writing system to write Japanese marked a cultural change in Japanese societies. The Asuka period is also distinguished by the change in the name of the country from Wa (倭) to Nippon (日本).

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