Table of Contents
Historical Periods of Japan
Use this section only as a starting point. Once you have narrowed your Style_Period options down, go to Getty AAT to find the authority record for the term you need.
Note: In Japanese locations, the suffix “shi” indicates a city name, and “cho” indicates a town. The suffix “ken” indicates a prefecture. For example: The temple site Todaiji (or Todai-ji) is located in the city of Nara, Japan, which may be written as Nara-shi to differentiate it from Nara prefecture, or Nara-ken. The suffix “ji” in Todaiji denotes that it is a temple. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_names_in_Japan
Prehistoric Period
Jomon Period ca.11,000 BCE-300 BCE
Yayoi Period ca.300 BCE-300 CE
Kofun (Yamato) Period ca.300-592 CE
Early Historical Period
Asuka/Nara Period 592 BCE-794
Asuka 592-710 CE
Nara 710-794
Heian Period 794-1185
Fujiwara 858-1160
Taira 1160-1185
Medieval Period
Kamakura Period 1185-1333
Namboku 1334-1392
Muromachi Period 1392-1573
Ashikaga 1338-1573
Sengoku 1467-1600
Early Modern Period
Momoyama Period 1568-1600
Edo (Tokugawa) 1600-1868
Early-Edo
- Kan’ei 1624-44
- Meiriki 1655-58
- Manji 1658-61
- Kanbun 1661-73
- Enpo 1673-81
- Tenna 1681-84
- Jokyo 1684-88
Mid-Edo
- Genroku 1688-1704
- Shotoku 1711-1715
- Kyoho 1716-1736
- Horeki 1751-1764
- Meiwa 1764-1772
- An’ei 1772-1781
- Tenmei 1781-1789
Late-Edo
- Kansei 1789-1801
- Bunka 1804-1818
- Tenpo 1830-1844
Modern Period
Meiji Restoration 1868-1912
Taisho 1912-1926
Showa 1926-1989
Heisei 1989-
