The Hakuho-culture in the Asuka period

The culture was formed from the late 7th century to the early 8th century. It was the era of the Tenmu Emperor and the Jito Emperor.

The base of the Hakuho-culture is Buddhism. It was strongly influenced by the culture in the early Tang China which was introduced from Shilla, now part of Korea.

The Tenmu Emperor started to build Daikan Dai Ji-temple and Yakushiji-temple in Nara prefecture. In addition, local lords also built temples. Therefore, Buddhism was rapidly developed in Japan in this period.

↓Yakushiji-temple

Due to the establishment of the centralized national government, not only officers of the centralized government, but also local lords accept Chinese-characters and　 Confucianism.

Local lords learned Chinese culture and started to create classical Chinese poetry. On the other hand, Japanese Tanka poetry developed in those days. Later in the Nara period, the first book of Tanka poets known as Manyosyu was edited at the Emperor request.

※The Asuka period ranged from the later 6th century to the mid 7th century.

The Asuka period coincides with the later Kofun period.