HEIAN PERIOD
794 - 1185
Emperor Kammu moves the Imperial Court to Kyoto. The Heian Period begins
The shoen system is refined and expands; the strength of the warrior houses in the northern provinces steadily grows
The monk Saichô is sent by emperor Kammu to study Buddhism in China
Emperor Kammu dies
Saichô, the founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism and the Enryaku-Ji temple on Mt. Hiei, dies
Kukai (b. 774), the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism, dies
Miyoshi Kiyotsura is born
Fujiwara Yoshifusa (804-872) becomes the first Fujiwara regent (acting as a guardian to the child-emperor Seiwa)
Emperor Seiwa dies; his six sons each create a different branch of the new Minamoto (Genji) family
The Kokinshu (Poems Ancient and Modern), a compilation of 1,111 poems, is completed and establishes tanka as the standard form of classical Japanese poetry.
Miyoshi Kiyotsura dies
Taira Masakado, a powerful landowner in the Kanto refused a government post, rebels. He goes on to declare himself the rightful emperor.
A pirate fleet under Fujiwara Sumimoto preys on Inland Sea shipping until it is defeated by the Minamoto in 941.
Taira Masakado is defeated and killed at the Battle of Kojima (Shimosa) by Taira Sadamori and Fujiwara Hidesato.
- Fujiwara Sumimoto is defeated by the Minamoto
Fujiwara Michinaga (966-1027) becomes regent; under his leadership, the Fujiwara reach their height.
Sei Shonagon composes the Pillow Book (Makura no Shoshi) around this time.
Murasaki Shikubu completes the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) around this time.
Fujiwara Michinaga dies.
Minamoto Yorinobu subdues the rebellious Taira Tadatsune
The Former Nine-Year War begins: Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Minamoto Yoshiie lead government forces against the Abe family of Mutsu, whose remote clan had become nearly autonomous.
Minamoto Yoshiie, on his return from Mutsu, establishes the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine near later Kamakura
Go-Sanjo becomes Emperor and Cancellor Fujiwara Yorimichi retires, the last of the great Fujiwara minsters.
Ga-Sanjo abdicates in favor of his son Sadahito (the Emperor Shirakawa) but continues to work for Imperial independance from the Fujiwara. While most likely not the creator of the Insei (rule through cloistered emperors) system as he is sometimes described, Go-Sanjo and his son Shirakawa greatly diminish the Fujiwara influence at court.
Fujiwara Yorimichi (b.992) dies.
The Enryakuji, Mii-dera, and Kofukuji temples enter into a violent three-way dispute.
- Minamoto Yoriyoshi dies
The Later Three Year War begins: Minamoto Yoshiie goes to war with the Kiyowara following a power struggle within that clan.
- The Later Three Years War ends with Minamoto Yoshiie's capture of Kanazawa Castle; the Court refuses to reward Yoshiie's men, compelling him to reward them himself.
Minamoto Yoshiie is allowed to enter the Imperial court
Minamoto Yoshiie dies
Celebrated scholar and tutor to three emperors, Ôie Masafusa, dies
Taira Kiyomori is born
Minamoto Yoshitomo is born
The first Hôjß Regent, Hojo Tokimasa, is born
February - Taira Kiyomori is appointed the governor of Aki.
Minamoto Yoritomo is born
February 15 Taira Tadanori dies and Kiyomori rises to power in the Taira family.
August 10 - The Hôgen disturbance [Hôgen no Ran] occurs in Kyôto; Minamoto Tameyoshi and Tametomo are attacked in the Shirakawa-den by Minamoto Yoshitomo and Taira Kiyomori
August 30 - Tameyoshi and Tametomo are defeated.
Taira Kiyomori is named the Assistant Governor-General of the Daifuzu (a government office on Kyushu).
The Heiji Disturbance (Heiji no ran) occurs in Kyoto-Minamoto Yoshitomo takes Sanjo Palace and captures the former emperor, Go-Shirakawa. Taira Kiyomori leads a counterattack, defeating the Minamoto and killing Yoshitomo. Kiyomori spares Yoshitomo's children-the future Yoritomo and Yoshitsune.
Taira Kiyomori is named a court councilor (Senior Third Rank).
July Rokujô becomes Emperor following the abdication of Emperor Nijô.
February 11 Taira Kiyomori is named Grand Minister of State (dajodaijin) and rules jointly with Go-Shirakawa.
Taira Kiyomori orders the Itskushima Shrine rebuilt.
Minamoto Tametomo commits suicide.
September Taira Shigemori dies.
December Taira Kiyomori and Go-Shirakawa clash, and the latter is placed under house-arrest.
The Gempei War
March 21 Taira Kiyomori names his 2-year old grandson Antoku titular emperor after Takaura abdicates..
May 5 Imperial Prince Mochihito issues a call to arms against the Taira. The Gempei War begins.
June The seat of Imperial power is moved to Fukuhara, probably through pressure by Taira Kiyomori
June 15 Prince Mochihito flees Kyoto.
June 23 Minamoto Yorimasa and the warrior monks of Nara are defeated at the Uji bridge by Taira Tomomori and Shigehira.
September Minamoto Yoritomo declares war on the Taira and raises troops in the Kanto. He attacks and kills Taira Kanetaka.
September 14 Yoritomo is defeated at Ishibashiyama (Sagami) by Oba Kagechika.
November The capital is moved back to Kyoto.
November 9 Minamoto Yoritomo and the Takeda force the Taira to retreat at the Fujigawa (Suruga).
November 23 The Oba family submits to Yoritomo.
December Yoritomo defeats the Satake clan who had been unwilling to give their loyalty to his cause.
December 19 Taira Tomomori burns down the Kofuku-ji.
January The Nitta clan submits to Minamoto Yoritomo.
March 20 Taira Kiyomori dies; he is succeded by Taira Munemori.
April 25 Taira Tomomori defeats Minamoto Yukiie in a night engagement at Sunomata (Omi).
September Minamoto Yoritmo suggests that Japan be divided into seperate spheres of influnce under Minamoto and Taira leadership; the Court is somewhat in favor of this idea, which the Taira ignore.
October 9 Minamoto (Kiso) Yoshinaka defeats and kills Jo Nagashige of Echigo at the Battle of Yokotogawara.
November 3 Taira Munemori is appointed palace Minister.
May 10 Taira Koremori leads an army from Kyoto to destroy Kiso Yoshinaka.
June 2 Kiso Yoshinaka routs the Taira at the Battle of Kurikawa and turns the tide of the war in the Minamoto's favor.
August 25 Taira Munemori and the Emperor Antoku abandon Kyoto for Shikoku.
August 28 Kiso Yoshinaka and Minamoto Yukiie escort Go-Shirakawa into Kyoto.
November 17 Kiso Yoshinaka is defeated by the Taira at Mizushima.
February 19 Minamoto Yoritomo and Kiso Yoshinaka go to war over control of the Minamoto; Yoshinaka is defeated at the Uji River.
February 21 Yoshinaka is cornered and killed at the Battle of Awazu.
March 18 Minamoto Yoshitsune defeats the Taira at the Battle of Ichinotani.
April 15 Taira Koremori commits suicide.
October Minamoto Noriyori begins a campaign into the western Honshu provinces.
October 26 Noriyori defeats a Taira force at Fujito (Bizen).
March 22 Minamoto Yoshitsune attacks Yashima (Sanuki) and puts the Taira to flight.
April 24 The Taira clan is utterly destroyed at the Battle of Dan no Ura. The Emperor Antoku dies in the course of the fighting, and Taira Munemori is captured and later executed. The Gempei War ends.
August Minamoto Yukiie dies.
794
800
804
806 - First year of Daidô
810 - First year of Kônin
822
824 - First year of Tenchô
834 - First year of Shôwa
835
847
848 - First year of Kajô
851 - First year of Ninju
854 - First year of Saikô
857 - First year of Tennan
858
859 - First year of Jôgan
877 - First year of Genkei
880
884
885 - First year of Ninna
889 - First year of Kampyô
898 - First year of Shôtai
901 - First year of Engi
905
918
923 - First year of Enchô
931 - First year of Shôhei
935
936
938 - First year of Tengyô
940
941
947 - First year of Tenryaku
957 - First year of Tentoku
961 - First year of Ôwa
964 - First year of Kôhô
968 - First year of Anna
970 - First year of Tenroku
973 - First year of Ten'en
976 - First year of Jôgen
978 - First year of Tengen
983 - First year of Eikan
985 - First year of Kanna
987 - First year of Eien
989 -First year of Eiso
990 - First year of Shôryaku
995 - First year of Chôtoku
996
999 - First year of Chôhô
1002
1004 - First year of Kankô
1012 - First year of Chôwa
1017 - First year of Kannin
1021 - First year of Jian
1022
1024 - First year of Manju
1027
1028 - First year of Chôgen
1031
1037 - First year of Chôryaku
1040 - First year of Chôkyû
1044 - First year of Kantoku
1046 - First year of Eishô
1051
1053 - First year of Tengi
1057
1058 - First year of Kôhei
1062
1063
1065 - First year of Jiryaku
1068
1069 - First year of Enkyû
1072
1074 - First year of Jôhô
1077 - First year of Shôryaku
1081 - First year of Eihô
1082
1083
1084 - First year of Ôtoku
1087 - First year of Kanji
1094 - First year of Kahô
1096 - First year of Eichô
1097 - First year of Jôtoku
1098
1099 - First year of Kôwa
1104 - First year of Chôji
1106 - First year of Kajô
1108 - First year of Tennin
1110 - First year of Ten'ei
1111
1113 - First year of Eikyû
1118 - First year of Gen'ei
1120 - First year of Hôan
1123
1124 - First year of Tenji
1126 - First year of Daiji
1131 - First year of Tenshô
1132 - First year of Chôshô
1135 - First year of Hôen
1138
1141 - First year of Eiji
1142 - First year of Kô
1144 - First year of Ten'yô
1145 - First year of Kyûan
1146
1147
1151 - First year of Ninpei
1153
1154 - First year of Kyûju
1156 - First year of Hyôgen
1158
1159 - First year of Heiji
1160 - First year of Eiryaku
1161 - First year of Ôhô
1163 - First year of Chôkan
1165 - First year of Eiman
1166 - First year of Ninnan
1167
1168
1169 - First year of Kaô
1170
1171 - First year of Shôan
1175 - First year of Angen
1177 - First year of Jishô
1179
1180
1181 - First year of Yôwa
1182 - First year of Juei
1183
1184 - First year of Genryaku
1185 - First year of Bunji
