Taika Reforms                                              By Jackson Gion

The death of Prince Shotoku in 622 C.E. didn't allow his idea to become true.  His idea for Japan was to adopt traditions from other cultures and integrate them into Japanese practices.  Other cultures such as China, Korea, and India were a part of this idea with the intention of making Japan more powerful.

After his death, the Soga family regained power and killed Shotuku's family.  Meanwhile, some students that Shotoku had sent to China returned with a good understanding of how to become powerful like the T'ang Dynasty.  Two of those students then killed the Soga family in 645.  Their names were Nakana Oe and Nakatomi Kamatari.  Nakana Oe then became emperor "Tenchi" and crated the Taika Reforms.  The plan of the reforms was to make the central government stronger.  Then some laws passed which stated that the emperor became the sole leader and owned all of the land.  He then gave the land back out to all of the free people.  In exchange, the people had to pay high taxes to support the imperial government.

Then after the emperor's death, his brother followed in his footsteps and became Emperor Temmu after winning a warfare.  He strengthened the country and spread Buddhism throughout Japan.

This event was very important because Japan might have otherwise been taken over or destroyed.  The Taika Reform was important because it helped a political structure in Ritsuryo emerge.  Also, some of the ways Japan ran itself back.

Prince Shotoku with his two sons:

Bibliography:

Early History. http://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/history1.shtml .August 30, 2007.      ( this was my image source )

Frey,Wendy.History Alive.United States of America, Teachers’ Curriculum Institute,                   2005.     

Japan:The Taika Reforms. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-23132/Japan .August 28,2007.           

 Taika (era). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taika_%28era%29 .August 28,2007.