Government and Administration
•Organized
government begins in fifth and
sixth centuries
–Buddhism becomes religion of governing class
–Prince Shotoku
•Lower classes
not allowed to obtain government
posts regardless of abilities
–The Nara and Heian Periods (710 – 1185)
–Feudal anarchy for seventy years after death of Prince Shotoku
–First capital at Nara
–Imperial court moved to Heian (Kyoto)
–Limited contacts with mainland
–Government became struggle between Japanese and Chinese models
