c. 250–538 CE (Kofun period)Reputable sourceWell documented
The Rise of the Yamato State
On the timeline · around c. 250–538 CE (Kofun period) · Ancient Japan
What happened
During the Kofun period — named for the giant keyhole-shaped burial mounds built for its rulers — the Yamato clan of central Japan extended its authority over rival chieftains. Its leaders claimed descent from the sun goddess Amaterasu, founding the imperial line that continues to this day.
Why it matters
The Yamato court was the first centralized state in Japan and the origin of the world's oldest continuous hereditary monarchy, the institution around which Japanese identity would form.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Kofun Period · Reputable source