The Wadō era was also important for Japanese history and culture. The Kojiki, one of Japan's oldest surviving written works, was completed in 712 CE, while the government ordered the preparation of the Fudoki, provincial records containing information about local geography, products, customs, and legends, in 713 CE.
The period also shows the growing influence of Tang China on Japan. Chinese-style government, city planning, writing, Buddhism, and coinage influenced the Japanese court, although Japanese rulers adapted these ideas to local conditions.
Because of these developments, the Wadō Period is an important bridge between the political changes of the Asuka period and the development of the Nara Period. Understanding the Wadō era helps explain how Japan built a stronger central government and developed the political and cultural foundations of the early 8th century.
What Was the Wadō Period in Japan?
The Wadō Period (和銅) was a nengō, or Japanese era name, that lasted from 708 to 715 CE. It was the era of Empress Genmei, who ruled Japan from 707 to 715.
In the traditional Japanese calendar, the Wadō era began in 708 and ended in 715, when it was replaced by the Reiki era.
The period followed the Keiun era (704–708) and came before the Reiki era (715–717).
Quick Facts About the Wadō Period
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Japanese name | Wadō (和銅) |
Period | 708–715 CE |
Ruler | Empress Genmei |
Previous era | Keiun |
Next era | Reiki |
Capital at the beginning | Fujiwara-kyō |
Capital from 710 | Heijō-kyō |
Modern location of Heijō-kyō | Nara, Japan |
Important coinage | Wadō Kaichin |
Major historical work | Kojiki |
Provincial records | Fudoki |
Major political system | Ritsuryō system |
The Wadō Period is particularly remembered for the development of government institutions, the introduction of official coinage, the move to Heijō-kyō, and the recording of Japan's history and provincial traditions.
Meaning and Origin of the Name Wadō
The Japanese name Wadō (和銅) is generally understood in connection with copper.
The name was chosen after naturally occurring copper was reported from Chichibu in Musashi Province, in an area corresponding to modern-day Saitama Prefecture. The copper was presented to the imperial court in 708.
The court considered the discovery a favorable sign and changed the era name from Keiun to Wadō.
Changing an era name because of an important natural discovery, unusual event, or other favorable sign was a common feature of Japan's early imperial tradition. The discovery of copper was especially significant because copper could be used for producing coins.
Empress Genmei and the Wadō Era
Empress Genmei was the ruler throughout the Wadō Period and one of the most important figures in Japan's early 8th-century political history.
She became sovereign in 707 CE, following the death of her son, Emperor Monmu. Her reign continued the efforts of earlier rulers to strengthen the central government and organize the country under the Ritsuryō system.
The Ritsuryō system was a government structure based on written laws, official ranks, taxation, provincial administration, and a central bureaucracy. The Taihō Code of 701 had provided an important legal foundation for this system.
During Genmei's reign, the government continued developing these institutions and expanding the administrative power of the imperial court.
Her reign is particularly associated with the move of the capital from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō in 710, an event that traditionally marks the beginning of the Nara Period.
The Discovery of Copper in 708 CE
One of the events that gave the Wadō Period its name occurred in 708 CE.
Copper was discovered in Chichibu, in the province of Musashi, and was presented to the imperial court. The discovery was welcomed as an auspicious event and became closely associated with the new era.
Copper was an important resource because it could be used to produce bronze objects and, most importantly for the government, coins.
The discovery therefore had both symbolic and practical importance. It helped provide a natural resource for the production of government-issued coinage at a time when Japan was trying to develop a more organized economy.
Wadō Kaichin: The Famous Coinage of the Wadō Period
One of the best-known developments of the Wadō Period was the introduction of Wadō Kaichin (和同開珎) in 708 CE.
Wadō Kaichin was an early Japanese government-issued coin. The coins were generally round and had a square hole in the center, following a design widely used in East Asia.
Their design was influenced by Chinese coinage, particularly the Kaiyuan Tongbao coins of the Tang dynasty.
Why Was Wadō Kaichin Important?
The introduction of Wadō Kaichin reflected the government's attempt to develop an organized monetary system.
Coins could potentially be used for:
Buying and selling goods
Government payments
Trade
Rewarding officials
Supporting economic activity
Financing state projects
The government also encouraged people to use the new currency. However, the economy remained heavily dependent on agriculture, and coins did not immediately replace other forms of payment or agricultural taxation.
Was Wadō Kaichin Japan's First Coin?
This point needs some historical care.
Wadō Kaichin is often described as Japan's first official coinage, but archaeological discoveries have provided evidence of earlier coin production or coin-like currency, including Fuhon-sen.
Therefore, it is more accurate to describe Wadō Kaichin as one of Japan's earliest and most important government-issued coinages, rather than simply calling it the first coin ever produced in Japan.
Its importance lies in the government's serious attempt to establish a national monetary system.
The Capital Moves to Heijō-kyō in 710 CE
The most important political event of the Wadō Period was the relocation of the capital.
In 710 CE, Empress Genmei moved the capital from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō.
Heijō-kyō was located in the area of modern Nara and became the main political center of Japan for much of the 8th century.
The move to Heijō-kyō is traditionally considered the beginning of the Nara Period (710–794 CE).
Why Was the Capital Moved?
Several factors may have influenced the decision to establish a new capital, including:
The need for a larger administrative center
The growth of the central government
The organization of government offices
The development of a planned capital
The influence of Chinese capital-city design
The changing needs of the imperial court
The new capital was planned in a style influenced by Tang Chinese cities, with an organized street system and designated areas for government and religious institutions.
The move demonstrated the growing importance of centralized government and marked a major stage in the development of the early Japanese state.
Heijō-kyō and the Beginning of the Nara Period
The relationship between the Wadō era and the Nara Period can sometimes cause confusion.
They are different types of historical divisions.
Wadō was a Japanese era name that lasted from 708 to 715 CE.
The Nara Period is a broader historical period traditionally dated from 710 to 794 CE, based largely on the location of the imperial capital.
This means the two periods overlapped.
Timeline
This makes the Wadō era an important transitional period between the late Asuka political system and the developing Nara state.
The Ritsuryō System and Centralized Government
The Wadō Period was part of a larger transformation in Japanese government.
Japan was developing a more centralized state based on the Ritsuryō system.
The word Ritsuryō refers broadly to a system of written laws and administrative rules. It was strongly influenced by political systems in China but was adapted by Japanese rulers.
The government increasingly organized:
Officials and government departments
Social ranks
Population registration
Land administration
Tax collection
Military duties
Provincial government
Labor obligations
Relations between the central government and provinces
The Taihō Code of 701 was an important foundation for this system.
The Wadō Period therefore did not create the Ritsuryō state from nothing. Instead, it was a period in which earlier reforms were being developed and put into practice on a larger scale.
The Kojiki and the Recording of Japanese History
Another major achievement of the Wadō Period was the completion of the Kojiki in 712 CE.
The Kojiki, usually translated as Records of Ancient Matters, is one of the oldest surviving works of Japanese literature and history.
It contains accounts of:
Creation myths
Japanese gods and goddesses
The origins of Japan
The imperial family
Legendary rulers
Genealogies
Ancient traditions
Stories about early political figures
The work was presented to Empress Genmei in 712.
The Kojiki was important not only as a collection of myths and stories but also because written history had political value. Recording the origins and lineage of the imperial family helped preserve traditions and support the authority of the imperial court.
The Fudoki Project Begins in 713 CE
In 713 CE, the central government ordered the compilation of Fudoki, provincial records describing different parts of Japan.
The records were intended to provide information about the provinces and their resources.
Fudoki could include details about:
Geography
Local products
Plants and animals
Agriculture
Place names
Local customs
Legends
Religious traditions
Historical stories
The project shows the growing administrative reach of the central government.
For a government trying to manage a large territory, information about local resources, population, geography, and traditions was valuable.
Although many original Fudoki have been lost, surviving material gives historians important information about early Japanese society.
Economy During the Wadō Period
The economy of Wadō-era Japan was mainly agricultural.
Rice cultivation was especially important, and agricultural production supported both local communities and the central government through taxation and other obligations.
At the same time, the government was trying to encourage the use of money.
The introduction of Wadō Kaichin was part of this effort.
However, Japan did not suddenly become a fully monetized economy. Most people continued to depend heavily on agriculture, and taxes and other obligations were often connected to agricultural products and labor.
The development of coinage was therefore an important government initiative, but its use remained limited compared with later periods of Japanese history.
Buddhism During the Wadō Period
Buddhism continued to grow in importance during the Wadō era.
Buddhism had already become closely connected with the Japanese court during earlier centuries. By the early 8th century, Buddhist temples and monks were becoming important parts of Japanese religious and cultural life.
Buddhist institutions contributed to:
Religious practice
Education
Art
Architecture
Writing
Political and cultural exchange
After the capital moved to Heijō-kyō, Nara developed into an important center of Buddhist culture.
The close relationship between the government and Buddhist institutions became one of the defining features of the Nara Period.
Chinese Influence on Wadō-Era Japan
The Wadō Period was strongly influenced by Tang China, which was one of the most powerful states in East Asia at the time.
Japan adopted and adapted many ideas from the continent, including:
Government
Chinese-style administrative institutions influenced the organization of the Japanese state.
Law
Japanese rulers developed written laws influenced by Chinese legal traditions.
City Planning
Heijō-kyō was planned using ideas associated with Chinese capital cities.
Coinage
Wadō Kaichin followed the general East Asian tradition of round coins with square holes and was influenced by Tang coin designs.
Buddhism
Buddhist teachings, institutions, and cultural practices continued to arrive in Japan through connections with the Asian mainland.
Writing and Literature
Chinese writing remained essential to government and historical record-keeping.
However, Japan did not simply copy China. Japanese rulers selected, changed, and adapted continental ideas to suit their own political and cultural needs.
Culture and Society in the Wadō Period
The Wadō era was an important period in the growth of written culture.
Government documents, historical records, laws, religious texts, and provincial information increasingly became part of the administrative system.
The completion of the Kojiki and the beginning of the Fudoki project show how written records were becoming more important.
At the same time, the growth of Buddhism and the construction of temples contributed to developments in:
Sculpture
Architecture
Religious art
Education
Literature
Historical writing
The culture of the period reflected a combination of Japanese traditions and strong continental Asian influences.
Major Events of the Wadō Period
Year | Major Event |
|---|---|
708 CE | Copper from Chichibu was presented to the imperial court. |
708 CE | The Wadō era began. |
708 CE | Wadō Kaichin coinage was introduced. |
710 CE | The capital moved from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō. |
710 CE | The traditional Nara Period began. |
712 CE | The Kojiki was completed and presented to Empress Genmei. |
713 CE | The government ordered the compilation of provincial Fudoki. |
715 CE | Empress Genmei abdicated. |
715 CE | The Wadō era ended and the Reiki era began. |
End of the Wadō Period
The Wadō Period ended in 715 CE.
After ruling for several years, Empress Genmei abdicated in favor of her daughter, who became Empress Genshō.
The era name was then changed from Wadō to Reiki.
The sequence of Japanese era names was therefore:
Keiun (704–708) → Wadō (708–715) → Reiki (715–717)
The end of the Wadō era did not mean that its reforms ended. Many of the political, economic, administrative, and cultural developments that had taken place during the period continued into the following Nara era.
Why Was the Wadō Period Important?
The Wadō Period lasted only a few years, but its historical importance was much greater than its length suggests.
1. Development of Government Coinage
The introduction of Wadō Kaichin was an important step in Japan's attempt to create a government-controlled monetary system.
2. Establishment of Heijō-kyō
The 710 capital transfer established the political center associated with the Nara Period.
3. Growth of Central Government
The Ritsuryō system continued to strengthen the authority of the imperial court and its bureaucracy.
4. Recording of Japanese History
The completion of the Kojiki preserved important myths, genealogies, traditions, and accounts of the imperial lineage.
5. Documentation of the Provinces
The Fudoki project helped the central government collect information about Japan's provinces.
6. Expansion of Continental Influence
Chinese political ideas, Buddhist culture, city planning, writing, and monetary traditions continued to influence Japan.
7. Foundation of the Nara State
The Wadō era helped create the political and cultural environment in which the early Nara state developed.
Wadō Period vs. Nara Period
It is important not to treat the Wadō Period and Nara Period as identical.
The Wadō Period was a nengō, or official era name, lasting from 708 to 715 CE.
The Nara Period is a broader historical period traditionally dated from 710 to 794 CE.
Therefore:
Wadō = 708–715 CE
Nara Period = traditionally 710–794 CE
The two overlap between 710 and 715 CE.
This distinction makes the history of early 8th-century Japan easier to understand and prevents a common mistake in historical writing.
Historical Significance of the Wadō Period
The Wadō Period can be understood as a bridge between the Asuka era and the Nara state.
During these years, Japan continued moving from a political system dominated by powerful clans toward a more organized centralized government.
Several important changes happened at the same time:
Fujiwara-kyō → Heijō-kyō
Developing bureaucracy → Stronger centralized administration
Limited monetary use → Government-issued coinage
Oral traditions → Increasing written records
Regional communities → More organized provincial administration
Japanese traditions → Japanese traditions combined with continental influences
These changes helped shape the political and cultural world of the Nara Period.
Conclusion
The Wadō Period in Japan (708–715 CE) was a brief but highly significant era in the formation of early Japan. During the reign of Empress Genmei, the imperial government continued strengthening the Ritsuryō system while introducing important changes in administration, economic policy, urban planning, and written culture.
The introduction of Wadō Kaichin represented an important attempt to establish an official monetary system. The discovery of copper in Chichibu gave the era its name and provided a valuable resource for coin production. In 710 CE, the capital moved from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō, creating the political center traditionally associated with the beginning of the Nara Period.
The cultural achievements of the era were equally important. The Kojiki was completed in 712 CE, preserving important Japanese myths, genealogies, and traditions, while the government began compiling Fudoki in 713 CE to record information about the country's provinces.
The Wadō Period also demonstrates how strongly Tang China and other continental Asian cultures influenced early Japan. Japanese rulers adopted ideas about government, law, Buddhism, writing, urban planning, and coinage while adapting them to Japan's own political and cultural needs.
Although the Wadō era lasted only about seven years, it helped establish many of the foundations of the early Nara state. For this reason, the Wadō Period remains an important chapter in Japanese history and provides a valuable link between the reforms of the Asuka era and the more organized imperial government of the Nara Period.
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