Around 400 A.D. the Yamato clan had established themselves as the leading clan. They claimed to be descended from the sun goddesss Amaterasu. By the seventh century, Yamato cheifs were already calling themselves the emperors of Japan. The early Yamato emperors did not control the entire country, or even most of it for that matter. Yamato also united the four largest islands of Japan, the Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. They only began to gain more control when the Japanese accepted the idea of an emperor. Many of the Yamato rulers lacked actual power, but the dynasty was never overthrown. Japan had both an emperor who served as a face and picture, and another ruling power who reigned behind the throne. This structure became a main characteristic of Japanese government.

 

During the 400s, Japan was in contact more with the mainland of Asia. They came under the influences of Chinese ideas and customs, which they learned about from Korean taverlers. Buddhism was one of the most important influences brought to Japan. Prince Shotoku, an influential convert to Buddhism from Japan, tried to errect a strong central government, but did not succed. He also tried to influence the Chinese civil-service system, but that didn't work either. The Japanese though, still stuck to their Shinto roots as well. They adopted the Chinese system of writing and the styles in the art of everyday living, like cooking, and gardening.