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The Asuka period saw the beginning of formal diplomatic missions dispatched to China. Roughly three to six ''[[kenzuishi]]'', or "missions to [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]]," were sent from [[600]] to [[614]], and once the Sui Dynasty gave way to the [[Tang Dynasty]], the Yamato state sent ''[[kentoshi|kentôshi]]'' ("missions to Tang") beginning in [[630]]. These missions played a profound role in introducing numerous aspects of Chinese culture into Japan, including legal and political systems, and court music and ritual dance. A message sent from [[Shotoku Taishi|Prince Shôtoku]] and carried to the Chinese Court by one of these missions in [[608]] is often cited as the earliest extant/known instance of the use of the phrase "Land of the Rising Sun" (albeit ''Hi izuru tokoro'' 日出づる処, and not ''Nihon'' or ''Nippon'' 日本) to refer to Japan. The term "Nihon" may have first appeared in [[702]].<ref>Gallery labels. [http://kentoushi.exh.jp/ Imperial Envoys to Tang China : Early Japanese Encounters with Continental Culture] Exhibition. Nara National Museum. April through June 2010.</ref>

The Asuka period saw the beginning of formal diplomatic missions dispatched to China. Roughly three to six ''[[kenzuishi]]'', or "missions to [[Sui Dynasty|Sui]]," were sent from [[600]] to [[614]], and once the Sui Dynasty gave way to the [[Tang Dynasty]], the Yamato state sent ''[[kentoshi|kentôshi]]'' ("missions to Tang") beginning in [[630]]. These missions played a profound role in introducing numerous aspects of Chinese culture into Japan, including legal and political systems, and court music and ritual dance. A message sent from [[Shotoku Taishi|Prince Shôtoku]] and carried to the Chinese Court by one of these missions in [[608]] is often cited as the earliest extant/known instance of the use of the phrase "Land of the Rising Sun" (albeit ''Hi izuru tokoro'' 日出づる処, and not ''Nihon'' or ''Nippon'' 日本) to refer to Japan. The term "Nihon" may have first appeared in [[702]].<ref>Gallery labels. [http://kentoushi.exh.jp/ Imperial Envoys to Tang China : Early Japanese Encounters with Continental Culture] Exhibition. Nara National Museum. April through June 2010.</ref>

Shôtoku Taishi played a key role in promoting Buddhism in Japan in the early years of the 7th century, establishing [[Horyu-ji|Hôryû-ji]] in [[607]], . The great temple of [[Kofuku-ji|Kôfuku-ji]] in Nara was also established in this period, albeit somewhat later, in [[669]]. The adoption of Buddhism brought with it a shift away from ''[[kofun]]''-style burials, towards smaller, Buddhist-style burials, even for emperors. This marks a significant distinction from developments in China, where the rulers of the Sui and Tang Dynasties continued Imperial burial practices as part of their efforts to claim and maintain legitimacy, not shifting to Buddhist burials as quickly or as completely as in Japan.<ref>Schirokauer, 104.</ref>

Shôtoku Taishi played a key role in promoting Buddhism in Japan in the early years of the 7th century, establishing [[Horyu-ji|Hôryû-ji]] in [[607]], . The great temple of [[Kofuku-ji|Kôfuku-ji]] in Nara was also established in this period, albeit somewhat later, in [[669]]. The adoption of Buddhism brought with it a shift away from ''[[kofun]]''-style burials, towards smaller, Buddhist-style burials, even for emperors. This marks a significant distinction from developments in China, where the rulers of the Sui and Tang Dynasties continued Imperial burial practices as part of their efforts to claim and maintain legitimacy, not shifting to Buddhist burials as quickly or as completely as in Japan.<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations'', Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 104.</ref>

Prince Naka-no-Ôe, who served as regent for [[Empress Suiko]] and later took the throne himself as [[Emperor Tenji]], played a major role in establishing key law codes and governmental structures, most prominent among them the [[Taika Reforms]] of [[645]]. Naka-no-Ôe was also prominent alongside Nakatomi no Kamatari in a plot to eliminate the [[Soga clan]] in 645, thus ending their influence at court. This incident also saw the emergence of the [[Fujiwara clan]], which was to become quite prominent and influential in the [[Heian period]], as Kamatari was granted the clan name Fujiwara for his service to the throne.

Prince Naka-no-Ôe, who served as regent for [[Empress Suiko]] and later took the throne himself as [[Emperor Tenji]], played a major role in establishing key law codes and governmental structures, most prominent among them the [[Taika Reforms]] of [[645]]. Naka-no-Ôe was also prominent alongside Nakatomi no Kamatari in a plot to eliminate the [[Soga clan]] in 645, thus ending their influence at court. This incident also saw the emergence of the [[Fujiwara clan]], which was to become quite prominent and influential in the [[Heian period]], as Kamatari was granted the clan name Fujiwara for his service to the throne.