일본의 고대사는 백제, 신라, 발해 및 당과 밀접한 관련 하에 전개되었다. 4세기 중엽부터 919년까지의 일본 고대사는 중요한 정치적 사건을 기반으로 4개의 시대로 세분화할 수 있는데, 이렇게 시대구분을 하여 보면 일본 고대사의 성격이 좀더 분명히 드러난다. 필자는 664년의 당군의 일본 진주, 672년의 당군의 철수와 임신의 전쟁, 727년의 발해 무장군인 일본 입국 등에 주목하여 이들 정치적 사건을 일본 고대사의 구분점으로 삼았다. 일본의 고대가 시작되는 4세기 중엽부터 664년까지의 시대는 가라지역 사람들과 백제 사람들이 집단적으로 일본에 이주하였으며, 이들이 일본에서 정치와 문화를 건설하였다. 이 시대는 백제가 일본(야마토왜)을 경영한 시대라고 할 수 있다. 특히 무령왕, 성왕, 위덕왕은 일본 경영팀을 파견하여 일본을 경영하였고, 군대와 물자를 징집하였다. 두 번째 시대(664∼672년)는 당나라 군대가 일본에 주둔한 시대이다. 663년 백강구 전투에서 백제왕의 군대인 왜군이 패하여 항복하자, 당은 664년 쓰쿠시에 도독부를 설치하여 이를 기지로 삼아 일본(야마토왜)을 경영하였다. 세 번째 시대(672∼727년)는 신라가 일본의 정치와 문화를 지도한 시기이다. 일본에서는 672년 6월 임신의 전쟁을 통해 백제계 지배층을 축출하고 신라가 창출한 정권이 수립되었고, 당군은 철수하였다. 신라는 이후 일본의 사찰(호류지, 도다이지)과 왕경(후지와라쿄, 헤이조쿄)의 조영, 기본법의 제정 등에 강한 영향을 미쳤다. 네 번째 시대(727∼919)는 일본이 신라와 발해 두 나라에 의해 영향을 받은 시기이다. 발해는 727년에 무장사절단을 일본에 파견한 이래 34회의 사절을 파견하여 막대한 양의 조공품을 받아갔는데, 이 관계는 일본이 발해에 복속했음을 의미한다. 또한 신라는 일본에 13회의 사인을 파견하여 일본을 지도하였으며, 한 때(893∼894) 서부 일본을 점령하기도 했다.

The ancient history of Japan can be divided into four periods―from the middle of the fourth century to A.D. 664, from 664 to 672, from 672 to 727, and from 727 to 919. There were waves of collective immigrants into the Japanese Islands from the Korean peninsula. From the middle of the fourth century Kara people and from the end of the fifth century Paekche people migrated on mass to Japan to set up the culture and politics of that land. Yamato-Wa where Paekche immigrants predominated had an unusually close relationship with Paekche, their home country. According to the Nihonshoki, Japan (Yamato-Wa) was virtually administered by Paekche kings from 513 on, which continued until Tang China's army advanced into Japan in 664. For eight years from 664―the year immediately following the Paekkangku Battle where Paekche and Japanese armies were routed by the allied Shilla-Tang forces―to 672 Tang China's occupational forces were stationed in Japan to rule it, to which the stragglers of the Japanese and Paekche armies had retreated, implanting Tang China's customs and culture in the residents there. Meanwhile, Unified Shilla, which had won five great victories against Tang China's army on both land and sea in the Korean peninsula from 670 to 676, practically administered Japan from 672 to 727. For during this time Shilla people not only lent a hand in erecting Buddhist temples and relocating capitals but also helped Japan build up a new country by legislating Daihorei, the fundamental laws of administration. No wonder that at the news of the demise of the Shilla king the Japanese government went so far as to proclaim an amnesty. From 727 on Japan was subject to Palhae and Shilla. Being overcome with fright at the emergence of the warrior state of Palhae that regained the lost territory of Koguryo and sent a large number of armed envoys across the sea all too often, Japan continued to offer a tremendous amount of tribute to Palhae until 919. At the same time, because of the advanced political system, Buddhist culture, highly developed shipbuilding and navigation techniques of Shilla, Japan had to be subject to Shilla, whether she wished it or not. Although temporarily (893～894), a western part of Japan was occupied by the Shilla army.

The ancient history of Japan can be divided into four periods―from the middle of the fourth century to A.D. 664, from 664 to 672, from 672 to 727, and from 727 to 919. There were waves of collective immigrants into the Japanese Islands from the Korean peninsula. From the middle of the fourth century Kara people and from the end of the fifth century Paekche people migrated on mass to Japan to set up the culture and politics of that land. Yamato-Wa where Paekche immigrants predominated had an unusually close relationship with Paekche, their home country. According to the Nihonshoki, Japan (Yamato-Wa) was virtually administered by Paekche kings from 513 on, which continued until Tang China's army advanced into Japan in 664. For eight years from 664―the year immediately following the Paekkangku Battle where Paekche and Japanese armies were routed by the allied Shilla-Tang forces―to 672 Tang China's occupational forces were stationed in Japan to rule it, to which the stragglers of the Japanese and Paekche armies had retreated, implanting Tang China's customs and culture in the residents there. Meanwhile, Unified Shilla, which had won five great victories against Tang China's army on both land and sea in the Korean peninsula from 670 to 676, practically administered Japan from 672 to 727. For during this time Shilla people not only lent a hand in erecting Buddhist temples and relocating capitals but also helped Japan build up a new country by legislating Daihorei, the fundamental laws of administration. No wonder that at the news of the demise of the Shilla king the Japanese government went so far as to proclaim an amnesty. From 727 on Japan was subject to Palhae and Shilla. Being overcome with fright at the emergence of the warrior state of Palhae that regained the lost territory of Koguryo and sent a large number of armed envoys across the sea all too often, Japan continued to offer a tremendous amount of tribute to Palhae until 919. At the same time, because of the advanced political system, Buddhist culture, highly developed shipbuilding and navigation techniques of Shilla, Japan had to be subject to Shilla, whether she wished it or not. Although temporarily (893～894), a western part of Japan was occupied by the Shilla army.

ancient history of Japan, period division, Paekche, Shilla, Palhae