Chronology
CHRONOLOGY OF THE HISTORY OF NIPPON
-7500 to –4500: This period is known in the Nipponese religion of Jinto as the Age of the Kami. It is claimed that the kami descended from heaven and created the world. This was when the gods walked the earth and forged it according to their desires.
-4500 to –4400: The War of the Nether Plains. According to Jinto the Demon World invaded the mortal world with the intention to destroy what the kami had made. Then it is told that the mythical Celod-No-Dami sealed the Daemons in a cave on the mythical island of Kindou.
-3000: High Elves found Tor Elithis. Nippon at this time was nothing but a wild island off the coast off the continent that would be known very soon as Cathay. High Elves make cursory explorations in and around Nippon but do not take any great steps to colonise the place. Tiny outpost of Tor Aydin is founded on extreme western tip of Nippon.
-2000: The Rise of Cathay. Various independent kingdoms in the Far East begin developing a sophisticated culture but unity is still some way off. The Cathayans develop rice cultivation, basketry and the domestication of cattle and water buffalo. At this time the Nipponese develop a nomadic culture of hunting, fishing and gathering.
-1300: According to the Jinto chronicles it is said that Genji-no-Taishogun claimed direct descent from the Sun God and founded the imperial family. Formation of settlements and the foundation of Nara (future city of Makudo). Growth of primitive nature religion, forerunner of Jinto.
-1000: Development of small independent kingdoms and some tendency towards unification. The western province of Yamanashi becomes the most powerful of the coastal kingdoms led by descendents of Genji.
-500 to -470: The Khan-Goblins of the Eastern Steppes invade the western coast of Nippon. They sack many of the fledgling kingdoms of Nippon and conquer the Yamanashi region. Emperor Dogen Takajui escapes the sacking and flees into hiding in the east with a small army. The Khan-Goblins enslave those they do not kill and found their own kingdom in the heart of Nippon. The first Jinto temple is desecrated causing rebellion, which is subsequently brutally quashed. Emperor Dogen sides with the powerful eastern Prince Shotoku and helps defeats their enemies. Shotokun, the eastern capital’s name (future Hyudo), becomes powerful military base. In –470 Emperor Dogen and Prince Shotoku defeat the Khan-Goblins, driving them into the forests and highlands, and liberate Yamanashi. Prince Shotoku becomes first Seii-Taishogun of Nippon. West and East are united.
-470 to -100: Nara renamed Makudo. Beginning of the Makudo period. Shotokun renamed Hyudo. High Elves meet the Nipponese for the first time after 2000 years of isolation.
-100 to 0: Eastern Steppe barbarians invade Nippon for the next 100 years but are defeated.
0 to 300: Disputes in Imperial family over succession to throne threaten Makudo power.
300 to 500: Makudo power restored by Prince Hojo. First attempts at establishing a constitution and a system of official ranks. Hojo promotes Jinto as well as some Cathayan religions. Numerous temples built.
500 to 600: High level of culture is achieved from the blending of Cathayan and Nipponese elements. Silver and copper coins minted.
600: Rise of the Kamatari family to power behind the throne.
800 to 1000: With increasing Kamatari power, government by regents become the rule. Court comes to occupy a merely ceremonial role, losing control over country. Public welfare increasingly disregarded. In provinces, governors become corrupt and lazy. Owners of manorial districts form bands of warriors for self-defence, creating the beginnings of the samurai system.
1000 to 1100: Government degenerates to an unrealistic despotism preoccupied with the proliferation of temples, while public welfare is ignored. Court aristocracy largely ineffective and corrupt. Local clans become increasingly powerful on basis of samurai system. Among them the Ashigaka and Heishi families lead. Monasteries also maintain military forces. Imperial struggles for power and other factors finally bring ascendancy to the Heishi family, but after a quarter of a century's power, Heishi are in turn defeated by Ashigaka.
1150 to 1300: Ashigaka-no-Yoritomo appointed Shogun. Founding of the first bakufu or shogunate at Hyudo. After Yoritomo's death, Heishi family become regents within the shogunate. Ashigaka line soon dies out, but Heishi continue as regents, controlling both emperors and shoguns. Samurai retainers become more and more powerful element in the manorial areas. At end of this period, Emperor Godaigo briefly restores imperial rule, but fails to achieve proper control and is overthrown by his former supporter, the warrior Yoshin Takauji, who sets another emperor, Komyo, on the throne. Godaigo flees, and establishes a court at Izumo in rivalry to Komyo's court in Makudo. Subsequently two courts - the Western and Eastern - continue for almost 100 years.
1310 to 1480: Takauji shogunate begins with granting of title Shogun to Hideyoshi Takauji by the western court. Headquarters established at Hyudo. With the later reunification of the Western and Eastern courts in 1310, this shogunate is fully recognized. Samurai, however, continue to erode power of aristocracy in the shoen or provincial manors. Shogunate appoints daimyo - leaders of local samurai in their own right. Shogunate authority progressively weakens under effete court influence. Subsequently the shogunate virtually loses all control, leading to the Age of Civil Wars. Despite all this, the period had seen development in fishing, mining, trade, etc. Towns grow up around castles, temples and shrines, harbours, etc.
1500 to 2000: Civil wars rage. No conclusive outcome. Shoguns are appointed and many are assassinated. Corruption is rife. High Elves dismantle Tor Aydin and abandon Nippon as a consequence in 1600.
2000: Contact is resumed with the High Elves as the wars end.
2300: Southern Incursions of Chaos. In 2301 High Elf colony of Tor Elithis is overrun by Chaos. The Gates of Calith is besieged in southern Cathay. In 2302 the forces of Chaos are defeated. In 2303 High Elf presence in the Far East now only extends to the Gates of Calith and several scattered islands in the Ocean of Ind.
2440: First contact with Old Worlders as Marienburger merchants sail into Tokaido.
2463: Remans attempt trade with Nippon but are refused. Nippon merchants set up trading post in Marienburg.
2470: Imperial ship sunk in Ocean of Ind. Rumoured to be at the hands of Marienburgers.
2490: Marienburgers introduce firearms to Nippon. The powerful Yoritomo clan takes large shipments and begins a long period of armament. Marienburg promises to continue arming Yoritomo if he guarantees trade with the Wasteland port should he take the shogunate. Yoritomo has his cousin assassinated and takes power over Hyudo.
2493 to 2502: Beginning of the Onin Wars. Yoritomo Ieysau begins his quest to unify Nippon. Yoritomo clan vies for the shogunate, which is currently the puppet of the imperial court in Makudo. Nara, Nobunaga and Otomo clans pledge their loyalty to the warlord Yoritomo Ieysau. Yoritomo conquers the south and has 3000 prisoners executed as an example. The puppet shogun’s army of samurai is defeated by 500 intrepid peasants armed with arquebuses at the Battle of Takeda. Izumo falls to Emperor Oda. Yoritomo sails an army to the north where the Tojo clan is almost completely wiped out. Izumo is retaken and gradually Yoritomo’s armies encircle Makudo. Emperor Oda commits suicide as Makudo falls in 2502. The last rebellious daimyo are crushed in 2503.
2503: Yoritomo Ieysau becomes Supreme Overlord of Nippon. Dejim granted to Marienburg merchants.
2506: Emperor Oda’s son, Takagura, becomes new Emperor of Nippon at the age of ten and bestows upon Yoritomo the title of Shogun. Shogun Yoritomo imposes edicts restricting movement of peasants and restricts the power of the imperial court. Allied clans are rewarded with lands and titles. Enemy clans become “Outer Daimyo”.
2510: Imperials begin trade talks with Shogun’s bakufu.
THE NIPPONESE CALENDAR
Unlike the Imperial Calendar, which runs according to the solar cycle, the Nipponese version is lunar driven, i.e. its months are based upon the cycle of Mannslieb or Tsuki (for the Nipponese word). Mannslieb has a cycle of 25 days from full to full, which means that a Nipponese month is from 25 to 26 days; a month is determined by taking the closest number of actual days corresponding to the period of lunation. Thus, a month can be either "short" with 25 days or "long" with 26 days.
| Imperial | Meaning | Nipponese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexenstag | After-Witching | MuTsuki | Happy Spring |
| Jahrdrung | Year-Turn | KisaRagi | Seasonal Change of Dress |
| Pflugzeit | Ploughtide | YaYohi | Grass Grows Dense |
| Sigmarzeit | Sigmartide | UTzuki | Summer Rice |
| Sommerzeit | Summer-Tide | SaTsuki | Rice Sprouts |
| Vorgeheim | Fore-Mystery | MiNaTzuki | Watering Month |
| Nachgeheim | After-Mystery | FuTzuki | Month of Letters |
| Erntezeit | Harvest-Tide | HaTzuki | Month of Leaves |
| Brauzeit | Brewmonth | NagaTsuki | Autumn Long Month |
| Kaldezeit | Chillmonth | KaNaTzuki | Month of Gods |
| Ulriczeit | Ulric-Tide | ShimoTsuki | Month of Falling Frost |
| Vorhexen | Fore-Witching | ShiHasu | "Poor Looking" Winter |
Like the Imperial Calendar the Nipponese version also has eight days and these are given below:
| Imperial | Nipponese |
|---|---|
| Wellentag | NichiYoubi |
| Aubentag | GetsuYoubi |
| Marktag | KaYoubi |
| Backertag | SuiYoubi |
| Bezahltag | MokuYoubi |
| Konigstag | KinYoubi |
| Angestag | DouYoubi |
| Festag | KiYoubi |