Demon Sword Dance Timeline

Demon Sword Dance

Book 2 of the Dororo Novel Series

Toriumi Jinzō

Timeline

Dynasties represent Chinese dynastic periods.

Periods are chunks of Japanese history that are usually dominated by a single large event or family.

Eras are breakdowns within certain periods of Japanese history; their names usually correspond to the ruler who was governing Japan at the time.

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c.100 BCE The Founding of Tsuruga

The city of Tsuruga is founded in Ezichen Province along the coast of the Sea of Japan by Emperor Sujin. The Korean prince Tsunuga Arashito gives the port city its name.

 

644: Insect worship in Japan

In 644, the idea takes root in the eastern provinces of Japan that people should worship insects. Ōube Nō, a monk and a believer in insect worship, brings his ideas to Hino village at that time, along with the butterfly chrysalis that is revered as a sacred object in Lady Mai's shrine. The insect god is known as Tokoyo. He is said to hold the secrets of immortality and physical as well as spiritual wealth.

 

645: The Taika Reforms

The Taika reforms are established. These reforms are a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku. They are written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku and the defeat of the Soga Clan, which unites Japan. These reforms are credited with modernizing Japan’s government policies.

 

689: Taverns and Breweries

An office to administer and oversee the activities of taverns and breweries in Japan is established.

 

Late 600s: Koshi Province Splits

In the late seventh century, the main Koshi province splits into three pieces: Ezichen, Ecchū and Echigo. In The year 692, the name Ezichen appears for the region for the first time.

 

700s: Mount Monju’s Iwakura Shrine

Iwakura Shrine on Mount Monju is built.

 

702 and 717: Ōdzu Clan Service Recognized

Emperor Monmu and Empress Genshō express gratitude for the religious service of members of the Ōdzu Clan, who were recognized as the spiritual protectors of Japan. 

 

717: Shūgendo (Mountain Worship) and Sacred Mountains

•  Tokuyūbō’s ancestor and the chief priest of Mount Monju’s temple climbs the mountain and feels the auspicious presence of Manjushri. He goes on a pilgrimage to all five sacred mountains in Ezichen and records his experiences seeing and sensing the god. Manjushri becomes the main Bodhisattva worshiped on Mount Monju afterward. 
• Heisen Temple is founded by the Japanese monk Taichō on Mount Haku, who is said to have been the first person to ascend the sacred mountain. The temple is mentioned in the The Tale of the Heike, and is the site of the 1183 Battle of Kurikara during the Genpei War between Kiso Yoshinaka and the Taira Clan. The temple is destroyed in 1338 by the forces of Shiba Takatsune for its support of the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo during the Northern and Southern Courts Period, and again in 1440, but it is rebuilt afterward.

 

770: Tsurugi Shrine Bell

The bell of Tsurugi Shrine was cast in 770.

 

Heian Period: 794 to 1185

•  The Heian Period is long and unique period of relative peace in Japanese history. Culture and art flourish. 
• The (Kehi) temple is built in the Heian Period and destroyed by a great storm during the time of the wars between Japan's Northern and Southern Courts. By the time Hyakkimaru visits, no sign of any destruction remains.

 

800s: Saibara Songs 

Saibara songs use folk song melodies and themes in a more courtly style. Saibara songs become popular during the reign of Emperor Daigo in the late 800s. Though based in popular folk music, saibara were appropriated by the Imperial Court, especially Emperor Uda, and then popularized to the nobility by his son Prince Atsuzane.

 

808 to 850: Development of the Todōza Guild 

Blind monks in Japan are often taught to play lutes and tell stories. This tradition dates to the reign of Emperor Ninmyō, who lived from 808 to 850. His son, Prince Saneyasu, was blind because of an eye disease. He lived in seclusion in Yamashina and gathered the blind together to teach them the lute, dancing, and poetry. The resulting group of skilled musicians that resulted was known as Todōza, an autonomous support group for blind men. Emperor Daigo's fourth son Shigeakira continued and expanded this tradition as a great lover of music and a patron of the arts. The creation of the Todōza Guild made the lives of many blind people much better, but their occupations were still severely restricted.

 

810: Hokuriku Road Forks

•  The Hokuriku Road (known as the Koshi Road at the time) splits off in two separate directions. One road leads to the province of Kaga and the other leads to the province of Noto. Since the time of the road's splitting off, the land never knows peace. 
• The role of the keeper of the Imperial Court’s historical archives is established in 810.

 

815: Kūkai’s Visit to Mount Monju

The monk Kūkai, founder of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, visits Mount Monju’s temple in 815 and buries several sutras here for safekeeping.

 

818: Manjushri Inducted as a Bodhisattva

Manjushri is commonly worshiped in Japan from the year 818 onward. 818 is when he was publicly inducted as an official Bodhisattva. Manjushri is very popular near the capital, but worship of him is less common in the countryside. The people of Mio's village worship him under an entirely different name.

 

824: Provincial Capitals Established

Sixty-four provincial capitals are established in the year 824 to assist with the administration of Japan's provinces and islands. All matters regarding taxation, business, warfare, and industry in the province are settled there.

 

830: The Kahiri River is Diverted

A tributary of the Hino River called the Kahiru River is diverted to cut through the mountains near Kinome Pass.

 

838-854: Buddhist Monk Ennin

 In 838, the monk Ennin accompanies a diplomatic mission to the Imperial Court in China. Ennin is in China when the anti-Buddhist Emperor Wuzong of Tang takes the throne in 840, and he lives through the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution of 842–846. As a result of the persecution, he is deported from China, returning to Japan in 847. In 854, he becomes the third head of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. Ennin is the monk to whom Manjushri’s mantra is attributed.

 

Song Dynasty: 960 to 1279

The Song dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The Song dynasty is divided into two distinct periods: Northern Song and Southern Song. During the Northern Song (960–1127), the Song capital was in the northern city of Bianjing (now Kaifeng) and the dynasty controlled most of what is now Eastern China. The Southern Song (1127–1279) refers to the period after the Song lost control of its northern half.

 

966: Fujiwara no Tametoki Becomes Governor of Ezichzen Province

The father of the famed poetess Murasaki Shikibu, Fujiwara no Tametoki, assumes the role of the governor of Ezichen Province. He does so after writing a poem about the snow melting on Mount Hino that moves the Emperor to tears.

 

 1115-1477: A Brief History of Chinese Explosives in Japan

• Small explosives become readily available in China during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). 
• They cross over into Japan during the Northern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). 
• At the start of the Ōnin War (1467-77), their manufacture increases. 
• They are used extensively as weapons by the Kamakura shogunate during the attempted Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281.

 

c. 1170s-1477: Brief History of the Ogasawara Clan

• The founder of the Ogasawara Clan is Kagami Nagakiyo. His father Tōmitsu serves Emperor Takakura (c.1161-1181) as an Inner Palace guard. Nagakiyo's older brother serves the Taira Clan, but Nagakiyo serves Minamoto no Yoritomo and founds the Ogasawara Clan. 
• At the end of the Northern and Southern Courts Period (1337–92), when the Imperial Court is split over which Emperor should rule, Shinano Province's Murakami Clan becomes locked in a struggle with the Ogasawara Clan. 
• This struggle doesn’t end until 1425, when the Ogasawara Clan are declared the official winners and made military governors of Shinano Province. 
• In 1446, internal strife breaks out between members of the Ogasawara Clan. Many other powerful families in the region get caught up in their troubles. This is partially a result of the start of the Ōnin War (1467-77), which begins just after the Ogasawara Clan's petty conflicts turn violent.

 

1181-1459: A Brief History of Kanegasaki Castle

• In 1181, Minamoto no Yoshinaka holes up against the Taira Clan inside the castle. 
• During the reign of Emperor Go-Daigo 1n 1337, when the Southern Court is still in power, Nitta Yoshisada is attacked by the then-current Lord Shiba, Shiba Takatsune, at the castle. Forces loyal to Nitta Yoshisada are trapped for three months straight; the defenders are reduced to eating horseflesh to survive, and almost resort to cannibalism before surrendering. 
• In 1351, the founder of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji, and his younger brother Tadayoshi defeat the rival Southern Court in battle at the castle.  
• In 1459, Shiba Yoshitoshi, the head of the Shiba Clan, is removed from his position as head of the clan by shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa; in the power vacuum that follows, the Shiba Clan's retainer Kai Jōchi attacks his lord; Shiba Yoshitoshi flees to the castle and defends himself from there.

 

1184-5: Genpei War

Minamoto no Yoshitsune comes down from the Ōu Mountains along the Arachi Mountain Pass. He takes this route to avoid angering his brother Yoritomo, since his many victories in war proved threatening to his position.

 

Jōkyū Era: 1219 to 1222

The Jōkyū Era, also called Shōkyū, was a Japanese era that spanned the years from April 1219 through April 1222. The era was marked by repeated unsuccessful attempts of the Japanese Emperor to seize back power from the Kamakura shogunate.

 

1314: A Brief History of Forges in Ezichen Province

• The forge Sabame Nuinosuke stops at in the novel is  established during the time of the Kamakura shogunate. Three sword makers from Kyōto's prestigious Awataguchi Clan come to build it in Ezichen Province in 1314. 
• More forges are built in the province over the course of the next century. Forges are especially prevalent in the provinces of Yamashiro, Yamato, Bizen, Sagami, and Mino.

 

Northern and Southern Courts Period: 1337–92

This period saw the Ashikaga Clan vie for power against the Hojo of the Kamakura Shogunate and Emperor Go-Daigo himself. Ashikaga Takauji's victory at the Battle of Minatogawa led to the downfall of the Kamakura and the rise of the Ashikaga shogunate, but Go-Daigo set up his own Imperial Court to rival the court in Kyōto, with the southern court being based in Yoshino. The period would end in 1392 with the fall of the Southern Court forces, but the Southern Court has been acknowledged as the legitimate rulers of Japan at the time, while some Southern Court descendants challenge the Northern Court-descended emperors of Japan for legitimacy.

 

1347: First Tax on Sake

The first tax on sake is imposed in 1347, increasing the price. Famous taverns and breweries in Kyōto suffer under the tax, prompting temples in the capital and Nara to try their hand at brewing to increase the supply and bring prices back down.

 

1366: Ichijōdani Becomes the Asakura Clan Seat

The Asakura Clan first becomes involved with Ichijōdani on August 9, 1366. It is granted to the family by the reigning shōgun, Ashikaga Yoshiakira. From that point forward, the clan uses it as their primary base of operations. By the time Asakura Takakage took power, the fortress high on the hill was already complete.  

 

1386: Ryūsen Temple is Built

 Ryūsen Temple is built in 1386 on the orders of the lord of Ezichen Province, Saigyō Hōshi. Saigyō Hōshi later retires from public life in Ezichen to become a monk and poet in Kaga Province, serving in the Daijō Temple under the monk Meihō Sotetsu. 

 

1394 to 1441: Famines in Ezichen

• From 1394 to 1441, Ezichen and the surrounding provinces  suffer from widespread starvation caused specifically by insects. The village of Hino suffers from starvation in 1404, when the gypsy moths swarm from the forest and eat everything in their fields. The villagers, with great regret, burn the entire forest around the village down. 
• Also in 1404, shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu receives recognition from the Chinese Emperor, Zhu Di, as the ruler of Japan. Japan and China improve trade relations from then on, but that does nothing to alleviate the famine in Hino village or elsewhere.

 

1459-1466: Ogasawara Arimune’s Fortresses Complete; Unrest in Ezichen

• In 1459, the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa interferes in Ezichen Province when Ashikaga Shigeuji, a relative and wanted criminal, sides with samural clan lord Kai Jōchi. The shōgun attacks Shigeuji and Kai at Tsuruga, but his army is defeated. Tension and animosity between Kai Jōchi and Asakura Takakage continue after that for almost a decade. 
• In the autumn of 1466, Ogasawara Arimune’s fortresses are completed; Arimune distributes his armies evenly between them. 
• Asakura Mitsuhisa attacks the Ichijō Clan in the Asuwa District, helping his brother secure control of the region.  
• Sabame Nuinosuke is ordered to execute all the builders and carpenters that worked on the fortresses. 
• Sabame Nuinosuke kills his promised bride and her family and flees Shinano Province.

 

Ōnin War: 1467

The Eastern Army quickly surrounds the Ōno District, hoping to conquer it. Only the Western Army unit led by Shiba Yoshikado is close enough to defend it. With Asakura Takakage and Kai Jōchi constantly at odds, sending for reinforcements from Ezichen is out of the question. Shiba Yoshikado is pitted against his cousin and rival from the Eastern Army, Shiba Yoshitoshi. The result of the battle determines who will be the head of the Shiba Clan—and the Shiba Clan rules Ezichen. Ultimately, the Eastern Army retains control of the province for the near future, but Asakura Takakage defects to the Western Army.

 

Ōnin War: March 1468

Sabame Nuinosuke arrives in Kyōto just after Hyakkimaru meets with Taga Takatada. He is quickly chased out of the capital.

 

Ōnin War: April 1468 

Hyakkimaru encounters Sabame Nuinosuke on the Arachi Mountain Pass.

 

Ōnin War: Spring 1468 

• Hyakkimaru and Dororo stay at the ruined temple with Mio and the children until the arrival of Korikuma’s men and a Hall of Hell demon ruin everything. 
• Jukai and Hōichi track down Hyakkimaru.

 

Ōnin War: Summer 1468 

Hyakkimaru makes his pilgrimage to Mount Monju and recovers is psychokinetic powers.

 

Ōnin War: Early Autumn 1468 

Hyakkimaru saves Hino Village from an onryō and eight Hall of Hell demons, with help from Dororo and the villagers. He also defeats Sabame Nuinosuke in combat.

 

Ōnin War: September/October 1468

• Asakura Takakage leaves the capital and engages the Eastern Army in battle on October 14, betraying his own side. Hyakkimaru decides to verify Asakura Takakage's whereabouts and plans by asking around in Takefu. 
• Ariga Daisuke manages to procure a meeting between the chief inspector and Hyakkimaru, though there is a slight delay because of the war situation. 
• Hyakkimaru and Dororo meet with Asakura Takakage, who tells them that Daigo Kagemitsu is a general in the Eastern Army.