Japan and China Relationship Through History

Japan and China have known each other, and have been tied together culturally, politically, and economically, for at least 2,000 years, with the relationship stretching back to the very beginning of Japan’s recorded history.

Here’s the rough historical timeline of their contact:

1. First recorded contact: over 1,800 years ago (Han Dynasty, ~1st–2nd century CE)

• Chinese historical texts like the Book of the Later Han (compiled in the 5th century) mention emissaries from ancient Japan arriving at the Han court.

• These early missions were likely about trade and gaining political legitimacy through Chinese recognition.

2. Cultural borrowing: 5th to 9th centuries

• Japan adopted large parts of Chinese civilization: writing (kanji), Confucianism, Buddhist philosophy (via Korea and China), political systems, and city planning.

• The Asuka and Nara periods (6th–8th centuries) saw Japan deliberately sending envoys to Tang China to study and bring back advanced knowledge in governance, architecture, medicine, and art.

3. Trade and influence: 10th to 15th centuries

• Even during periods of limited diplomacy, maritime trade between Chinese merchants and Japanese ports continued.

• Chinese Zen Buddhism deeply influenced Japanese culture, tea ceremonies, gardens, and painting.

• Japan imported silk, porcelain, books, and technology; China received silver, swords, and luxury goods.

4. Tensions and war — 16th to 19th centuries

• Relationships were not always peaceful: the Ming dynasty fought Japanese “wakō” pirates, Hideyoshi’s invasions of Korea (1592–1598) threatened China, and both sides became wary of each other.

• But economic exchange continued, often through intermediaries like the Ryukyu Kingdom.

5. Modern rivalry and cooperation: 19th to 20th centuries

• The Meiji Restoration (1868) saw Japan modernizing rapidly and eventually defeating China in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), marking a power shift in East Asia. (It must be stressed that this was a result of the colonialist pressure exerted by the USA and the European powers over Japan at the time as they forced this nation to change.)

• The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) left deep scars, but after WWII, trade relations slowly resumed.

6. Contemporary ties: 1970s to present

• Diplomatic normalization in 1972 led to an economic boom in bilateral trade.

• Japan invested heavily in China’s modernization from the 1980s onward.

• Today, China is Japan’s largest trading partner, and Japan is a key source of technology and investment for China, despite political disputes.

The Future

Japan and China have been aware of, and influencing each other for nearly two millennia. Their relationship is a mix of cultural interdependence, economic necessity, and political rivalry. This long shared history means they are not strangers to cooperation. They’ve done it before, and with the right political will, they could do it again and guide Asia towards a shared future of prosperity.

Thanks for Reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas