- The Chinese brought Buddhism to Japan. Chinese authorities believed that by converting the Japanese from the indigenous Shinto religion to Buddhism, they could more effectively introduce other aspects of Chinese culture into Japan.
- Before Chinese influence, Japan lacked a strong central government. From AD 593 to 622, the Japanese Prince Shotoku created a Constitution and began transitioning to a government that more closely imitated China's. After Shotoku, two emperors named Tenji and Temmu continued the changes, forming two systems that organized Japan's criminal and civil rules.
- Besides Buddhism, the Chinese also brought Confucianism to Japan. The philosophy profoundly influenced Japanese culture, including its art and government. Prince Shotoku's Constitution included ideas from both Confucianism and Buddhism, and Japanese art reflected the same Neo-Confucian themes as art in China.
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