Home Region:  Northeast Asia (East Asia)

Asuka

538 CE 710 CE
EQ 2020  jp_asuka / JpAsuka
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[continuity; Kanai - Kofun Period] [continuity]   Update here

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  General Description  
The last segment of the Kofun period is often designated by historians as Asuka period on the basis of the intoduction of the Buddhism religion in 538 CE. [1] [2] As a consequence the historical period "Asuka" overlaps with the archaeological period "Kofun" until 710 CE.The Asuka period can be divided into two main phases. The first phase covers the period (572-645 CE) when four successive heads of the Soga clan were leading figures at court: Saga no Iname, Saga no Umako, Siga no Emishi, and Soga no Ir. The second period is the phase after the violent overthrow of the Soga which was dominated by Tenchi Tenno, his brother Temmu Tenno, and Temmu’s widow Jito Tenno from 645 to 692. It ends with the abdication of Jito Tenno in favor of her son Mommu and the move of the capital to the Heijō Palace of Nara. [3]
Population and political organization
In this period there is the establishment of a central administrative control with the introduction of the Ritsuryo law system based on Chinese style law codes. [1] [4] The introduction of Buddhism in Japan was favoured by the Soga clan, a Japanese court family, which acquired political prominence with the ascension of the emperor Kimmei in 531. [5] The Soga clan intoduced Chinese model-based fiscal policies, etsablished the first national treasury and promoted trade links with the Korean peninsula. [6] With the Taika reform the size of large burial tumuli (kofun) was strongly decreased by imperial decree. [7] The disappearance of large tumuli coincided with the emergence of a marked pyramidal hierarchy indicated by the difference in the burial assemblage. [8] In the seventh century a deceased person was buried in individual, very small round tumuli, which were much smaller than the preceding monumental mounded tombs. However, burial tumuli disapperead at the end of the seventh century. [8] [9] During this period elites began devoting resources to the building of Buddhist temples, which explains the reduction in size of tombs [10] [11]
We have estimated the population of Kansai to be between 1.5 million and 2 million people in 600 CE, and between 2 million and 3 million by 700 CE. [12] [13]

[1]: G. Barnes, 2007. State formation in Japan: Emergence of a 4th-century ruling elite. Routledge, 15.

[2]: Brooks, T, 2013. "Early Japanese Urbanism: A Study of the Urbanism of Proto-historic Japan and Continuities from the Yayoi to the Asuka Periods."Unpublished thesis, Sydney University, 11.

[3]: Brown, D., 1993.The Cambridge History of Japan, vol. 2.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 164-190.

[4]: Farris, WW 1998, Sacred Texts and Buried Treasures: Issues in Historical Archaeology of Ancient Japan, University of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu.

[5]: McCallum, D. F., 2009. The Four Great Temples: Buddhist Archaeology, Architecture, and Icons of Seventh-Century Japan. Honolulu: University of Haway Press, 19-21.

[6]: Brown, D., 1993.The Cambridge History of Japan, vol. 2.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 163-164.

[7]: K. Mizoguchi, 2013 The Archaeology of Japan. From the Earliest Rice Farming Villages to the Rise of the State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 319.

[8]: K. Mizoguchi, 2013. The Archaeology of Japan. From the Earliest Rice Farming Villages to the Rise of the State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 320.

[9]: Barnes, GL 1993, China, Korea and Japan: The Rise of Civilization in East Asia, Thames and Hudson, London, 251-255.

[10]: Brooks, T, 2013. "Early Japanese Urbanism: A Study of the Urbanism of Proto-historic Japan and Continuities from the Yayoi to the Asuka Periods."Unpublished thesis, Sydney University, 43.

[11]: K. Mizoguchi, 2013. The Archaeology of Japan. From the Earliest Rice Farming Villages to the Rise of the State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 322-323.

[12]: Kidder, J. E., 2007. Himiko and Japan’s elusive chiefdom of Yamatai: archaeology, history, and mythology. University of Hawaii Press, 60.

[13]: Koyama, S., 1978. Jomon Subsistence and Population. Senri Ethnological Studies 2. Osaka: National Museum of Ethnology

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Asuka (jp_asuka) was in:
 (538 CE 709 CE) Kansai
Home NGA: Kansai

General Variables
Identity and Location Asuka (jp_asuka)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 53 S 538 CE  710 CE
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Original Name Kansai - Asuka Period 538 CE  710 CE
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Capital 538 CE  710 CE
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Capital 538 CE  710 CE
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Capital 538 CE  710 CE
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Capital 538 CE  710 CE
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Alternative Name Asuka period in Kinki region 538 CE  710 CE
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Alternative Name Asuka period in Kinai region 538 CE  710 CE
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Alternative Name Late Kofun period in Kinki region 538 CE  710 CE
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Alternative Name Late Kofun period in Kinai region 538 CE  710 CE
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Temporal Bounds Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Duration [538 CE ➜ 710 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Suprapolity Relations 538 CE  710 CE
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Supracultural Entity 538 CE  710 CE
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Supracultural Entity 538 CE  710 CE
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Succeeding Entity Kansai - Nara Period 538 CE  710 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 538 CE  710 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 538 CE  710 CE
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Preceding Entity
continuity; Kanai - Kofun Period [continuity]    Update here
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Degree of Centralization 538 CE  710 CE
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Language Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Linguistic Family Japonic 538 CE  710 CE
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Language 538 CE  710 CE
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Religion Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Polity Territory 600 CE 710 CE
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Polity Population 538 CE 600 CE
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Polity Population 601 CE 709 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Settlement Hierarchy 538 CE  710 CE
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Religious Level 538 CE  710 CE
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Military Level 538 CE  710 CE
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Administrative Level 538 CE  710 CE
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Professions Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Professional Soldier 538 CE  710 CE
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Professional Priesthood 538 CE  710 CE
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Professional Military Officer 538 CE  710 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Specialized Government Building 538 CE  710 CE
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Merit Promotion 538 CE  710 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 538 CE  710 CE
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Examination System 538 CE  710 CE
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Law Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Professional Lawyer 538 CE  710 CE
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Judge 538 CE  710 CE
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538 CE  710 CE
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Irrigation System 538 CE  710 CE
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Food Storage Site 538 CE  710 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Road 538 CE  710 CE
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Port 538 CE  710 CE
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Canal 538 CE  710 CE
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Bridge 538 CE  710 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Information / Writing System Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Written Record 538 CE  710 CE
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Script 538 CE  710 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 538 CE  710 CE
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Nonwritten Record 538 CE  710 CE
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Non Phonetic Writing 538 CE  710 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Scientific Literature 538 CE  710 CE
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Sacred Text 538 CE  710 CE
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Religious Literature 538 CE  710 CE
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Practical Literature 538 CE  710 CE
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Philosophy 538 CE  710 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 538 CE  710 CE
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History 538 CE  710 CE
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Fiction 538 CE  710 CE
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Calendar 538 CE  710 CE
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Information / Money Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Token 538 CE  710 CE
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Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 538 CE  710 CE
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Indigenous Coin 538 CE  710 CE
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Foreign Coin 538 CE  710 CE
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Article 538 CE  710 CE
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Information / Postal System Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Postal Station 538 CE  710 CE
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General Postal Service 538 CE  710 CE
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Courier 538 CE  710 CE
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Information / Measurement System Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Geometrical Measurement System 538 CE  710 CE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Wooden Palisade 538 CE  710 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared 538 CE  710 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 538 CE  710 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position 538 CE  710 CE
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Modern Fortification 538 CE  710 CE
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Moat 538 CE  710 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Earth Rampart 538 CE  710 CE
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Ditch 538 CE  710 CE
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Complex Fortification 538 CE  710 CE
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Long Wall absent 538 CE  710 CE
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Military use of Metals Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Steel 538 CE  710 CE
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Iron 538 CE  710 CE
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Copper 538 CE  710 CE
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Bronze 538 CE  710 CE
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Projectiles Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Tension Siege Engine 538 CE  710 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 538 CE  710 CE
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Sling 538 CE  710 CE
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Self Bow 538 CE  710 CE
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Javelin 538 CE  710 CE
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Handheld Firearm 538 CE  710 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 538 CE  710 CE
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Crossbow 538 CE  710 CE
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Composite Bow 538 CE  710 CE
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Atlatl 538 CE  710 CE
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Handheld weapons Asuka (jp_asuka)
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War Club 538 CE  710 CE
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Sword 538 CE  710 CE
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Spear 538 CE  710 CE
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Polearm 538 CE  710 CE
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Dagger 538 CE  710 CE
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Battle Axe 538 CE  710 CE
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Animals used in warfare Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Horse 538 CE  710 CE
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Elephant 538 CE  710 CE
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Donkey Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Camel 538 CE  710 CE
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Armor Asuka (jp_asuka)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Shield 538 CE  710 CE
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Scaled Armor 538 CE  710 CE
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Plate Armor 538 CE  710 CE
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Limb Protection 538 CE  710 CE
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Leather Cloth 538 CE  710 CE
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Laminar Armor 538 CE  710 CE
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Helmet 538 CE  710 CE
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Chainmail 538 CE  710 CE
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Breastplate 538 CE  710 CE
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Naval technology Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Specialized Military Vessel 538 CE  710 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc 538 CE  710 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 538 CE  710 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Asuka (jp_asuka)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 538 CE  710 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 538 CE  710 CE
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Human Sacrifice Asuka (jp_asuka)
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Instability Data
Power Transitions