• Japan, 1-500 A.D. [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
"Around the third century A.D., the practice of building sepulchral mounds and burying treasures with the dead is transmitted to Japan from the continent. The next three centuries are known as the Kofun period, so-named for the many large mounded tombs (kofun) that are built during this time." With a period overview, list of key events, and seven related artworks.

• Kofun Period [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of five artworks in the museum's collection.

• Early Japan (50,000 BC - 710 AD) [About Japan: A Teacher's Resource]
An overview of Japanese history from 50,000 BCE to 710 CE. Section 4 is about the Kofun Period.

• Haniwa Warriors [Smart History]
"Haniwa ('clay cylinder' or 'circle of clay' in Japanese) are large hollow, earthenware funerary objects found in Japan. Massive quantities of haniwa—many nearly life sized—were carefully placed on top of colossal, mounded tombs, known as kofun ('old tomb' in Japanese). During the Kofun Period (c. 250 to c. 600 C.E.)...haniwa occupied and marked the open surfaces of the colossal tombs...Unlike many other ancient civilizations, we cannot rely on written records to inform us about the names or locations of the earliest kingdoms in Japan. Yet study of kofun indicate that a powerful state had emerged by around 250 C.E. This state is identified by various names (such as the Yamato polity), and was generally centered in what is now Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka prefectures.…vast resources were needed to construct these monumental tombs—starting with the economic means to sacrifice valuable flat land that could otherwise be used for farming and growing rice. Hundreds of workers were also necessary." The site provides visuals of the haniwa and the large ancient tombs in keyhole shape.

• Japan, 500-1000 A.D. [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
"The introduction of Buddhism to the Japanese archipelago from China and Korea in the sixth century causes momentous changes amounting to a fundamentally different way of life for the Japanese. Along with the foreign faith, Japan establishes and maintains for 400 years close connections with the Chinese and Korean courts and adopts a more sophisticated culture." With a period overview, list of key events, and five related artworks.

• Powerful Soga clan in ancient Japan likely of Korean origin [Asahi Shimbun]

• Japan Rediscovers its Korean Past [New York Times]

• Asuka and Nara Periods [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of three artworks in the museum's collection.

• Early Japan (50,000 BC - 710 AD) [About Japan: A Teacher's Resource]
An overview of Japanese history from 50,000 BCE to 710 CE. Section 5 is about the Asuka period (called the Yamato period in this article).

• Japanese Buddhism [The Art of Asia, Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
A transcript of a video unit on Buddhism in Japan. See also the original media in flash.

• Buddhism in Japan [Asia Society]
"A short history of Buddhism, with special focus on its introduction and development in Japan. Includes an exploration of Zen Buddhism and art imagery."

• The Origins of Buddhism [Asia Society]
"A short essay that explores how Buddhism grew out of Hinduism and spread from India to the rest of Asia. How does Buddhism vary from place to place, sect to sect? Learn about how the spread of ideas combine of new beliefs with existing thoughts and practices."

AFE Special Topic Guide • Buddhism [OMuRAA, Asia for Educators]
AFE's compilation of recommended resources about Buddhism on OMuRAA, Online Museum Resources on Asian Art.