History of Teiko

The history of Teiko includes the history of the islands of Teiko and the Teikonian people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history of Teiko as a federal kingdom nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Teikonian archipelago fostered human development. The earliest-known pottery found in Teiko belongs to the Jōmon period. The first known written reference to Teiko is in the brief information given in Book of Han in the 1st century AD. The main cultural and religious influences came from China. Japanese influence and rule in Teiko began during the Yamato collective term for the Kofun and Asuka period in 250 AD.

In 710, the Yamato rule ended with the rise of the Kuroko clan taking over the provinces of Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga in the island of Daichi. The current Royal House emerged in 736 but it never took its formal form since 1894 when Prince Akihiro was crowned as the first monarch of the Kingdom of Teiko. From 736 until 1185, Teiko was fragmented into different domains controlled by a local daimyo, each with his own force of samurai warriors. After a long civil war between the two largest clans in Daichi, Akashi clan and Kuroko clan, the two came into an agreement known as the Code of Amakusa wherein both factions decided to peacefully establish the boundaries and create law regulating trade.

In 1155, members of the dissolved Tachibana clan established their presence at the present-day, Kaijo. The ancestors of the Tachibana clan were powerful figures in the Japanese Imperial Court during the Nara and Heian period. In 1185, a unification attempt by the remnants of the Tachibana clan supported by the Emperor of Japan failed ending with the division of Teiko into northern Daichi supported by Japan and southern Daichi governed by the Kuroko clan. Mongol invasion of Teiko in 1274 and 1281 shifted the attention to external problems rather than internal conflicts.

After failed unification attempts in 1185, 1335 and 1476, 1520 and 1569 Teiko was finally unified by Kuroko Masamune after winning the decisive Battle of Dazaifu against the Tachibana clan in 1577. The first account of European arrival in Teiko was recorded in 1543 in the present day City of Dojimazaki. The short lived expansion of the Kuroko clan came to an end when the clan suffered defeat in the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587. The present day Kamizaki Prefecture and Kaijo was placed under Hideyoshi's rule and was only returned to Teiko in 1870.

During the Battle of Sekigahara, the Kuroko clan sided with the Western Army (Anti-Tokugawa forces) and lost. The whole region of Daichi and its surrounding islands became a colony under the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1853, pressure from foreign powers which continued to damage the Tokugawa government allowing Okita Sōjirō to virtually took control of the Satsuma Domain (parts of the present day Johto Prefecture and Takezaki Prefecture). In 1865, Sojiro entered the Satchō Alliance with the Chōshū Domain. The Tokugawa rule ended as the result of the Boshin War.

The State of Teiko was formally established in 1870 with Himura Kenshin becoming its first premier. Growing intense economic disparity between the people from the capital and Teiko led to Saga Rebellion in 1874 and Satsuma rebellion in 1877 of which both were suppressed with the Kuroko clan relieved from their official duties. In 1893, the Kaijo Mutiny led by Himura Kenshin who seek to restore the Kuroko clan brought an end to Japanese rule and the proclamation of the Kingdom of Teiko with Prince Akihiro becoming the first monarch of Teiko. In 1985 until 1942, Teiko experienced rapid modernization as it opened itself to foreigners.

Teiko suffered massive destruction during World War 2 and was rebuilt with foreign help in 1946. Diplomatic relationships with Japan was fully restored in 1954. Continuous fights among political parties and the Prince of Teiko led to the 1984 Teiko Constitutional Crises which culminated in the abdication of Prince Hideyoshi in 1986. Since the adoption of the Teiko Constitution of 1985, Teiko had began to take its modern form as a federal kingdom with a ceremonial prince with an elected premier and unicameral legislature called Teiko Royal Council.

First Human Settlements in Teikō (30,000 B.C. – 10,000 B.C.)
Although it is unsure when the first human settlement appeared in Teikō, most researchers agreed that the earliest record of inhabitants in the island of Daichi was recorded at around 30,000 B.C. where in Adi Mans supposedly ventured in the unfamiliar land looking for a new settlement via the land bridges that connects Daichi to Russia and Alaska. The Palaeolithic people existed in Daichi until around 10,000 B.C. where they were displaced by a distinctively different group of people, the Jomon.

Among the few significant evidences of their appearances includes the human bones which were recently found in the Makoto Prefecture just around 200km from the border of Rakuzan City and have been nicknamed as the Makoto Dojin. These remains are approximately dated to be about 31,000 years old. Another important discovery includes the premature stone weapons discovered in Hara Prefecture which was suggested to be used by early Teikōnians for hunting and can be dated back to around 29,000 B.C. Despite this however, a few claims that suggest early settlements to date back as early as 45,000 – 60,000 B.C. still remains and are still disputed but not widely accepted. The Palaeolithic people of Teikō most likely survived on fish, berries, fruits and nuts. A set of traps was also discovered among the relics unearthed during the 1967 Teikō Archaeological Expedition which suggested to be used for hunting wild animals such as boar and Naumann elephants, the predecessors of mammoths. These traps have been dated to have existed around 25,000 to 26,000 years ago.

In 1932, Prof. Yamada Hideori, former Dean of the College of Social Sciences of the University of Kaijou asserted that the possibility of the land bridges is impossible due to the separation of the Teikō Tectonic Plate from the Eurasian Plate. Yamada mentioned that while it is true that the Adi Man can be considered as the first trace of human beings in island, they have not reached Teikō through walking but via sailing. He asserted that remains of ships and small fune discovered along the shores of the Hayama suggest possible origins of the earliest mankind in Teikō. His claim was however refuted in 1956 during the period of modern geology wherein it was shown that there is no Teikō Tectonic Plate and that Daichi Island is part of the collision between the Eurasian Plate, the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. Prof. Yamada’s claim however opened a new discovery about the arrivals of the Ni Man during the early 1300s.

Archaeologists believe that the Adi Man arrived in Daichi through two different routes using land bridges, one from the north and one from the south. Recent DNA analysis suggests that the early inhabitants of Teikō are people that have migrated from southern Asia and current day Russia.

Jomon Period (10,000 B.C. – 400 B.C.)
The birth of stable living settlements and patters in Teikō occurred during the arrival of the Jomon people around 10,000 B.C. Artefacts unearthed have suggested that Jomon people have started creating open-clay pit vessels decorated with different unorthodox patterns created rom pressing wet clay with unbraided or braided sticks and plaited cord. The Jomon period is usually divided into six different periods and the division of these eras are mostly based on the changes of pottery types.

Jomon people also showed to have already used rudimentary forms of agriculture and wood stilt houses suggesting possibilities for permanent communities. Majority of the Jomon people are already considered as semi-sedentary hunter-gatherers. There are also no signs of weaving and clothes were often made of fur. The period is rich with tools and jewelry made from bone, stone, shell and antler; pottery figurines and vessels; and lacquer wood.

Incipient Jomon (10,000 B.C. – 8,000 B.C.)

The era of incipient Jomon has been widely debated by historians and archaeologists due to the fact that there is only one evidence that shows the existence of the period, the small fragments of clay pots discovered along the Teppei Mountain ranges. It is also unknown what purpose the pots served. Many historians believe that they are used for storing food as usage of clay pots is usually associated with culture that practices agriculture. However, there has also been no concrete evidence that showed agricultural practices during the Incipient Jomon Period.

Initial Jomon (8,000 B.C. – 5,000 B.C.)

Indications for initial Jomon show that usage of pots has greatly changed and has become more of a household utensil. Initial Jomon pots are usually produced for cooking and boiling food. They have tampered bases and have bullet-shape structures. Although it lacks enough citation, many historians believe that the advent of agriculture and cooking have started from the Initial Jomon Period.

Early Jomon (5,000 B.C. – 2,500 B.C.)

The Early Jomon Period was characterized by formation of large towns and communities. The propagation of agriculture quickly spread throughout the island as this period is considered to have been the warmest in Earth’s history. This advent of agriculture made them live a more sedentary lifestyle. Simple clay figurines have been unearthed but it is still unclear on what purpose they serve on.

In 2010, the Teikō National University launched a joint project with the Historical Preservation Committee on the excavation of a believed Early Jomon village near Suginami. In the project, a few scattered relics have been found such as clay pots, daggers and traces of bones radioactively imprinted inside stones but until now there is no concrete evidence for the pot’s purpose.

Middle Jomon (2,500 – 1,500 B.C.)

During this period, it is believed that the Middle Jomon people migrated from the mountainous Teppei ranges into the Mizutani plains and have used more sophisticated form of agriculture such as irrigation systems. Clay pots discovered for this period have become more complex and the first evidences for lucky charms and talismans have also been discovered as figurines appeared. Distinct clay figurines have been believed to be aliens who have visited the Jomon People from the outer space or toys for children. It is also believed that the figurines can bring in good health and luck as well as a healthy childbirth.

Late Jomon (1,500 B.C. – 1,000 B.C.)

There is rather no vital information that could truly describe the Late Jomon Period except for the increase of clay figurines discovered and stone rods produced during this period. Also, majority of the pots are classified to have been produced during the Late Jomon Period. Historians assert that the Jomon people continued to thrive in huge communities as amount of rainfall have increased for this period.

Final Jomon (1,000 B.C. – 400 B.C.)

The final Jomon Period was characterized by sophisticated harpoon technology. Excavations have showed an increase of female figurines which suggests that they have developed a religion towards goddess worship. Also there are several stones dating in this period which is believed to be used for rituals.

Yayaoi Period (400 B.C. – 250 A.D.)
The Yayaoi Period is an Iron Age era in the history of Teikō. It was named after an area in Dojimazaki where archaeologists’ first uncovered pottery relics that differed from the Jomon Period were discovered. Distinguished characteristics of the Yayaoi Period include the appearance of new pottery styles and start of intensive rice agriculture in paddy areas. Techniques in the use of iron and bronze have also been introduced in this period. It is believed that the Yayaoi culture flourished from the southern Daichi until parts of Hayama Prefecture.

Although, most historians believe that people from the island of Honshu traversed the current Strait of Teikō to reach Daichi and settled there for quite a time. On whether what basis or reason did these people travelled to Teikō, historians are still in debate. Some like Shimura Izo, former president of the Teikō Historical Center believes that the drying out of the rivers in the upper portion of Honshu forced mass migration to Teikō. However, a few people disregard this idea and proposed that those who have migrated to Teikō were not forced but rather choose to travel to Teikō. Geologic experts say that there is only a slim chance that such possibility is viable but evidences for such theorem has been appearing recently. Most recent theories however supports that indeed the Yayaoi people have been forced to migrate from Honshu to Teikō.

Although the Yayaoi people and the Jomon people live relatively close to each other, there has not been any concrete evidence of the interaction of the two. It is believed that the two lived fairly independent of each other. Historians also reckon that the two cultures has both distinct qualities. Unearthed evidence shows that Yayaoi people have started to use iron for agricultural purposes. It is also noted that while clay pots from Jomon Period are produced by hand, Yayaoi pots are produced from potter’s wheel. However, this is still widely debated as to whether the potter’s wheel discovered in Dojimazaki really belonged to the Yayaoi people or not.

Asuka Period (538 – 710)
The first mention of Teikō in international written works occurred during the 539. The Chinese scrolls discovered along the Yellow River mentions people of different culture and have traveled up north. It is presumed that the scrolls were referring to Teikōnian people. It has also been solidified as relics found along the coast of Teikō towards the current Teikō Sea shows that there has been interaction between early Chinese people and Teikōnians through barter trade.