Primary source materials may contain language or images that are considered to be offensive in today's world.
These materials are a reflection of the language and culture of the time period in which they were written.
| Jōmon Period | ca. 13,000-1000 BCE |
| Yayoi Period | ca. 1000-250 BCE |
| Kofun Period | 250 BCE-538 CE |
| Asuka Period | 538-710 CE |
| Nara Period | 710-794 CE |
| Heian Period | 794-1185 CE |
| Kamakura* Period | 1185-1333 CE |
| Muromachi* Period | 1333-1568 CE |
| Azuchi-Momoyama* Period | 1568-1600 CE |
| Edo Period | 1600-1868 CE |
| Meiji Period | 1868-1912 CE |
| Taishō Period | 1912-1926 CE |
| Shōwa Period | 1926-1989 CE |
| Heisei Period | 1989-2019 CE |
| Reiwa Period | 2019-present CE |
*Feudal Japan