The period of arrival of the Toraijin can be divided into four categories: 2nd to 3rd century BC, around the 5th century BC The period when the Five kings of Wa ruled, late 5th – 6th century, and seventh century.[1]
Kofun and Asuka periods
During the Kofun period and the turbulent Three Kingdoms period of Korea, there was extensive migrations from Korean polities to the Japanese archipelago, particularly from Baekje and Gaya confederacy, both of which developed friendship as well as economic and military alliances with Yamato Kingship. The Wa elites, such as Yamato elites in Kinki, Tsukushi elites in Fukuoka and Kibi elites in Okayama, sought to establish socio-political advantages in the archipelago and welcomed and integrated the newcomers with peninsular goods and advanced technology.[5]
These immigrants settled and re-established themselves as farmers, iron technicians, horse breeders, merchants and traders, dam builders, craftsmen, among others, earning them the name Imaki no Tehito (今來才技, “recently arrived skilled artisans”) in the Nihon Shoki.[5] Groups arriving from the peninsula have settled in and formed communities in various parts of the archipelago, including Fukuoka in northern Kyushu to Okayama on the Inland Sea, to the Kyoto–Osaka– Nara area, to Gunma north of Tokyo, and as far as Sendai in northeastern Honshu.
In 552 AD, King Seong of Baekje sent envoys to the Yamato court, bringing Buddha statues and Buddhist classics, and Buddhist culture was also introduced to Japan. After Buddhism was introduced to Japan, it became one of the main religions in Japan and a part of today's Japanese culture.
While migrants initially settled in Kyushu due to geographic proximity to the peninsula, by the fourth century, migrants had shifted their destination to the Kinki region, the core base of the Yamato elites, of Nara, Osaka, Kyoto, and Otsu region.
After entering the Asuka period, many Japanese royals and ministers believed in Buddhism, such as Prince Shōtoku and Soga Mako, and devoted themselves to promoting Buddhism. The reason why Baekje people went to Japan was that Japan asked Baekje for craftsmen and doctors of the Five Classics [ja] and escaped from Goguryeo.[6]
The Yamato basin was the home of powerful clans with Toraijin roots, such as the Soga clan with Baekje origins and which emerged as the most powerful clan in the Yamato by the middle of 6th century, and the Yamatonoaya clan with roots in the Gaya confederacy and Baekje. Notably, early in the eighth century, Lady Takano Niigasa, a member of the Yamatonoaya clan, married the Yamato Prince Shirakabe (the future King Kōnin) and gave birth to Yamanobe in 737 in Nara, who was enthroned in 781 as Emperor Kanmu.[5]
Other notable Toraijin clans with imperial ties included Kudara no Konikishi clan and Yamato no Fuhito clan, both of Baekje descent. Other representative Toraijin groups of the 4th and 5th centuries were the Hata clan and the Kawachinofumi clan. These Toraijins possessed superior technology and ability, and were fundamental to Japan's nation-building. The Hata clan is descended from Yuzuki no Kimi, who came from Silla on the Korean Peninsula around the 4th or 5th century (Hadan may be their place of origin). Yuzuki no Kimi came to Kyushu with 30,000 to 40,000 laborers from 127 prefectures. They served the Yamato royal court as officials in charge of finances. His headquarters was originally located in Yamaboshi, Kyoto, but he later moved to Uzumasa (Kyoto City). Along with their activities in the center of Japan, the descendants of the Hata extended their influence nationwide, from Owari and Mino to Bicchu and Chiku.[1]
In the 7th century, exiles from Baekje, which had been defeated at the Battle of Baekgang, entered Japan. The technology and culture brought by the Toraijin contributed to the advanced development of Japan at that time.[1][7] Toraijin occupied an important position in the military and political affairs of the Yamato regime due to their advanced skills in arms manufacturing, weaving, and agriculture. They also made significant contributions to the development of Japanese culture.[2]