The Asuka period is a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 (or 592-645), although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period.

The Yamato polity evolves greatly during the Asuka period, which is named after the Asuka region, about twenty-five kilometers south of the modern city of Nara.The Asuka period is known for its significant artistic, social, and political transformations, having their origins in the late Kofun period but largely affected by the arrival of Buddhism from China.

The introduction of Buddhism marks a change in Japanese society.

The Asuka period is also distinguished by the change in the name of the country from Wa to Nihon.Artistically, the period can be further divided into two periods: the Asuka period (up to the Taika Reforms), when early Buddhist cultural imports and influences from Northern Wei are prevalent; and the Hakuhō period (after the Taika Reform), in which more Sui and Tang influences appear.