| 1368–1644 |
Ming Dynasty in China |
| 1405–1433 |
Zheng He’s naval expeditions |
| 1407–1420 |
Construction of Beijing as Chinese capital |
| 1467–1600 |
Period of civil war in Japan |
| ca. 1500–1600 |
Increased availability of books for general audiences in China |
| 1549 |
First Jesuit missionaries land in Japan |
| 1557 |
Portuguese set up trading base at Macao |
| 1603–1867 |
Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan |
| 1615 |
Battle of Osaka leads to persecution of Christians in Japan |
| 1629 |
Tokugawa government bans actresses from the stage |
| 1639 |
Japan closes its borders |
| 1644–1911 |
Qing Dynasty in China |
| 1793 |
Lord Macartney’s diplomatic visit to China |