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