552 CE
Buddhism's really starting to catch on. Makes me feel good inside. The king of Paekche, Korea, sent an image of me to Japanese Emperor Kimmei along with some sacred writings. I think this is when the Japanese really caught on to the whole Buddhism thing. See, there was kind of a war about it. I know, it sounds dumb, but people are so serious about their beliefs that these things happen. See, there was the Soga clan in Japan that was pretty unpopular at the time. No one really recognized them, and between you and me, they smelled kind of funky. Then there were the Mononobe. They were a clan of traditional warriors who didn't want any change to occur in Japan. Well, the Soga started to bathe more frequently and started to preach the word of me. Japan liked it so the Soga clan became popular. They eventually won out over the Mononobe. It's so nice to be helpful! This was what truly marked the cultural awakening of Japan. Known as the Asuka period, it marked the Golden Age of Buddhism. This became one of the best times of my life.

558 CE
Hey! Guess what's erect! That's right, the FIRST BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN JAPAN!! I was so excited to finally see it finished I may have wet myself. Oh but first, I have to tell you about this sculptor Kuratsukuribe no Tasuna. He did the nicest thing. He wanted to make a sculpture in memory of Emperor Yômei and so he created a sixteen foot sculpture of me. Isn't that wonderful? I think so. Oh crap, my rice is done, I have to go. I'll write more later!

607 CE
Okay, sorry for not updating for awhile. Being reborn all the time makes you forget that forty-nine years is quite a bit. But anyway, the Hôryû-ji was completed and I had to tell you all about it. First off, check out this picture. Awesome, right? In the main hall they put Kuratsukuribe no Tori's Buddha sculpture. It was beautiful.

645 CE
There is a large dispute that this year started the Nara period but I think it did. I mean, the Soga family was overthrown and all these Chinese ideals started to come into Japan, so I see it as the new age. Anyway, my values kind of took a backseat to those of China during this reform (they called it that Taika Reform, by the way --- what a crappy name! "Budda" has a nicer ring to it, don't you think?). It wasn't only upsetting, but annoying as well. I mean, I have no problem with people choosing their own belief, but the Chinese values just didn't fit the economical structure of Japan. It was so stupid! But they made it work, I guess. I have to blame Prince Shôtoku. He made direct contact with China and caused this whole mess. But it's not all bad. The Japanese decided to start making art just like the Chinese, of course. I think this will work out well because the Chinese are dumb and don't know how to preserve anything. The Japanese, on the other hand, are taking good care of their art. When I thought about this for the first time it kind of made me laugh, because people will be studying Japanese art someday to see the Chinese style. Kind of funny, eh?

710 CE
Okay, Emperor Temmu is so weird! He had the entire Yakushi-Ji monistary moved to Nara! Why, you ask? Because he thought it would cure his wife's eye disease. I thought that was funny so I decided to write about it. Otherwise, not much is going on right now. *Sigh*...

741 CE
Finally! Emperor Shômu just decided to issue an edict that orders every province to have a monistary built. Suffice to say, Buddhism is back, baby! Not that it ever really left, but things are picking up at a much more exciting level now. I think I can now rest assured that Buddhism has a safe future in Japan.