The Yamato clan was the first clan to take leadership over the other clans. Established in 400 BC, they lasted till 794 BC. The clan claimed to be descendents of the sun goddess Amaterasu, one of the gods of the Shinto religion. Before the Yamato, Japanese tribes  had worshipped thousands of different gods. They eventually combined into one religion, named “Shinto”, or the way of the gods.

Chinese influence had spread to Japan through Korean traders, and the Japanese adapted it in their government, culture, and religion, while making it uniquely their own. For example, Buddhism was accepted as the main religion of the Imperial Court but it was remixed with some of the preexisting Shinto customs to make a unique blend.