Yamatai facts for kids

The Yamatai was a very powerful country in ancient Japan. It existed from the early 2nd century to the end of the 3rd century. The land was known as Wa back then. Wa is the oldest name for Japan that we know from written records.

A Chinese book called the Wei Zhi Worenshuan tells us about Yamatai. This country became strong when about 30 smaller parts of Japan joined together. They united under a queen named Himiko. Yamatai was also known for trading with Wei. Wei was a powerful Chinese dynasty at that time.

Where Was the Yamatai Kingdom Located?

No one knows exactly where the Yamatai kingdom was. Some archaeologists, who study old things, disagree about its location. They debate if it was in northern Kyushu or in the central Kinki region of Japan. Finding its exact spot is a big mystery for historians!

Images for kids

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  Text of the Wei Zhi (around 297 AD)