The Korean ancestors advanced into the Japanese archipelago long time ago to exert a big influence on its development of politics, economy and culture. In particular, they created the Asuka culture of Japan.

The Asuka culture, developed in Asuka area of Nara Prefecture, Japan, is reemergence of the Korean nation's culture in the period of the Three Kingdoms (early 3rd century B.C. - middle 7th century A.D.) as it came into being under the direct influence of Koguryo, Paekje and others.

Still now, Asuka area has many architectures and historical relics and remains showing the then cultural development like Horyuji Temple and the Koguryo-style mural of Takamats tomb.

According to historical records, Koguryo dispatched Buddhist priests, technicians and scholars to the Yamato state tens of times as well as state missions.

A record tells that Koguryo granted 11.25 kilograms of gold for gilding a Buddhist image to be installed at Asuka Temple when it was completed.

A number of painters from Koguryo like Tam Jing drew murals of Buddhist temples in Japan.

Paekje, too, made a significant contribution to the development of the Asuka culture.

Who played a big role in disseminating the Korean nation's culture to Japan is To Ri, a sculptor and craftsman of Korea active in Japan between the 6th and 7th centuries. His family went over to Japan in 522.

Typical of his works are a big gilt-bronze image of Buddha at Asuka Temple and a gilt-bronze three images of Shakyamuni Tathagata at Horyuji Temple.

The gilt-bronze three images of Shakyamuni Tathagata symbolizing the Asuka culture were created in 623 at the request of a royal family of Japan. To Ri is regarded as the person who gave origin to the Japanese sculpture history.

Thanks to such excellent and wise Korean ancestors like To Ri, the Japanese culture, once backward, came to enter a period of efflorescence.

As seen above, the Asuka culture is of strong Korean coloring.