Taika, meaning 'great change' was the term adopted for the era under emperor Tenji (661 - 671) when his chief minister, Fujiwara, attempted to adapt the entire political and social system of T'ang China to Japan.

The Reform began with land reform, based on Confucian ideas and philosophies from China, but the true aim of the reforms was to bring about greater centralization and to enhance the power of the imperial court, which was also based on the governmental structure of China.

Envoys and students were dispatched to China to learn everything from the Chinese writing system, literature, religion, and architecture.