538
| Years: 534 535 536 537 - 538 - 539 540 541 542 | |
| Decades: 500s 510s 520s - 530s - 540s 550s 560s | |
| Centuries: 5th century - 6th century - 7th century | |
Events
- End of the Kofun and beginning of the Asuka period, the second part of the Yamato period in Japan.
- Buddhism introduced formally into Japan (by some accounts; see also 552).
- End of the Ostrogothic siege of Rome.
- Gabhran becomes king of Dalriada.
- Emperor Bidatsu of Japan
- Gregory of Tours, bishop and historian
- Zhiyi, de facto founder of Tiantai Buddhism