{{JapanJapan

An archipelago of over An archipelago of over 4,000 islands (4 4,000 islands (4 biggest are Honshu, biggest are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku)Shikoku)

Sea of Japan to the Sea of Japan to the west, Pacific Ocean to west, Pacific Ocean to the east, East China the east, East China Sea to the southSea to the south

Geography

MountainoMountainousus

VolcanoesVolcanoes EarthquakeEarthquake

ss Tidal waves Tidal waves

(Tsunami)(Tsunami) Very little Very little

arable arable landland

Japan is close enough to China and Japan is close enough to China and Korea for cultural diffusion, but far Korea for cultural diffusion, but far enough away to avoid being invaded.enough away to avoid being invaded.

Chinese influence

Beginning in the 600’s Beginning in the 600’s AD, Japanese sent AD, Japanese sent diplomatic missions to diplomatic missions to China to learn about China to learn about culture so they could culture so they could imitate itimitate it

Imitation of Chinese Imitation of Chinese CultureCulture

The oldest form of Japanese writing is The oldest form of Japanese writing is based off Chinese writing from around based off Chinese writing from around the 400’s ADthe 400’s AD

Kanji:Kanji:

They also imitated Chinese They also imitated Chinese architecturearchitecture

ArchitectureArchitecture

JapaneseJapanese ChineseChinese

JapaneseJapanese ChineseChinese

Buddhism spread to Japan Buddhism spread to Japan through China and Korea. through China and Korea.

Japanese adopted Chinese formsJapanese adopted Chinese formsof Buddhismof Buddhism

BuddhismBuddhism

Shinto is the ancient religion Shinto is the ancient religion of Japan.of Japan.

It emphasizes the worship of It emphasizes the worship of Kami, the spirits in all things: Kami, the spirits in all things: nature, ancestors, and the nature, ancestors, and the emperoremperor

Buddhism and Shintoism Buddhism and Shintoism coexist in Japan.coexist in Japan.

ShintoShinto

The Japanese emperor is the The Japanese emperor is the highest figure in Shintoism and is highest figure in Shintoism and is considered to be a descendent of considered to be a descendent of the godsthe gods

He rarely held much real political He rarely held much real political power thoughpower though Most power was controlled by powerful Most power was controlled by powerful

clansclans

Japanese EmperorJapanese Emperor

Japanese society was organized into clans along Japanese society was organized into clans along feudal linesfeudal lines

Those clans often fought each other for power Those clans often fought each other for power and landand land

Japan experienced nearly constant warfareJapan experienced nearly constant warfare

Open your books to page 361Open your books to page 361

How are European and Japanese feudalism How are European and Japanese feudalism different?different?

FeudalismFeudalism

Samurai were the Japanese Samurai were the Japanese equivalent of knightsequivalent of knights

They adhered to a very strict They adhered to a very strict code of conduct similar to code of conduct similar to chivalry called chivalry called bushidobushido

Bushido emphasizes fairness, Bushido emphasizes fairness, loyalty, and military prowessloyalty, and military prowess

SamuraiSamurai