5-1 Notes: Early Japan

Japan’s Geography• Japan is a chain of islands

(over 3,000) in the Pacific Ocean

• Most of Japan covered by mountains, volcanoes – only 20% of land is suitable for farming

• To meet food needs, many Japanese turned to the sea

• Constant contact with sea compelled the Japanese to build many villages by the sea and trade by boat

• Japan was difficult to reach, and so it developed a uniquely independent culture

Japan’s First Settlers• Earliest settlers arrived in

Japan between 30,000 and 10,000 B.C.E.

• Around 300 B.C.E., a new group of people (named the Yayoi because of the location of their remains) arrived

• Yayoi introduced farming, growing rice in paddies, and pottery

• Also skilled metalworkers who made axes, knives, and hoes (iron), and swords, spears, and bells (bronze)

• By A.C.E. 300, Yayoi began to organize themselves into clans, or groups of families related by blood or marriage

• Clans were run by warriors who protected the people in return for portions of harvest

The Yamato & Prince Shotoku• 500 A.C.E. – Yamato clan strong

enough to rule most of Japan – Jimmu, the Yamato leader, took the title “emperor of heaven,” – His line has never been broken

• 600 A.C.E. – Shotoku, a Yamato prince, takes power on behalf of his aunt, empress suiko

• Shotoku was heavily influenced by China

• Created a constitution in which all power was given to the emperor – Most rules based upon Confucianism

• Built many Buddhist temples around Japan

• 646 A.C.E. (after Shotoku), the Yamato began the Taika, or Great Change – This divided Japan into provinces and allowed government officials to collect taxes instead of clan leaders

Shinto• Early Japanese believed

that all natural things (even winds, mountains, rivers etc.) were alive and had a spirit

• This belief is called animism

• When people needed help, they asked nature spirits, called kami, for help

• To honor the kami, the Japanese performed rituals (involving dancers, musicians, and priests) at shrines

• These early beliefs evolved into Shinto, or “way of the spirits,” one of Japan’s oldest religions