Honors World History

Japan日本

Geography of Japan

Archipelago: island chain4 main islands:

Label on your map

Geography of Japan

Very mountainous, only a small amount of land can be used for farming

Geography of Japan

Prone to earthquakes Seismic Hazard

Map

Geography of JapanTsunamisTyphoons

Map shows 150 years of tropical cyclones (through September 2006)

What observations can you make

about this map of tropical cyclone

activity?

0500 B.C.E.

500 C.E. 1000 C.E.

1500 C.E.

2000 C.E.

Wes

tern

izatio

n

Major Turning Points in Japanese History

-Yayoi Culture-

Agricultural, bronze, &

iron revolutions

-Jomon Culture-

Old Stone Age

Chinese Influential

Period:Writing,

technologies, philosophies

Lasted

8000 years Tomb

Period

-Nara-

-Heian-

Feudal

Japan

Edo Period(Japan’s

Isolation)

The name Jomon, refers to the “cord pattern”

pottery found from this time & the term Yayoi

refers to the area where its pottery was first

unearthed

Dogū

Small figurines from the Jomon period

Tens of thousands have be found all over Japan (not Okinawa)

Studying history starts with asking questions. Study the image of this Dogū.

What questions do you have?

• Is this a female deity?

• Why are the eyes slitted? Snow goggles?

• Was it part of a mystical medicine practice?

• Are they wearing spacesuits?

Shinto

Kami: gods/nature spirits These spirits live in natural objects

Sand, waterfalls, trees Animism:

Many Japanese clans trace their linage to a particular kami Shinto means “the way of the Kami” or “the way of the gods”

No scripture or doctrine People worship with rituals and prayers to please the kami

Ritual cleanliness Shamans: (male or female religious specialists) entered trances, directly

contact inner forces of nature in order to tell the future/heal

Yamato ClanAge of Great Tombs

Early Emperors acted as Shinto Priests

Yamato family came to power in the early 300s and held power ever since. Longest ruling royal family in the world Kami: Sun goddess; became chief deity Yamato family became living gods Japanese creation story is a blend of the

stories/kami/ genealogy of the early noble families

Early Yamato aristocratic society: uji (extended family clans) be (groups of specialists workers) Slaves Most peasants not part of social

hierarchy

Mukadezuka Tomb, Miyazaki Prefecture

Kaguraden (prayer hall)

The Great Shrine of the sun Goddess in Ise

Yamato Japan and Korea c. 500 C.E.

• Rebellions • Wars with “barbarian tribes”

from Kyushu and eastern Honshu

• Korean Influences: Confucianism

513 C.E.: Paekche sent a “scholar of the Five Classics”

Buddhism Paekche King sent a

Buddha image, sutras and maybe a priest to Yamato

Did not replace Shinto, merged with Japanese culture

Chinese Influential PeriodNara & Heian

Yamato court sent official embassies to Tang court, from 607 C.E.-839 C.E.

Traders, students, monks Art Science Government Fashion Education

Court education in Chinese From 700s- 1800s, most philosophical , legal documents,

histories, essays, and religious texts were written in Chinese

Kana developed during 9th century

680s C.E., Japanese Emperor Temmu modeled government after Tang Dynasty laws Centralized government and gave emperor more power Changed his title from “great king” to tennō “heavenly

emperor” 794 C.E. built capitol: Heian-kyo (Kyoto)

Chinese influence lessened Japanese poets emerged Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote “Tale of Genji”

World’s first novel, 1010 C.E.

Capitol Moved to

Tokyo in 1869

Bentendo Hall, Kyoto

Scenes from The Tale of GenjiThe story of the life of Genji, the son of the emperor and his favorite concubine, Kiritsubo

Emperor/Court

Governor

District Magistrate

Landowners Landowners

District Magistrate

Landowners Landowners

Governor

District Magistrate

Landowners Landowners

District Magistrate

Landowners Landowners

TaxationCharge

additional ta

xes

and keep the

extras

Court Nobles and powerful temples used their influences to obtain tax exemptions

Half of the land would become tax-free, due to exemptions

Small landowners often commended their land to nobles, opting to be serfs on tax-free estates, than pay

taxes on their own land

Commend: Feudal Law. to place (oneself or one's land) under another's protection so as to become his tenant farmer

Feudal Japan

System of government brought from China declines

Centralized government: emperor & powerful families

Local governments: local landowners with warriors

800 C.E. 1000 C.E.

1200 C.E.

1400 C.E.

1600 C.E.

1800 C.E.

Fujiwara Minamoto AshikagaFamilies influencing

central government

In 1185, the emperor granted Minamoto

Yoritomo the title of Shogun [general]

- Shogun has power over military, finances and

laws

Ashikaga Takauji claims Shogunate for his own clan

(He was suppose to help

Emperor Go-Daigo regain

power)

Local Level

Landlords hold power Hire warriors, called samurai, for protection

Similar to European Knights

Local lords (daimyo: “great names”) and their samurai (“those who served”) were the most powerful people during the Ashikaga shogunate

Emperor

and his

court: 1%

of

population

Peasants:

90% of

population

Samurai

Did not pay taxesExpensive (armor, horses, weapons, training);

from well-to-do familiesMain function: local policeTraits of a samurai

Loyal to clan/lord Skilled swordsman

Swords had names Conduct a proper tea ceremony Write poetry Bushido: samurai code of behavior; “way of the warrior”

Bravery, loyality, honor Samurai would except physical hardships without complaint

and did not fear death Seppuku: ceremonial suicide (aka: hara-kiri)

Avoid dishonor that accompanied defeat or disobedience

Central Government

Emperor; had less power, but a stronger connection to the deities Portuguese explorers compared the emperor to the

PopeShoguns: Ruler of Japan; general

Pause on Japan…

THE

MONGOLS

!

Mongols

At its height, the Mongol army had 100,000 cavalry (mounted troops)

Advantages over foot soldiers Cover up to 100 miles a day Accurately fire arrows while

ridingGenghis Khan: “universal

ruler”, 1162-1227 Created an empire

Mongol Empire, c. 1294

Mongols vs. Japanese

1266: Kublai Khan demands Japan to submit to his rule

1274-1281Mongol Warlord Kublai

Khan tries to conquer Japan

Second invasion: sends 140,000 soldiers

Japanese build stone wall (Hakata Bay) and hold of Mongols for 2 months About 2.5 km

long

Mongols vs. Japanese

A powerful typhoon wrecks the fleet Kamikaze, “divine wind”

[Video]13th century Mongol

ship found near Nagasaki in 2011

Zen Buddhism

Introduced from Song China, c. 1100

Interested warriors Salvation through enlightenment,

not faith Similar to Daoism Develop discipline through

meditation

• Inspired art and culture• Landscape architecture: Zen

gardens• Tea ceremony: spiritual calm• Noh play: dance dramas

Ryoanji, Zen garden

Noh PlaysMasks worn by actors

Women in Japanese Society

Served as rulers, including Shogun and Empresses

WritersTrained in military artsStatus began to decline in the 14th and 15th

centuries Daughters no longer allowed to inherit

Questions

In what ways did China influence Japan?Which is the most important? Why?