Feudal Japan

Take notes for BLUE headings, follow along & discuss for everything else

Early Japan

Hunter-gatherers Settled farmers

Influences from China & Korea

China

Korea

Japa

n

Writing, Buddhism, idea of emperor as god, government

Prince Shotoku

Ruled Japan in late 500s & early 600s

Brought Buddhism & Chinese culture to Japan Buddhism

competed with Shinto

Taika Reforms

Shintoism Traditional Japanese religion

Based on “kami” ( 神 or かみ ) Similar to nature spirits & found in natural

objects (rocks, trees, water, etc.). Built shrines (Torii gates) dedicated to different kami

Emperors in Charge

Capital at Kyoto ( 京都 or きょうと )

Golden Age of literature, art, & drama Tale of Genji

Power of emperors declined after Gempei War (1180-1185) between Minamoto & Taira clans

Tale of Genji

Written by Murasaki Shikibu, a self-taught female writer

Considered to be first modern novel Over 400 different

characters Continuous plot

Kamakura & Ashikaga Shoguns

Emperors had no real power during this time

Shoguns allowed to rule country in exchange for keeping the peace. Fighting between different factions of samurai in countryside.

Mongol Invasion

“Kamikaze” ( かみかぜ / 神風 ) or “Divine Wind” – origins Mongols tried to invade Japan in

1274 & 1281 Typhoons wrecked Mongol invasion

fleets & Japanese samurai took care of the rest

Warring States Different clans fighting for control of Japan

& “Ikko-ikki” (peasants/monks who fought against samurai)

Frequent betrayals & changing alliances “Ikko-ikki” – peasants & monks who fought against samurai

Oda Nobunaga

Daimyo who fought to unify most of Japan

First to use guns in battle

Captured Kyoto & destroyed Ikko monks

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Peasant who rose through the ranks & became Nobunaga’s top general

Finished reunifying Japan after Nobunaga

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Served under Nobunaga & Hideyoshi before founding Tokugawa Shogunate

Kept a strict social order to preserve a traditional society

Persecuted Christians & banned trade with Europeans