History 381: Early History 381: Early Japan & KoreaJapan & Korea

Early, Classical, and Medieval Early, Classical, and Medieval Japan and KoreaJapan and Korea

JapanJapan• Geographical Geographical

insularity and insularity and cultural identitycultural identity

• Geography: the sea Geography: the sea and soil and the and soil and the development of development of agricultureagriculture

• Modern Japan; Modern Japan; beginnings of beginnings of society, Yayoi society, Yayoi cultureculture

Ties with Korea and Tomb BuildersTies with Korea and Tomb Builders

• Late Yayoi culture and its connections to Korea; Chinese Late Yayoi culture and its connections to Korea; Chinese accounts of early Japanaccounts of early Japan

• Mythical HistoriesMythical Histories

• The The KojikiKojiki (Record of Ancient Matters)(Record of Ancient Matters); the ; the NihongiNihongi (History of Japan)(History of Japan); the creation myths: Izanagi and ; the creation myths: Izanagi and Izanami, Amaterasu; Ninigi; the three imperial regalia; Izanami, Amaterasu; Ninigi; the three imperial regalia; Jimmu and Yamato; Himiko the priestess; the Ainu Jimmu and Yamato; Himiko the priestess; the Ainu minority and intermarriage; iron tools; continued early minority and intermarriage; iron tools; continued early connections with Koreaconnections with Korea

• The The UjiUji

• UjiUji (tribal clans); the Yamato state and consolidation (tribal clans); the Yamato state and consolidation of the of the ujiuji system; the religious and political role of system; the religious and political role of leadership; Japanese animism and nature’s leadership; Japanese animism and nature’s kamikami (divine spirit); Shinto(divine spirit); Shinto

The Link with China• The introduction of Buddhism from Korea• The adoption of the Tang China model in Japan• Soga patronage and Prince Shotoku; the Seventeen Article Constitution and hierarchical status; embassies to China

Taika, Nara, and HeianTaika, Nara, and Heian

• Rebellion and the rise of the Fujiwara clan; the pro-China Rebellion and the rise of the Fujiwara clan; the pro-China Taika ReformsTaika Reforms

• Implementation of the Chinese sociopolitical system; Implementation of the Chinese sociopolitical system; centralization; the move to Nara (710)centralization; the move to Nara (710)

• Nara the city; the dominant role of Buddhism; the move to Nara the city; the dominant role of Buddhism; the move to Heian (794); the divine nature of the Japanese emperor and Heian (794); the divine nature of the Japanese emperor and his role in politics; court efforts to replicate Tang China his role in politics; court efforts to replicate Tang China cultureculture

• Hereditary aristocracy and rural administration; the Hereditary aristocracy and rural administration; the expansion of state control; Japan’s general poverty and expansion of state control; Japan’s general poverty and barter economy; rejection of China’s exam system and its barter economy; rejection of China’s exam system and its meritocratic (status based on merit) institutionsmeritocratic (status based on merit) institutions

Chinese and Buddhist Art• Hereditary aristocracy and the heavy influx of Buddhist art; the Japanization of styles; Horyuji; Todaiji

Buddhism and Literacy•The impact of Buddhism on Japanese culture: cremation, vegetarianism; religious beliefs•Shinto and Buddhism; Buddhist sects: Shingon and Tendai; the adoption of China’s writing system in Japan•The stimulation of education; the Kojiki, Nihongi, and Fudoki•the decline of the Tang China model; reassertions of indigenous Japanese culture; the concentration of land in private estates

The The ShoenShoen System System

• The rise of The rise of shoenshoen (private estates) (private estates)

• Court protection of Court protection of shoenshoen interests interests

• Dominance of the Dominance of the shoenshoen and the decline of central and the decline of central authority; the failing political power of the emperorauthority; the failing political power of the emperor

Heian CultureHeian CultureEconomic and cultural Economic and cultural development; the development; the shoenshoen and development of the and development of the outer regions; the outer regions; the application of the Chinese application of the Chinese model to the outer model to the outer regions; self-cultivation regions; self-cultivation and refinement: clothing; and refinement: clothing; The Pillow Book The Pillow Book (Sei (Sei Shōnagon)Shōnagon)

Heian CultureHeian Culture

Murasaki Shikibu Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki)(Lady Murasaki)

Background; Background; talents, education; talents, education; The Tale of GenjiThe Tale of Genji—a literary —a literary masterpiecemasterpiece

Art and Gardens• Japanese-styled art: painting, architecture; gardens as microcosms of the natural world; the connections between Japanese gardens and those of China

Kana and Monastic Armies• The use of kana (phonetic symbols) and Chinese characters; Pure Land Buddhism; monastic and shoen armies and warfare; the rise of the samurai class

Pressures on the Environment• Population figures; the spread of cultivation; city-building and demands for wood; deforestation; wood shortages and traditional Japanese architecture and homes; shipbuilding and sculpture; ecology

The Kamakura The Kamakura PeriodPeriod

The Minamoto; The Minamoto; samurai and samurai and feudalism; the shogun feudalism; the shogun and feudal lords; the and feudal lords; the failed Mongol failed Mongol invasions; the decline invasions; the decline of the Kamakura; Go-of the Kamakura; Go-Daigo; the role of Daigo; the role of womenwomen

Ashikaga JapanAshikaga Japan

• Political weakness and the loss of central control; piracy; Political weakness and the loss of central control; piracy; political unrest; a time of cultural blossoming: Zen political unrest; a time of cultural blossoming: Zen Buddhism, architecture, painting, literature, the tea Buddhism, architecture, painting, literature, the tea ceremony, ceremony, NohNoh drama; civil war drama; civil war

Maritime Contacts Between Medieval Japan and the Maritime Contacts Between Medieval Japan and the ContinentContinent

• During Ashikaga era Japan infamous for piracy until During Ashikaga era Japan infamous for piracy until Ashikaga shoguns establish tributary relations with the Ashikaga shoguns establish tributary relations with the Ming; Ashikaga shoguns work to curtail piracy and Ming; Ashikaga shoguns work to curtail piracy and increase official trade with China and Korea (Yi Dynasty); increase official trade with China and Korea (Yi Dynasty); by mid-sixteenth century trade falls into disorder and by mid-sixteenth century trade falls into disorder and inland sea inland sea daimyodaimyo restart sponsored piracy. restart sponsored piracy.

Korea• The Siberian origins of the Korean people; Chinese influence; the Han occupation and Chinese culture; Korean independence

Paekche, Silla, and Koguryo• Selective adoption of the Chinese model of civilization; Korea’s hereditary aristocracy; the rise and splendor of Silla; han’gul• Koryo; the Chinese model and Chinese art; civil war; the Mongol conquest• The Yi Dynasty

Yi Korea•Adoption of the Confucian system; the yangban elites; distinct Korean culture; printing; perfection of han’gul; bureaucratic factionalism; Hideyoshi’s invasion; political decline and economic development