Transcript Early Japan-Yamato and Nara Periods with Geography as Destiny

By: Peter Mollenhauer and John
Mulligan
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Japan contains 3000 islands.
The largest islands in Japan include Hokkaido,
Shikoku, Kyushu, Honshu.
Japan is separated from Russia by a mere 186
miles. Korea is 124 miles, and China is not too
far from there.
Japan is about the size of California.
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Japan was quite isolated.
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Because of such a wide separation from other
countries.
Japan was able to develop it’s own culture
unlike many others.
 Arts were about to develop on
their own. ( such as this pottery
masterpiece)
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While Japan was isolated, it did gain many
influences from China and Korea.
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This influence allowed for Chinese cultures that
were out of practice to be remembered.
Coins, Chinese language principles, taking notes on
history, and a centralized government were
borrowed from the Chinese.
Korea gave Buddhism to Japan.
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Nara (710-794) AD
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Ruled by Emperor
Capital was moved several time throughout the time
period.
Yamato (About 250-538)
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Ruled by Emperor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4rWWtSWf_k&feat
ure=player_embedded
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The capital was moved to Nara in 710
They copied many different Chinese cultural
aspects
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Buddhism
History started to be recorded during the Nara
period
The Manyoshu
Collection of poetry
 759
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Buddhism
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There was some resistance to the ideas of
Buddhism, but was soon adopted during the
Nara period.
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Embraced and developed within Japan.
Arrived from Korea and soon from China.
Was the last country to adopt Buddhist practices.
Prince Shotoku was one of the first people to adopt
Buddhism in Japan.
Also worshiped during the Yamato(Kofun)
period
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Shintoism
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Created around 500 B.C
Beliefs
 Tells the story of the divine Japanese deities “Kami”
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Sacred places
 Mountains, springs, and any other peaceful places in
nature
 (In background is Shinto Torri Gate)
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Shintoism
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Four affirmations
 Family: traditions the form of celebration in the family
 Adoration of nature: sacred; they believed that if you
are in nature than you are close to God
 Physical cleanliness: they valued being clean
 “Matsuri”: worship of the deities and spirits
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Similarities to Buddhism
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They both expressed the value of human nature
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The Yamato Period valued decorating and
honoring the deceased's’ burial mounds
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Clay sculptures (haniwa)
 Figures of nature
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Furnished the graves with jewelry, stones, and metal
Temples formed to worship Buddhism.
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Buddhist statues made of bronze. This Colossal
Buddha is an example of this as Japan experienced
a sense of prosperity.
Political unity allowed for the arts to prosper.
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Brought together Japan in 300 A.D
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Occupied present-day Osaka
Many new ideas come from their region
Osaka rested on the southwestern peninsula on
Honshu
 Located on the Yamato Plain.
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Review
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Who was one of the first people to embrace
Buddhism in Japan?
Prince Shotoku
What was the significance of the Torii Gates?
To signify the entrance into a more holy place.
From where did the Japanese receive the
ideas of Buddhism?
From Korea.
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http://www.echigonagaoka.com/turbot/isl/map_of_japan.GIF
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http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1975.268.425
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http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/japan/GEOGRAPHY.html
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http://isobe.typepad.com/sketchpad/images/rice_paddy.jpg
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http://www.herdaily.com/blogimg/recipes/japanese%20rice.jpg
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http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/6036012.jpg
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http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/early-japanese-buddhism.html
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http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm
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http://tiger3.net/periods/Kofun.html
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http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-kofun-period.cfm
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http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-nara-period.cfm
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http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/750c9/ed6ce/
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http://m.wikitravel.org/en/Japan
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http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread630706/pg2
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http://epistemic-forms.com/Online-course/Course%20Files/What-social-forces-operate-among-AsianEnglishes.html
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http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/asna/hd_asna.htm
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http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/bender4/eall131/EAHReadings/module02/m02japanese.html#part2
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http://www.123rf.com/photo_534332_japanese-letter-ai-meaning-love.html
Work Cited (cont.)
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http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_history/jushichijokenpo.shtml
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