Transcript Section 3 Notes

Life In
Medeival
apan
J
Section 3 Vocabulary
Kyoto – capital of Japan
Murasaki Shikibu– wrote The Tale of Genji believed to be worlds
first novel
Sect– smaller religious group
Martial arts – sport that involves combat and self-defense
meditation – practice of clearing mind to finding inner peace
through relaxation
calligraphy – art of writing beautifully
tanka – Japan’s oldest form of poetry – unrhymed poem of 5 lines
guild – business groups who sold items to daimyo
Section 3 Notes
Japanese Religion and Culture
Buddhism and Shinto religions affected
Japanese art, architecture, novels and plays
Many Japanese went to China to get ideas
Most Japanese believed in both Buddhism and Shinto
Shinto dealt with daily life
Buddhism dealt with the after-life
Section 3 Notes
Pure Land Buddhism = happy life after death –
able to enter paradise- if they have faith in
Amida & chant his name
Zen Buddhism = find inner peace through selfcontrol and simple life. They practiced meditation
and martial arts as way to control
Section 3 Notes
Art & Architecture Japan borrowed ideas
from Korea and China and later created their
own styles. Japanese created origami.
Poems and Plays Japanese used Chinese for
writing then added symbols for their own sounds.
Every educated Japanese was expected to
practice calligraphy.
They believe a person’s calligraphy revealed their
education, social standing, and character
Section 3 Notes
Oldest form of poetry was called Tanka. It has 5 lines and
doesn’t rhyme. Usually about nature’s beauty &
joy/sorrows of life
Haiku developed from Tanka – Haiku has 3 lines w/17
syllables
The world’s first novel was written by Lady Murasaki
Shikibu. She wrote The Tale of Genji
Japanese created plays too – called Noh – to teach
Buddhist ideas
Section 3 Notes
Economy and Society
Some Japanese nobles, merchants and
artisans grew wealthy during the shogun
period but lives of women remained
restricted in many areas of life
Section 3 Notes
Farmers and Artisans Japan’s wealth came from farmers
who grew rice, wheat, millet and barley. They used a better
irrigation process and planted more crops.
BETTER IRRIGATION = MORE CROPS = MORE FOOD =
MORE PEOPLE
Artisans on daimyo estates made weapons, armor, tools,
pottery, paper, textiles, lacquered goods.
Merchants sold these goods in Kyoto – the capital city and
center of production and trade. Merchants formed guilds to
protect and increase profits
Japan traded with China, Korea and SE Asia
Section 3 Notes
Role of women – men headed the family. Women
expected to obey her father, husband and sons. In wealthy
families marriages were arranged to increase family wealth.
During Shotoku wealthy women could have high position
in society. They could rule & own property.
When Japan a warrior society- with samurai and daimyo women lost freedoms.
In farm families women had greater say in who they
married.
Discussion Questions
Why would marriages for wealthy
women arranged but farm women
were allowed to chose their own
husbands
Why did women lose freedoms
during warrior society
Center of government and religion in Japan A.D. 700
Nara
Who was given govt. jobs in Japan?
Wealthy nobles
How did emperor gain power
Control of land and crops
What country brought Buddhism to Japan?
Korea
Defeated the Taira clan in 1185
Minamoto Yoritomo
samurai who gave oath of loyalty to his daimyo
vassals
bond of loyalty between a lord and a vassal
feudalism
capital of Japan under Emperor Kammu
Heian