Transcript 5.1 Chapter Lecture Notes

Chapter 5.1
Early Japan
I. JAPAN’S GEOGRAPHY
1. Japan is a chain of islands (an archipelago) in the
northern Pacific Ocean. The four largest islands:
Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
2. The islands of Japan are mountaintops from the
ocean floor. 188 are volcanoes.
3. Only 20% of Japan’s land is farmable.
Japanese people fought over farm land.
4. Many people settled in coastal villages to
fish or trade.
5. The ocean kept Japan isolated from Asia.
Japan developed an independent society
with a unique culture.
II. THE FIRST SETTLERS
1. The first people probably
walked to Japan on a land
bridge from northeast Asia
(30,000 - 10,000 BC).
2. Around 300 BC, the Yayoi
people appeared (ancestors of
the Japanese people). They
were skilled farmers, potters,
and metalworkers.
3. The Yayoi people were organized into
clans. Warrior chiefs protected the people in
return for part of the rice harvest.
4. They buried their chiefs in large mounds
(Kofuns).
5. The Yamato clan became strong enough to
rule most of Japan. Jimmu, a descendant of
the sun goddess, founded an unbroken line
of rulers.
III. Prince Shotoku’s Reforms
1. Yamato prince Shotoku looked to China’s
government as an example.
2. Shotoku created a constitution, with
laws based on ideas of Confucius.
3. The constitution gave all power to
the emperor and the ability to
appoint officials (bureaucracy).
4. The Great Change, Taika Reforms,
divided Japan into provinces. Gov’t
officials, instead of clan leaders, ran
provinces and collected taxes. This was
Japan’s first strong central government.
4. Shotoku sent officials and students to China to
learn about gov’t, Buddhist teachings, medicine,
art, and philosophy. He ordered Buddhist temples
and monasteries built. Horyuji is Japan’s oldest
Buddhist temple and wooden building in the world.
IV. SHINTO
1. Early Japanese people believed in animism, all
natural things are alive and have spirits.
2. Japanese people worshiped at shrines, or holy
places, to honor the kami (nature spirits).
3. The religion of Shinto developed from animism
and means “way of the spirits.” It is about
harmony with nature.
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