Transcript Ancient Japan - Cloudfront.net

Ancient Japan
Japan –
Geography
Japan consists of four large
islands and thousands of smaller
ones
• Japan faces China & Korea to the
west and the Pacific Ocean to the
east
• Japan is part of an archipelago
• Japan has extreme climates
•
•
Snow in islands to the north
•
Tropics (almost) in islands to the south
Japan –
Geography
•
•
Japan is a part of the Ring of Fire
•
Sits on a plate boundary
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Volcanoes and earthquakes
Japan is mountainous
•
20% is farmable
•
Most live on coast or few plains
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Japan –
Religion
Shinto
•
Native religion of Japan
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Means “way of gods”
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Each clan worshiped own kami
(god/spirit)
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Kami found in natural objects
(trees)
•
People built shrines wherever felt
the power of kami
Japan –
Religion
Shinto Myth (first emperor)
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Sun Goddess and the Storm God (brother)
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Each god supported a different clan who
wanted to rule Japan
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Sun Goddess won and her grandson Ninigi
became ruler
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She gave him three treasures:
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a bronze mirror (symbol of truth)
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a sword (symbol of wisdom)
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a curved jewel (symbol of kindness)
Niningi passed symbols down to his
grandson Jimmu who became first emperor
in about 600 B.C.
Japan Religion
Buddhism
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Entered Japan in 552 from Korea
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Many sects
Japan –
Religion
Pure Land Buddhism
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Appealed to all classes
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Most popular in Japan today
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Centers around a bodhisattva known as
Amida
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He ruled a paradise called Pure Land
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Bodhisattva is enlightened being who choose
to stay on earth and help others
By placing trust in Amida and repeating his
name, followers entered a paradise called
Pure Land upon death
Japan –
Religion
Zen Buddhism
•Came from China
•Stressed meditation – clear mind to achieve
spiritual development
•Focus on self-control and discipline
•Appealed to samurai class
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Japan Achievements
The Tale of Genji
•Considered to be the first novel in the
world
•It is about the romantic adventures of
a prince named Genji
•It was written by a woman named
Murasaki Shikibu – she served the
empress
Japan - Achievements
 Yamato-e (scroll paintings)

Distinctly Japanese

Story is told as the scroll is unrolled

The story is told with pictures and sometimes words
Japan Achievements
Noh drama
•
Serious and intense style of drama
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Used colorful costumes, masks,
chants, music, and dance
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Feature gods, warriors, beautiful
women, mad people, ghosts, and
devils
An evening of Noh drama would
included several serious plays with
funny skits in between
•
Japan Achievements
Kana
•
Around 900, Japanese simplified
writing system
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New set of symbols called kana
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Each kana stood for one syllable
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Japan - Politics
First Emperor
•
Historians believe the first emperor
appeared around A.D. 200 or 300
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Several clans competed/fought for
land and power
•
The Yamato clan gradually gained
power over Japan
Japan - Politics
Yamato Clan
• The Yamato clan gradually gained
power over Japan
• They would try to win another
clans loyalty through marriage or
warfare if necessary
• They claimed to be descendants
from the Sun Goddess
• They believed they were living
gods
Japan - Politics
Prince Shotoku
•Took power in 593
•He was a regent – a person who
governs in the name of a ruler (too
young or unable to rule)
•Goal was to unite Japan
Japan - Politics
Prince Shotoku
•Goal was to unite Japan
1.
2.
Bring Buddhism to Japan
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Reduce power of clan leaders - people
looked to clan leaders as Shinto priests
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Having one faith would unite the country
Bring Confucianism to Japan
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Respect for family and social order
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Prince Shotoku gave Japan it’s first
constitution or plan of government
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It was called the Constitution of Seventeen
articles
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Based on Buddhist and Confucian thought
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Japan - Politics
Reform
•Prince Shotoku’s work carried on
after his death in 622
•Taika Reform – means “great
change”
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Law that made everyone subject
to the emperor
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Lands and people controlled by
the clans now belonged to the
emperor
Japan - Politics
Reform
•
To carry out the reform, a new
law code was issued to the entire
country
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Called the The Taiho Code
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Officially made the Yamato clan
leader emperor
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Included laws for the organization of
local government
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Defined crimes and punishments
Japan - Politics
Two New Capitals
•Taika Reform also called for the building of a
permanent capitol
•The city of Nara was chosen and modeled after
Chang’an in China
•Buddha influence dominated the capital
•Government officials felt threatened by wealth and
power of Buddhist monks – moved the capital to
Heian-kyo or Koyoto
•Monks & monasteries were not allowed to follow
Japan - Politics
The Fujiwara Family
•In the 800’s, the emperors power began to
fade
•Fujiwara family ran the country
•The emperor was a “puppet”
•Sisters or daughters would marry princes
•Ruled for about 300 years & Japan was
unified
Japan - Politics
The Shoguns
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The Taira and Minamoto clans
fought together and were able to
drive the Fujiwara family from
power
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Over the years power shifted
between the two clans
Japan - Politics
The Shoguns –
Minamoto Yoritomo
•In 1159, the Minamoto clan stormed the
palace in Kyoto
•In 1185, the two clans fought at sea
•Minamoto Yoritomo was the winner and he
took the title of Shogun – did not plan to give
up the title
•A new social order was developed
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Japan Economy
Heian Period
•Trade increased – economic growth
•Towns sprang up
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Along trade routes
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As artisans created more goods for trading
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Around monasteries
•Artisans made goods and merchants bought and sold them
•Trade increased with China
•Exported
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Swords
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Pearls
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Copper
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Wood
Japan - Social
What is feudalism?
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Each daimyo relied on peasants to work the land.
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In exchange for their labor, he provided protection.
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The protection came in the form of samurai warriors
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The daimyo would then give money or land to the samurai
Japan - Social

Emperor
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Shogun
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Daimyo
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Samurai
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Peasants/Merchants/Artisa
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A New Social Order
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Life under Shoguns was lawless
and violent
New social order developed
Japan - Social
1. Emperors (during Shoguns)
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Had the highest rank, but
held no real power
Japan - Social
2. Shoguns (during Shoguns)
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Actual ruler of Japan
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Highest military rank
Japan - Social
3. Daimyo (during Shoguns)
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Large landowners who
protected peasants in
exchange for labor
Japan - Social
4. Samurai
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Highly trained warriors
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Trained fiercely, fought bravely, died
with honor
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Followed a code called the bushido
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Bushido means “the way of the
warrior”
Japan - Social
4. Samurai
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Personal Honor
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Pride in how trained and fought
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Pride in appearance (robe, armor, & horse)
Loyalty to one’s lord
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More important than family, religion, or
emperor
Japan - Social
5. Peasants/Merchants/Artisans
(during Shoguns)
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Made up about three fourths
of the population
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