Transcript Japan 2 Day Notes - Har

Ancient Japan
Outcome: Early Japan Development,
Religion, and Politics.
Setting the Stage:
Early Japan
Japan lies just east of China, colonized by independent
Chinese.

Japan got its name from Chinese word “ri-ben”
which means “land of the rising sun”

Japan has borrowed ideas, institutions, and culture
from China for thousands of years, although they do
not always get along with their neighbor.

Japanese culture is not as old as China’s, but is still
very rich and unique
Early Japan-Layout of Islands
Geography of Japan
Japan is made up of 4,000 islands which makes it an archipelago;
and the country is 1,200 miles long.
It is not a long trip from China to Japan-500 miles-1.5 hours by plane.
Historically, the Japanese have lived on the four largest islands:
Hokkaido
Honshu
Shikoku
Kyushu
Early Japan:
Geography

Southern Japan has a mild climate with plenty of rainfall
 Japan is very mountainous; roughly only 12% of the land
is suitable for farming
 Natural resources are in short supply (coal, oil, iron ore)
 Massive tropical storms called typhoons can occur during
late summer and early fall
 Earthquakes and tidal waves are also dangerous threats
to the islands, caused lots of problems in Fukushima two
years ago…
Early Japan

Early Japan was not unified as a nation; hundreds of
family clans controlled their own territories.

Yamato clan established itself as the leading clan by
400 A.D. Yamato chiefs called themselves emperors;
gradually accepted into Japanese culture.

When one clan was defeated, the winning clan claimed
control of the emperor. Only that family influenced the
emperor. Emperor seen as divine in Shinto, but not
really in charge…

Set up a system similar to the aristocracy system of
China, only more based on military power then riches.

Because of this Japan is a martial country, most all of
its pursuits are based on family and fighting for power.
Early Japan: Religion

Each clan worshipped its own gods and goddesses, also
worshipped ancestors. Believed in spirits

Beliefs combined to form Japan’s earliest religion: Shinto
 Shinto meant “way of the gods”
 Shinto was based on respect for forces of nature and worship
of ancestors
 Worshipers believed in “kami” or divine spirits that dwelled in
nature. Kami can be pleased by doing rituals and observing
rules. Angry kami could cause great destruction according to
the Ancient Japanese.
 Japan also will adopt Buddhism, but incorporate it into Shinto,
looking at it more as a “way to live” instead of a religion.
Japanese preferred Shinto. Zen Buddhism will be popular in
later Japan.
Early Japan-Borrowing from China

Missionaries from modern day Koreas came to
Japan early on and brought Buddhism, but it
did not replace Shinto.

Interest in Buddhist ideas grew into enthusiasm
for all things Chinese. Generations had never
seen China, so were eager to know its
neighbor.

Prince Shotoku Taishi (a Buddhist convert) in
the Nara Period sent missions to China to study
their ways and government.

Goal was to study Chinese civilization, imitate
their ways…
Early Japan
The Japanese adopted the following Chinese ideas:
1.Style of writing
2. Ideas on war/conflict
3.Division of Land into states
4.Aspects of culture (family life)
Remember, the Chinese thought anyone who was
not Chinese was a barbarian, so they did not like
Japan acting like them.
The visitors returned from China and did not return,
and confrontation started to simmer between the two.
End of Notes for today!
Japanese Society
The culture of Japan is extremely involved, bloody,
and beautiful, but also fascinating.
We will look at life during the Nara, Heian, and
Kamakura Periods and how Japanese culture was
different to any other.
Nara Period- Problems Already
Once Prince Taishi died, the
aristocrats of Japan got stronger.
Founded capital in Nara, Emperor is
not as strong as aristocrats. He
becomes a puppet…
Government began to lose control,
ruled in name only, real control was
with the rich landowning families in
the states. 
Early Japan-The Heian Period

Capital city moves from the city of Nara to
Heian.Many of Japan’s rich families moved to Heian
so it became known as the Heian period.

Rules dictated every aspect of court life (color of
robes, length of sword, etc) Japanese became
VERY disciplined, controlled everything. Etiquette
was extremely important; laughing in public was
frowned upon. Had to dress perfect.

Everyone at court was expected to be excellent at
things, so a focus on practice and perfection came
to be part of the Japanese character.

Designated ranks for things like painting, flower
arranging, and tea preparation. Simple things like
trimming a tree became art. (Bonsai)
Early Japan-Japanese Feudalism

The Heian Government would be
challenged by land-owners, military
commanders and clan chiefs.

Landowners acted as more independent
rulers and set up private armies, carving
out states of their own. Warriors became
extremely loyal to their lords.

Land-owning Lords traded parts of their
land to strong warlords for protection
which began the feudal system in Japan.
Feudalism
A political, economic and social
system based on: loyalty, land control,
and military service.
Shogun
Land
Land
Protection
Samurai
Peasant
Daimyo
Loyalty
Daimyo
Samurai
Peasant
Loyalty
Food
Samurai
Peasant
Peasant
Classifications
Shogun- Top Military Commander in
Japan-real power behind the Emperor
Daimyo- Land-owning lord of other
families not currently in power,
employed Samurai
Samurai-Highly trained warrior
servants who worked for the Daimyo
and did everything he asked.
Early Japan

Landowners (daimyo) surrounded themselves with
loyal bodyguards called Samurai. (“those who
serve”)

Samurai were trained soldiers loyal to their lord.
They served their lord at all times and were his
sworn swords, fight anytime, anywhere.

If the lord fell in battle or died, samurai were
expected to kill themselves their loyalty was so
strong.

Due to this system, the idea of respecting and
honoring one’s lord emerges, leading to a system of
strict warrior code, called Bushido.
Samurai who chose not
to commit seppuku
upon death of his
master, means
“Master-less”
Bushido-Being a Samuri isn’t easy!

Samurai lived by a demanding behavior code
called Bushido: “the way of the warrior”

Samurai were expected to show reckless courage
and die an honorable death, above all obey your
lord.

Honor (or doing as you were told/trained to do)
codes became common place in Japan. Those
who lost honor were expected to remove
themselves from their master’ service as to not
dishonor him.

If dishonored, Samurai could earn honor back by
committing seppuku; ritualistic suicide.
Japanese Accomplishments
The Japanese created amazing works of art,
music, etiquette, fashion, and design in the Heian
period. Perfection was expected.
Japan created some of the most discipline
warriors on Earth. Their dedication to the martial
arts was unrivaled for thousands of years.
Japanese/Chinese = creation of steel, by pounding
iron until you remove all the impurities. Japanese
steelsmiths create one of the most identifiable
swords in the world, the curved long sword, or
katana.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb
FPlAHW0nU