Transcript AP Japan Dec 2015 - Forest Hills High School

Aim: Was Feudalism in Japan similar to European
Feudalism?
Do Now: What do you know about Japan?
I Geography of Japan
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
Japan is an archipelago east of Korea. It consists of 1000s of islands, but 4 main
ones.
Japan lies on a fault line, and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire (a circle of volcanic
activity in the Pacific Ocean).
Japan is very mountainous. Its tallest mountain is Mount Fuji.
Only 20% of Japanese land is arable (suitable for farming).
Japan’s main natural resources are seafood and rice.
The Mongols attacked Japan in 1274 and 1281. Both times their ships were
stopped by strong kamikaze winds!
Mt. Fuji
Rice Paddy
1. Above is the attempted
invasion of Japan by the
Mongols (during the Yuan
Dynasty in the 13th century).
2. Look at the physical map on
the left. How close is Japan to
Russia today?
Pacific Ring of Fire
On March 11 2011, Japan
experienced a devastating
earthquake, causing mass
destruction. However, Japan
is a leader in geothermal
energy (from magma under
the Earth’s crust).
II Early Japan (300 – 710 CE)
A) Early Japanese were hunters and gatherers. They were controlled by clans
(small political group based on family ties, often led by an elder).
B) The traditional Japanese religion was Shinto (worship of kami; forces in
nature; a form of animism).
C) Through cultural diffusion, early Japanese culture absorbed many Chinese
traditions and ideas including Confucianism, Buddhism, art, architecture,
and a system of writing.
D) By 400 CE Japan was united under an emperor, with the capital at Nara.
A Shinto Shrine
The first sumo wrestling matches were
performed in honor of the gods, in hopes
of a good harvest.
Taika Reforms
The Taika reforms were a massive administrative, social, and agrarian
movement in Japan. The Taika refrom began after Japan just went
through a power shift from the Soga clan to the emperor and the
founder of the Fujiwara clan, Nakatomi Kamatari. To secure and unite
the nation under imperial rule, a massive program was to be
undertaken to reorganize the government. In the New Year of 646, four
edicts were proclaimed:
1. The aristocrats must give up their hereditary lands and all their serfs
would be placed under government control.
2. The establishment of an imperial capital and also to place a system of
provinces and districts.
3. Provincial officials had to make a census on population, land
ownership, tax collection.
4. Establishment of local militias.
Taika Reforms Continued…
There were some abuses:
1. Taxes became higher and higher as time went by.
2. The aristocrats were not obliged to pay any taxes on the lands that
they owned. These resulted to a gap between the rich and the poor.
3. Working in the government was based on birth and not by merit.
III The Heian Period
A) 794 CE Kyoto became the new capital of Japan.
B) 9th century poets began to write in Japanese instead of in Chinese.
C) Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji 1000 CE. *The world’s 1st known
fictional novel! It is about Genji, the son of the Emperor during the Heian period. It
describes in detail the differences between the nobles and the commoners.
Heian Court Dress
IV Feudal Japan
A) By the 9th century CE, the power of the Emperor declined. Feudalism
became the dominant form of government in Japan.
Emperor
Shogun
Land - Shoen
Land - Shoen
Protection
Daimyo
Samurai
Peasant
Loyalty
Daimyo
Samurai
Peasant
Loyalty
Samurai
Peasant
Food
Peasant
Feudal Japan Continued…
Emperor: The divine head of society, who held no real power. Lived at Kyoto.
Shogun: The emperor’s military deputy, who held real power over Japan.
Lived at Edo.
Daimyo Lords: who held power over their own land, under the control of
the shogun.
Samurai: Warriors, most of whom enjoyed high social status but had very
little power. Loyal to their daimyo.
Farmers, Artisans
Merchants: People who traded goods. They occupied the lowest rung of society,
as Confucianism viewed them as not contributing to society.
Feudal Japan Continued…
B) The Samurai followed the Code of Bushido “Way of the Warrior”
1. Honor
2. Bravery
3. Loyalty
4. Simplicity
5. If a Samurai displeased his master or lost
a battle, he may practice seppuku (ritual
suicide) so he will not lose honor.
Osaka Castle
Samurai Armor
V Gempei Wars 1180 – 1185 CE
The Gempei Wars was a civil war between the Taira and Minamoto
clans that resulted in the Minamoto’s establishment of the Kamakura
shogunate, a military dictatorship that dominated Japan from 1192 to
1333. The Gempei War thus lies at the foundations of the 650-year era
of the shogunate system, which was essentially a military rule with the
emperor serving as a figurehead. Establishing the shogunate system was
a major step in the Japanese people's consolidation as one nation.
– newworldencyclopedia.com
Grave of Minamato
VI Zen Buddhism
A) Zen Buddhism began in China in the 6th century. It was greatly influenced
by Taoism; Zen Buddhists have a great respect for nature. It became popular in
Japan by the 12th century.
B) Zen Buddhism greatly influenced Japanese culture.
1. Zen Buddhism requires a strict mental focus and discipline, which reinforced the
Code of Bushido
2. Zen Buddhist Gardens were built as places for meditation and beauty
3. Japanese Tea Ceremony: This ceremony transforms the simple act of pouring tea
into a beautiful art form.
4. Haiku Poetry: Short, simple, beautiful poems. 5, 7, then 5 syllables.
Zen literally means
“meditation”.
Zen Garden
This Zen garden was
designed deliberately for
the purpose of
meditation. What
materials were used?
How were they placed?
Zen Buddhist Gardens for Every Season!
VII Korea
A) The Korean peninsula, dwarfed by neighbor, is an extension of the Chinese
mainland ruled by indigenous dynasties.
B) Chinese influences began to filter into Korean culture when the Han conquered the
Choson (Yi) Kingdom 109 BCE under Emperor Wudi , increasing Sinification (the
spread of Chinese culture). Buddhism and Chinese writing was adopted, but Chinese
bureaucracy never took hold, as the land owning nobles didn’t want it minimizing their
own power.
C) Silla, one of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea, in 668 unified Korea under the
Silla Dynasty (668–935).
D) The Sui dynasty of China attempted unsuccessfully to reconquer Korea. Soon
afterward the more powerful Tang Dynasty was able to conquer Korea but was
challenged by constant revolts. Finally the Tang emperor struck a deal with the Silla
kingdom. They agreed to remove all military forces from Korea if the Silla would
become vassals of the Tang dynasty and make regular tribute payments. The benefits
included access to Chinese culture and universities, merchants went with emissaries to
China. *This made Korea a major channel for trade and cultural diffusion.
The 3 Kingdoms of
Korea
Bibimbop and other
Korean Yum Yums!
Gyeongju, Capital of the Sulla Dynasty,
Korea
Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean
Buddhism
Focus Questions
1. Describe at least 2 ways that Japan’s geography has impacted its
history and/or culture.
2. Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast Japanese feudalism
with feudalism in Western Europe.
3. Write your own haiku about Japan!
4. Was Sinification in Korea more positive or negative?
my friend pork shoulder
I return to you. this time
i've brought mayonnaise
Key Vocabulary
Archipelago
Choson Kingdom
Clans
Code of Bushido
Daiymo
Emperor Wudi
Feudalism
Gempei Wars
Heian Period
Kamikaze womds
Lady Shikibu
Mt. Fuji
Pacific Ring of Fire
Samurai
Sepukku
Shinto
Silla Dynasty
Sinification
Shogun
The Tale of Genji
Zen Buddhism