Geography of Japan Japans located on an archipelago

Geography of Japan • Japan's located on an archipelago (Chain of Islands) • • Main Islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Skikoku Size of Montana • 4/5 covered in mountains

The Emperor • Early Society divided into Clans – The Yamamoto clan came to dominate – Symbol: Rising Sun – Emperor still traces lineage to them

Shintoism • Means way of Kami – Spiritual energies – Ancestors • Goal is to be in touch with Kami – thru ritual • More a way of life than religion

Japanese Culture • Buddhism: – Brought by Korean travelers – Mixed with Shinto • Chinese culture: – Prince Shotoku sent missions to study China – Adopted Chinese system of writing and art – Only picked what they liked “selective barrowing”

Feudal Hierarchy • Emperor – Figure Head • Shogun – military dictator; Ruled through puppet emperors • Daimyo – Regional Military Governors • Bushi (Samurai) – loyal warriors of local lords • Ronin – Unemployed Bushi

Bushido • Samurai = one who serves • Seppuku = is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. • Code of behavior: Bushido – The way of the warrior

Heian Period: 794 -1156 • Fujiwara Family in charge • Important cultural period in Japan • Moved towards a unique cultural identity • Women led the way despite low status – Famous literature Tales of Genji

Kamakura Shogunate • Revival of Arts were accompanied by clans fighting • This devolved into a Feudal System • Minamoto Yoritomo named Shogun • Repelled to Mongol Invasions – Caused their decline

Uniting Japan • Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi – Commoner – United most of Japan with his Army – Failed to conquer Korea and Japan • Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu – Conquered Japan – Centralized Government – Peace brought prosperity – Tokugawa shogunate would rule until 1868