JAPAN EARLY HISTORY 300 BC1200 AD Early Civilization

JAPAN – EARLY HISTORY (300 BC-1200 AD)

Early Civilization • SETTLERS FROM MAINLAND ASIA MIGRATE TO JAPAN • AGRICULTURE ESTABLISHED BY 300 BC • ORIGINALLY DIVIDED INTO MANY RIVAL KINGDOMS • YAMATO CLAN – UNIFIES MOST OF JAPAN (APROX 300 AD)

Shotoku Taishi – 1 ST Great Japanese Ruler • RULER OF JAPAN APROX 600 AD • 1 ST LEADER TO PROMOTE BUDDHISM IN JAPAN • ORGANIZED STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – MAKES JAPAN MORE POLITICALLY STABLE – BETTER ENABLES JAPAN TO DEFEAT POTENTIAL INVASION FROM CHINA • CREATED 1 ST SET OF WRITTEN LAWS IN JAPAN – (17 ARTICLE CONSTITUTION)

The Heian Period (794 -1191) • 794 AD – JAPANESE CAPITAL MOVED TO CITY OF HEIAN (present day Kyoto) • WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE OF CHINESE CULTURE • EMERGENCE OF A TRUE UNIQUE JAPANESE CULTURE • POLITICS: POWER BEGINS TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF NOBLES • NOBLES NEED SKILLED SOLDIERS FOR PROTECTION - SAMURAI

THE SAMURAI • ELITE WARRIORS • SERVED THE POWERFUL LORDS WHO OWNED MOST OF THE LAND • FOLLOWED A CODE CALLED BUSHIDO – “THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR” • REAL HOLDERS OF POWER IN JAPAN – (1200 – 1800) – 600 YEARS

THE SAMURAI VS. THE KNIGHT

SIMILARITIES • BOTH SERVED THE NOBILITY (WEALTHY LAND OWNERS) • BOTH FOLLOWED A CODE – SAMURAI – BUSHIDO – KNIGHTS – CHIVALRY • BOTH HIGHLY TRAINED • SIMILAR TIME PERIOD

WEAPONRY: EASTERN VS. WESTERN • EASTERN/ASIAN: • TYPICALLY CURVED WEAPONS DESIGNED FOR SLASHING • WHY? – LIGHTER – EASY TO CUT CLOTH/LEATHER

WEAPONRY: EASTERN VS. WESTERN • WESTERN: • TYPICALLY: HEAVIER/WIDER BLADES • WHY? NEED TO BE ABLE TO THRUST/CLEAVE THROUGH HEAVY METAL ARMOR

QUESTION: • WHO WOULD WIN A FIGHT BETWEEN A KNIGHT AND A SAMURAI? • ADVANTAGES AND WEAKNESSES OF EACH?

THE END

The Kamkura Shogunate (1192 -1333) • Shogunate – Military rules the country • Most Important Event – Attempted Mongol invasion of Japan • Kamkura Shogunate ends in civil war - 1467 -1477 • Samurai restore order 1480

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The Nara Period (622 -794 AD) • Fujiwara family seizes power • 710 – new capital at Nara • Wealthy landowners (nobility) begin to gain power • Central government gradually loses power

SUMMARY • POWER STRUGGLE – EMPEROR VS. NOBILITY • SAMURAI – SERVE NOBILITY – TRY TO KEEP ORDER • SHOGUNATE - UNPOPULAR