The Emergence of Japan Geography Japan a Land

The Emergence of Japan

Geography: Japan, a Land Apart • Archipelago – • 4 main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku • Land Sea • 4/5 of land is too mountainous to farm • Most people farm in narrow river valleys and along coastal plains; was an obstacle to unity • Plentiful resources in the seas for trade and diet

Geography: Japan, a Land Apart • Tsunami – • Mount Fuji is a symbol of beauty and majesty in nature

- Migrated from the Asian mainland 2000 years ago - Pushed early inhabitants, the Ainu, onto the island of Hakkaido • Yamato Clan • Society divided into uji – • Had its own chief, gods and goddesses • Women were respected • 500 AD – Yamato clan ruled Honshu (largest island) for 1000 years • Set up first and only dynasty; claimed direct descent from the sun goddess, Amaterasu • Chose the rising sun as its symbol • Emperors looked upon as living gods; Japanese emperor still traces its roots to the Yamato Early Traditions

• Shinto – “the way of the gods” • Tradition still lives today; shrines located in beautiful natural surroundings • Mountains, waterfalls, gnarled trees • The Korean Bridge • Japan and Korea have always been in contact • Shared artistic and cultural skills with each other • 500 AD – missionaries from Korea brought Buddhism • Chinese writing and culture was introduced Early Traditions

- 600’s: Prince Shotoku sent nobles to study in China; visited the Tang dynasty • Imported from China • Learned ideas of government including the idea of a “Heavenly Emperor” with absolute power • Strengthened central government with a bureaucracy • 710 AD – built new capital at Nara; spoke and dressed Chinese; served Chinese tea and food; used Chinese characters to write their history • Adopted pagoda architecture; accepted Confucian and Buddhist ideas; filial piety • Selective Borrowing – • Did not adopt civil service exams • Inherited status through family; officials were sons of nobles Japan Looks to China

- Blending of cultures from 794 – 1185 AD; capital located in Heian • An Elegant Court • Nobleman and women lived in luxury • Pavilions, gardens, lotus pools, elaborate rules for court etiquette • Women were forbidden to learn Chinese; but did produce some of the most important literature; The Pillow Book • Lady Murasaki • Marasaki Shikibu • Best known Heian writer • Wrote The Tale of Genji; was the world’s first full length novel The Heian Period

Japan’s Feudal Age

- A warrior aristocracy dominated Japanese society; the emperor was a powerless figurehead - Real power was in the hands of the shogun – - Minamoto Yoritomo was appointed shogun in 1192 AD; he set up the first of three shogunates; his was called the Kamakura shogunate • The World of Warriors • Distributed lands to vassal lords who supported him in war • Daimyo – • Samarai – • Heavily armed and trained in skills for fighting • Bushido – • If you betray the code of bushido you were expected to commit seppuku Japanese Feudalism Emerges

• Status of Women • Some trained to fight, most supervised family estates • As feudalism increased, inheritance was limited to the sons • Did not put women on a pedestal like chivalry • Peasants, Artisans, and Merchants • Peasants • Made up 75% of the population; formed the backbone of feudal society • Cultivated rice and other crops on the estates of samurai • Some served as foot soldiers • Artisans • Armorers and sword makers provided goods for the samurai class • Merchants • Lowest rank in society • Mongol Invasions • Refused to accept Mongol rule • Kublai Kahn tried to invade with 30, 000 troops but was suppressed by a typhoon twice • Japanese credited the victory to the kamikaze - Japanese Feudalism Emerges

• New dynasty took power in 1338 but led to many years of warfare • 1590 AD – General Toyotomi Hideyoshi brought most of Japan under his control • 1600 AD – Tokugawa Ieyasu became master of Japan and was named shogun • The Tokugawa shogunate ruled until 1868 Order and Unity Under the Tokugawas

• Centralized Feudalism • Kept outward form of feudal society but imposed a central government • Created unified, orderly society • The daimyo and his entire family were required to live in the capital with the shogun in Edo to keep them in check • Forbade them to build castles or marry without his permission • Put in place a strict moral code • Only samurai could serve in military or hold government positions • Samurais followed the bushido code • Peasants remained on the land were forbidden to wear luxuries such as silk • Women could be divorced for neglecting household duties Order and Unity Under the Tokugawas

• Economic Growth • Agriculture grew and improved • new seeds, tools, and fertilizer led to surpluses of food • New roads connected towns to the capital • Merchants began to make money and climb the social ladder Order and Unity Under the Tokugawas

• Zen Buddhism emphasizes meditation and devotion to duty • It was accepted by the samurai • Had contradicting messages • Zen monks were great scholars but valued the uncluttered mind and stressed the importance of reaching moment of “non-knowing” • Stressed compassion for all, yet samurai fought to kill • Sought to experience absolute freedom, yet rigid rules gave master complete authority over his students Zen Buddhism and Japanese Culture

Changing Artistic Traditions • Theater • 1300’s – No Plays • Performed on square, wooden platforms without scenery • Each movement had a special meaning • 1600’s – kabuki – • Portrayed family or historical events • Elaborate, colorful costumes; exaggerated movements for action • Bunraku • Literature • Many stories were influenced by Zen values • Haiku • Painting and Printmaking • Reflected Chinese landscape paintings; some told historical events • Woodblock prints

• In 1543, the Portuguese reached Japan. • A growing number of Japanese adopted Christianity. • By 1638, the Tokugawas had barred all western merchants and forbidden Japanese to travel abroad. • Japan maintained its policy of strict isolation for more than 200 years. • Isolation had a profound effect on Japan. • Without outside influence, Japanese culture turned inward. • In 1853, Japan was forced to reopen contacts with the western world. • Renewed relations unleashed an extraordinary period of change that helped Japan emerged as a major world power. Japan and Foreign Traders