Section IV: Japan: An Island Section IV: Japan: An Island EmpireEmpire

(Pages 260-265)(Pages 260-265)

Section IV: Japan: An Island Section IV: Japan: An Island EmpireEmpire

(Pages 260-265)(Pages 260-265)

This section is about:This section is about: How Japanese culture How Japanese culture

was affected by Korean was affected by Korean and Chinese influences.and Chinese influences.

How Japanese traditions How Japanese traditions developed during the developed during the Heian period.Heian period.

The development of a The development of a feudal society in Japan.feudal society in Japan.

Let’s start by seeing who some of the people are in Japan Let’s start by seeing who some of the people are in Japan (picture on page 263).(picture on page 263).

The picture in this section you know a little about is on page The picture in this section you know a little about is on page 260 (from a few years ago).260 (from a few years ago).

And, we should look at the Main Ideas on 260.And, we should look at the Main Ideas on 260.

Geography and Early History of JapanGeography and Early History of Japan

Japan has been strongly Japan has been strongly influenced by China (but it has influenced by China (but it has kept it’s own culture).kept it’s own culture).

Made up of 4 main islands (not Made up of 4 main islands (not good for farming).good for farming).

Japan has many volcanoes, Japan has many volcanoes, earthquakes, and earthquakes, and tsunami’stsunami’s (tidal waves).(tidal waves).

The Sea dominates the life of The Sea dominates the life of the Japanese (food and the Japanese (food and climate).climate).

It’s isolation has also kept it It’s isolation has also kept it from being attacked or from being attacked or influenced by others.influenced by others.

The Ainu were the first Japanese The Ainu were the first Japanese ((several thousand years ago).((several thousand years ago).

Early TraditionsEarly Traditions

Early Japan had 2 Early Japan had 2 groups (Uji and Be) – groups (Uji and Be) – each with several clans.each with several clans.

Uji clans were the Uji clans were the aristocracy (higher up). aristocracy (higher up).

Uji’s had a chieftain and Uji’s had a chieftain and worshipped their own worshipped their own clan god (considered clan god (considered and ancestor).and ancestor).

Be clans were organized Be clans were organized more by occupation more by occupation (farming, weaving, (farming, weaving, fishing, etc…).fishing, etc…).

The Yamato was the most The Yamato was the most powerful Uji clan (claimed powerful Uji clan (claimed to have been descended to have been descended from the sun god).from the sun god).

In 645, the ruler of the In 645, the ruler of the Yamato clan became Yamato clan became emperor. He chose the emperor. He chose the rising sun as the symbol of rising sun as the symbol of his empire.his empire.

Early Japanese worshipped Early Japanese worshipped kami (nature spirits) – who kami (nature spirits) – who lived in natural winders lived in natural winders such as waterfalls, such as waterfalls, mountains, trees, unusual mountains, trees, unusual rocks, …rocks, …

They built shrines to these They built shrines to these gods The worship of Kami gods The worship of Kami became known as Shinto became known as Shinto (“the way of the gods”) and (“the way of the gods”) and is still practiced today.is still practiced today.

Influences on Influences on Early JapanEarly Japan

Korean and Chinese immigrants Korean and Chinese immigrants brought culture (crafts, writing, brought culture (crafts, writing, literature, the arts, literature, the arts, Confucianism, Buddhism, …).Confucianism, Buddhism, …).

In the 600’s, a powerful Yamato In the 600’s, a powerful Yamato prince (Shotoku) became prince (Shotoku) became fascinated with China and fascinated with China and wanted his people to adopt wanted his people to adopt their ways. their ways.

He even sent students to He even sent students to acquire the knowledge and acquire the knowledge and skills of the Chinese (in art, skills of the Chinese (in art, technology, religion, Tang technology, religion, Tang government).government).

Japanese government ended up Japanese government ended up very Chinese - the rulers even very Chinese - the rulers even called themselves emperors.called themselves emperors.

More……More……

The emperor even had a new city built The emperor even had a new city built (Chinese style buildings).(Chinese style buildings).

They used Chinese ceremonies.They used Chinese ceremonies. Studied Chinese literature. Studied Chinese literature. Wore Chinese style clothing.Wore Chinese style clothing. Scholars and officials wrote in Chinese.Scholars and officials wrote in Chinese. Pagodas were built.Pagodas were built. Confucianism and Buddhism spread.Confucianism and Buddhism spread. By the 800’s though, they had started to lose By the 800’s though, they had started to lose

interest, and became less and less Chinese interest, and became less and less Chinese (only did “selective borrowing”).(only did “selective borrowing”).

The Heian PeriodThe Heian Period Lasted from 794-1185.Lasted from 794-1185. They kept some They kept some

Chinese customs.Chinese customs. Heian was patterned Heian was patterned

after Changan. Heian after Changan. Heian later beacme Kyoto later beacme Kyoto (capital of Japan until (capital of Japan until 1868 and the “Protocol” 1868 and the “Protocol” place).place).

Eventually, this is where Eventually, this is where some new Japanese some new Japanese traditions emerged.traditions emerged.

Heian CultureHeian Culture

Chinese culture adapted to Chinese culture adapted to Japanese culture (art, Japanese culture (art, literature, painting).literature, painting).

A new writing system A new writing system called kana – with symbols called kana – with symbols representing sounds.representing sounds.

Only men were allowed to Only men were allowed to write Chinese, so women write Chinese, so women began to write in kana. began to write in kana.

““The Tale of Genji” comes The Tale of Genji” comes from this time – written by from this time – written by a woman about the a woman about the adventures of a fictional adventures of a fictional prince.prince.

The Heian CourtThe Heian Court

The Japanese government The Japanese government was almost completely was almost completely controlled by a wealthy controlled by a wealthy family (Fujiwara - in the family (Fujiwara - in the 800’s).800’s).

They never tried to rule, They never tried to rule, but they controlled a lot but they controlled a lot (very wealthy and tried to (very wealthy and tried to get their daughters married get their daughters married to the heirs to the throne).to the heirs to the throne).

This family of court nobles This family of court nobles lived in great luxury.lived in great luxury.

It was a time known for It was a time known for decorated courts, elegant decorated courts, elegant gardens, good manners, gardens, good manners, and love of beauty.and love of beauty.

Feudal JapanFeudal Japan

After the Heian After the Heian period, there were period, there were struggles for power – struggles for power – between rival clans.between rival clans.

Landowners began Landowners began to keep armed to keep armed guards.guards.

This system was This system was called called feudalism feudalism (where lesser people (where lesser people owe higher people).owe higher people).

The Japanese The Japanese Feudal SystemFeudal System

The emperor was still the leader The emperor was still the leader of Japan – but he had very little of Japan – but he had very little power.power.

The The ShogunShogun (supreme military (supreme military commander) had much of the commander) had much of the power.power.

He relied on the He relied on the daimyodaimyo (landowners) top control the rest.(landowners) top control the rest.

The The Samurai Samurai (warriors) “worked” (warriors) “worked” under the daimyo.under the daimyo.

Samurai lived under a code which Samurai lived under a code which stressed courage, honor, and stressed courage, honor, and loyalty to their lord.loyalty to their lord.

Peasants artisans, and Peasants artisans, and craftspeople were all below the craftspeople were all below the Samurai.Samurai.

Developments of the Feudal Developments of the Feudal Age.Age.

Minamoto Yoritomo became Minamoto Yoritomo became Shogun in 1192 – and set up Shogun in 1192 – and set up a military government that a military government that kept 150 years of peace in kept 150 years of peace in Japan.Japan.

In the 1200’s the Mongols In the 1200’s the Mongols conquered China and Korea, conquered China and Korea, but couldn’t invade Japan but couldn’t invade Japan (storms drove them back).(storms drove them back).

Years later, they tried again. Years later, they tried again. The Japanese army held The Japanese army held them at the beach for 2 them at the beach for 2 months – until a typhoon hit months – until a typhoon hit them (destroying half the them (destroying half the fleet).fleet).

The Japanese celebrated the The Japanese celebrated the kamikaze (“divine wind”) of kamikaze (“divine wind”) of the typhoonthe typhoon

More…More…

The Japanese kept their The Japanese kept their army prepared for years – army prepared for years – just in case there was just in case there was another attack).another attack).

No attacks, the army cost No attacks, the army cost money and was weakened.money and was weakened.

There was struggle for There was struggle for power (and civil war) which power (and civil war) which lasted for 50 years.lasted for 50 years.

The Ashikaga shoguns The Ashikaga shoguns controlled Japan (a little) controlled Japan (a little) for about 200 years, but for about 200 years, but Japan began to have Japan began to have constant struggles for constant struggles for power.power.

In the late 1500’s, warlords In the late 1500’s, warlords began to re-unite Japan. began to re-unite Japan.

They even attacked Korea They even attacked Korea in 1590 (unsuccessfully). in 1590 (unsuccessfully).

In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa established the Tokugawa shogunate – and the wars shogunate – and the wars ended.ended.

Culture in the Culture in the Feudal AgeFeudal Age

This was a time of This was a time of great economic great economic growth.growth.

ZenZen Buddhism began Buddhism began to grow (stressed to grow (stressed devotion to duty, and devotion to duty, and meditation, and meditation, and achieving a state of achieving a state of “no-mind”).“no-mind”).

Samurai liked the idea Samurai liked the idea Zen Buddhism.Zen Buddhism.

Zen dominated the Zen dominated the arts of the time.arts of the time.

Zen stresses simplicity Zen stresses simplicity and tranquility.and tranquility.

Simple designs Simple designs became popular.became popular.

Peaceful B/W Peaceful B/W landscape paintings.landscape paintings.

Building which Building which promoted Zen.promoted Zen.

Zen gardens.Zen gardens. Even Samurai Even Samurai

practiced the art of practiced the art of flower arranging – to flower arranging – to achieve peace.achieve peace.

The Japanese Tea The Japanese Tea Ceremony developed.Ceremony developed.

Tea helped priests Tea helped priests stay awake to stay awake to mediate.mediate.

This became a big This became a big part of Japanese part of Japanese culture (and still is culture (and still is today).today).

Painting, architecture, Painting, architecture, garden art, and drama garden art, and drama all flourished.all flourished.

More…More…

Japanese Theater Japanese Theater (both still performed today)(both still performed today)

KabukiKabuki Mostly for the common Mostly for the common

people.people. Usually done by traveling Usually done by traveling

actors.actors. Colorful costumes and heavy Colorful costumes and heavy

make-up.make-up. Sang, danced, and acted out Sang, danced, and acted out

stories of love, war, and stories of love, war, and heroism.heroism.

Some performances lasted up Some performances lasted up to 18 hours (there were to 18 hours (there were snacks).snacks).

Noh DramaNoh Drama For the upper class.For the upper class. Had very little action.Had very little action. Usually two actors on an Usually two actors on an

empty stage.empty stage. Only scenery: a simple screen Only scenery: a simple screen

and a painting of a pine tree – and a painting of a pine tree – to remind the audiences the to remind the audiences the first Noh Dramas were at first Noh Dramas were at Shinto shrines.Shinto shrines.

Used flutes and drums, and a Used flutes and drums, and a chanting chorus.chanting chorus.

Stories were about honor, Stories were about honor, unselfishness, and ideals of unselfishness, and ideals of Japanese culture.Japanese culture.