What was life in Japan like before the rise of the shogun?

Year 8 HistoryMr. Modra

Introduction

Geography Shintoism Beginning of social order The imperial court Significant individual – Prince

Shotoku The city of Heian-Kyo The Samurai Questions

Geography

Japan has more than 3000  islands, but most Japanese  live on the four largest 

Honshu,  Shikoku, Kyushu Hokkaido. Japan’s rugged terrain means

 that only 15 per cent of the  land can be farmed.

Throughout Japan’s history,  local clans (family groups)  fought over fertile land or  what little there was.

Geography

The mountainous landscape encouraged  many Japanese to look to the sea for a living. 

Early Japanese settlers fished from coastal villages.

To this day, seafood remains an important part  of the Japanese diet. 

Merchants travelled along the coastline, visiting villages with goods to trade.

The sea surrounding Japan separated its people from Asia and, as a result, Japan  developed its own unique religion, arts and  social structures.

Shinto and Buddhism

Buddhism started in India -> China -> Korea -> Japan

Shintoism

The roots of Japan’s traditional Shinto religion (meaning ‘the way of the gods’) were laid down thousands of years ago.

 Shintoism is a religion that is still practised today. 

Followers believe that the gods are sacred spirits known as kami. Like many other ancient  peoples, the early Japanese believed  that all natural things were alive. 

Shintoism

Is a belief system that has a positive, uplifting view of life on Earth.

People are basically considered basically good. Evil spirits are responsible for bad things Many Shinto Rituals are aimed at warding of evil

spirits Paper brings luck because the word for paper in Japanese is also Kami. Many major Deities Fortune telling omikuji papers are found at the shrines which is given out after making a donation

Tori

A traditional Japanese gate that is found at the entry way into a Shinto shrine or at sacred sites

Creation Myth

According to a Shinto creation myth, in the beginning there were two gods called Izanagi and Izanami (his wife). They placed a spear into the ocean and as they brought it out, water drops falling from the spear formed into the islands of Japan.

Izanami had many children, but died while giving birth to Kagu-Tsuchi, the god of fire. Izanagi followed her into Yomi, the Land of the Dead, to bring her back. By doing so, he brought impurities back with him that affected the Earth. These impurities cause human wrongdoing. He washed himself and the water drops that fell from his body became other gods. These included Susanowo, the storm god, and Amaterasu, the Sun goddess. Amaterasu’s grandson, Jimmu, was said to be the ancestor of the emperors of Japan.

Questions

Who are the kami and why are they important in the Shinto religion? Create a facts chart on what you have learned in this section about

Shintoism. Look at Source 5.4.

Why do you think omikuji papers are located at Shinto shrines? What is the Japanese word for ‘paper’? What link does this have

with Shintoism? Look at Source 5.5.

Who are the characters in the image and what are they doing? How are these characters thought to have been connected to the

emperors? Draw a simple comic strip (use simple stick figures if you like) to retell

the myth of Japan’s creation and what happened to the gods involved. Look at Source 5.6.

Why do you think a tori has been placed on top of the Wedded Rocks?

What do you think is the significance of the knotted rope?

Beginning of social order

Despite their power, clan leaders needed help to protect their lands and enforce the law. So they called on men from Japan’s lower social ranks.

Over time, these men came to be known as the samurai ‘those who serve’. By around the 12th century, the samurai had developed into a highly trained and skilled warrior class who were masters of martial arts.

The Samurai

Soldiers became corrupt and attacked farmers and travelers

• Landowners surrounded themselves with bodyguards or SAMURAI (one who serves)– Lived according to the BUSHIDO – BUSHIDO – code of behavior or “the way of the

warrior”• Show courage• Reverence to gods• Protect those who were weaker• Die an honorable death

• If they did not uphold the code they were expected to commit ‘Hari kiri’

Yamato Clan By 5th century they were the leading

clan The Yamato claimed to be the emperors

but had no real power The clans had real power If another clan claimed power, they

simply controlled the emperor Yamato chiefs claimed that they were

descended from the Sun goddess Amaterasu, and therefore had a right to rule Japan.

Yamato clan

Japan was made up of hundreds of clans, each with their own warlords, that controlled their own territories

Worshipped own nature gods/goddesses

Later they combined to form SHINTO

Yamato clan

Around this time, the Yamato clan grew to control much of southern Japan, developing great military power in order to protect its territory.

Other clans still held their own lands, but had to promise their loyalty to the Yamato chief. The Yamato chief’s territory was divided into a series of provinces that were controlled by the junior clan chiefs. Each of these chiefs ensured that the supreme leader

The imperial Court

It was believed the emperor communicated with the gods and had magical powers. Therefore, he did not involve himself in the day to- day running of his country.

Special advisors and ministers were appointed to carry out these functions.

The emperor was removed from his people, living in an isolated, but beautiful, imperial court. It was a place of luxury and privilege for a select few. The reality of life did not come inside

The imperial Court

Men who belonged to the court had little contact with the outside world unless they were appointed as a governor of a domain.

It was more important to them to be a good poet than it was to be a good administrator.

The court was often entertained through poetry or music contests, or through scrolls of picture stories.

Physical activities included archery and kemari, where the players had to kick a leather ball to each other without letting it touch the ground.

Significant individual – Prince Shotoku (573 ce)

Planned to strengthen imperial authority by building a strong government.

Created a new constitution – The Seventeen Article Constitution Gave all power to the Emperor Controlled rice cultivation Rice farmers had to pay tax and offer

military service Not focused on laws but on morals and

virtues

Significant individual – Prince Shotoku

After his reign the emperor continued assert their authority.

All land in Japan came under the emperor’s control and in 646 when he divided Japan into provinces run by officials who took part of the crops for the emperor

Clan leaders can no longer collect taxes

The Seventeen Article Constitution

Source 5.10Harmony is to be cherished, and opposition for opposition’s sake

must be avoided as a matter of principle … When an imperial command is given, obey it with reverence. The sovereign is likened to heaven, and his subjects are likened to earth.

With heaven providing the cover and earth supporting it, the four seasons proceed in orderly fashion, giving sustenance to all that which is in nature. If earth attempts to overtake the functions of heaven, it destroys everything. Cast away your ravenous desire for food and abandon your covetousness for material possessions. If a suit is brought before you, render a clear-cut judgement … Punish that which is evil and encourage that which is good.

Translated extract from The Seventeen-Article Constitution created by Shotoku

Heian PeriodIn 794 the imperial court moved its capital to Heian (modern day Kyoto)

Highly refined court society arose

Had many rulesLength of swordsColor of robesEven number of skirts women wore

Heian Period

Etiquette (good manners) were extremely important Loud laughing, or mismatched clothes

were considered deeply embarrassingEveryone at the court was expected

to write poetry and paintLady Murasaki Shikibu – Tale of Genji

Life of a prince in the imperial court Detailed description of court life during

this period

The city of Heian-Kyo

Planned city established in 749 by Emperor Kammu.

Become the capital of Japan for over 1000 years and is now known as Kyoto.