What influence did other cultures have on Japan?

1. TOPIC: More About Japanese Culture
EQ: What influence did other cultures have
on Japan?

2. How did Chinese characters affect
Japanese Language?
• Ancient Japanese
only spoken
–No writing
system
–Overtime,
Japanese
scholars adapted
Chinese symbols
to write own
lang.

3. Japanese Sculptures:
Carving methods traveled to Japan
from China and Korea
• Archeologists found
examples of Japanese
burial spots that have
clay figures of warriors,
ladies, objects like boats
• Meant to protect dead
• Once Buddhism moved
to Japan, sculpting
changed

4. Chinese Sculpture
• Stone image of
Buddha
• Faint smile, elaborate
clothing
• Position of statue
show he is “Buddha
of future”

5. Korean Buddha Sculpture
• Cast in bronze
• Similar
expression
• Chinese and
Korean
immigrants first
to create
religious statues
like this

6. Japanese Buddha Sculpture
• Near Horyuji Temple
in Nara, Japan
• Used more wood
• Hands are in a
different position
• Expression different

7. What is Japanese music like?
• Japanese music
made of poem
chants, war songs,
Shinto prayers
– Used string
instruments
– Flutes, percussion
• Used a Chinese
instrument called a
Sheng
– Mouth organ, looked
like phoenix,
mythical bird!

8. How did China/ India influence
Japanese Architecture?
• Temple designs that started
in India, spread to China and
then Japan
• Chinese created structures
called pagodas
– Tower shaped structure
with roof, stories
• May have inspired Shinto
priests to build shrines
– Shinto = original religion
of Japan, respect for
cleanliness, nature