Japan is an archipelago of four main islands located in East Asia. It has a mountainous terrain prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. Chinese influence beginning in the 6th century introduced Confucianism, Buddhism, writing systems, art, science, fashion, and the model of a centralized government. Feudalism emerged in the 12th century under the rule of shoguns and local daimyo lords, with samurai warriors serving as the police force. Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281 were repelled by typhoons, cementing Japan's isolation.

1. Japan
日本
 Honors World History

2. Geography of Japan
 Archipelago: island chain
 4 main islands:
 Label on your map

3. Geography of Japan
 Very mountainous, only a small amount of
land can be used for farming

4. Geography of Japan
 Prone to
earthquakes

Seismic Hazard
Map

5. Geography of Japan
 Tsunamis
 Typhoons

Map shows 150
years of tropical
cyclones (through
September 2006)
What observations
can you make about
this map of tropical
cyclone activity?

6. Major Turning Points in Japanese History
Lasted
8000
years
-Jomon
Culture-
-Yayoi
CultureAgricultural,
bronze, & iron Tomb
Period
revolutions
Old Stone Age
500
B.C.E.
0
Chinese
Influential
Period:
Writing,
Feudal
technologies,
Japan
philosophies
-Nara- -Heian-
500 C.E.
1000 C.E.
Edo
Period
(Japan’s
Isolation)
1500 C.E. 2000 C.E.
The name Jomon, refers to
the “cord pattern” pottery
found from this time & the
term Yayoi refers to the area
where its pottery was first
unearthed

7. Dogū
 Is this a female
• Small figurines from
the Jomon period
deity?
 Why are the eyes
• Tens of thousands
have be found all
slitted? Snow
over Japan (not
goggles?
Okinawa)
• Studying historya
 Was it part of starts
with asking questions.
mystical medicine
Study the image of
practice?
this Dogū.
• Are they wearing
 What questions do
spacesuits?
you have?

8. Shinto
 Kami: gods/nature spirits
 These spirits live in natural objects


Sand, waterfalls, trees
Animism:
 Many Japanese clans trace their linage to a particular kami
 Shinto means “the way of the Kami” or “the way of the gods”
 No scripture or doctrine
 People worship with rituals and prayers to please the kami


Ritual cleanliness
Shamans: (male or female religious specialists) entered trances, directly
contact inner forces of nature in order to tell the future/heal

9. Yamato Clan
Age of Great Tombs
 Early Emperors acted as Shinto
Priests
 Yamato family came to power in
the early 300s and held power ever
since.




Longest ruling royal family in the world
Kami: Sun goddess; became chief deity
Yamato family became living gods
Japanese creation story is a blend of the
stories/kami/ genealogy of the early
noble families
Mukadezuka Tomb,
Miyazaki Prefecture
 Early Yamato aristocratic society:




uji (extended family clans)
be (groups of specialists workers)
Slaves
Most peasants not part of social hierarchy
Kaguraden (prayer hall)
The Great Shrine of the sun
Goddess in Ise

10. Yamato Japan and Korea c. 500 C.E.
•
•
•
Rebellions
Wars with “barbarian tribes”
from Kyushu and eastern
Honshu
Korean Influences:
 Confucianism


513 C.E.: Paekche sent a
“scholar of the Five Classics”
Buddhism


Paekche King sent a Buddha
image, sutras and maybe a
priest to Yamato
Did not replace Shinto,
merged with Japanese
culture

11. Chinese Influential Period
Nara & Heian
 Yamato court sent official embassies to Tang court,
from 607 C.E.-839 C.E.
 Traders, students, monks





Art
Science
Government
Fashion
Education



Court education in Chinese
From 700s- 1800s, most philosophical , legal documents,
histories, essays, and religious texts were written in
Chinese
Kana developed during 9th century
Bentendo Hall, Kyoto
 680s C.E., Japanese Emperor Temmu modeled
government after Tang Dynasty laws


Centralized government and gave emperor more power
Changed his title from “great king” to tennō “heavenly
emperor”
 794 C.E. built capitol: Heian-kyo (Kyoto)
 Chinese influence lessened
 Japanese poets emerged
 Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote “Tale of Genji”

World’s first novel, 1010 C.E.
Capitol Moved
to Tokyo in
1869

12. Scenes from The Tale of Genji
The story of the life of Genji, the son of the emperor and his favorite concubine,
Kiritsubo

13. Taxation
Emperor/Court
Governor
District
Magistrate
Landowners
Governor
District
Magistrate
District
Magistrate
District
Magistrate
Commend:
Landowners
Landowners
Landowners
Feudal Law. to place (oneself
or one's land) under another's
protection temples used his
Court Nobles and powerfulso as to become their influences to
tenant farmer
obtain tax exemptions
Landowners
Landowners
Landowners
Half of the land would become tax-free, due to exemptions
Small landowners often commended their land to nobles,
opting to be serfs on tax-free estates, than pay taxes on
their own land
Landowners

14. Feudal Japan
 System of government brought from China Takauji
Ashikaga
claims Shogunate
declines
for his own clan
In 1185, the emperor
(He was suppose
 Centralized government: emperor & powerful
granted Minamoto Yoritomo
to help Emperor
the title of Shogun [general]
families
Go-Daigo regain
- Shogun has power over
power)
 Local governments: finances and laws
local landowners with warriors
military,
Fujiwara
800 C.E. 1000 C.E.
Minamoto
1200 C.E.
Ashikaga
1400 C.E.
1600 C.E.
1800 C.E.

15. Local Level
 Landlords hold power
 Hire warriors, called samurai, for protection

Similar to European Knights
 Local lords (daimyo: “great names”) and their samurai
(“those who served”) were the most powerful people
during the Ashikaga shogunate

17. Samurai
 Did not pay taxes
 Expensive (armor, horses, weapons, training); from
well-to-do families
 Main function: local police
 Traits of a samurai


Loyal to clan/lord
Skilled swordsman




Conduct a proper tea ceremony
Write poetry
Bushido: samurai code of behavior; “way of the warrior”



Swords had names
Bravery, loyality, honor
Samurai would except physical hardships without complaint
and did not fear death
Seppuku: ceremonial suicide (aka: hara-kiri)

Avoid dishonor that accompanied defeat or disobedience

18. Central Government
 Emperor; had less power, but a stronger connection
to the deities

Portuguese explorers compared the emperor to the Pope
 Shoguns: Ruler of Japan; general

19. Pause on Japan…

20. Mongols
 At its height, the Mongol
army had 100,000 cavalry
(mounted troops)
 Advantages over foot
soldiers


Cover up to 100 miles a day
Accurately fire arrows while
riding
 Genghis Khan: “universal
ruler”, 1162-1227

Created an empire

21. Mongol Empire, c. 1294

22. Mongols vs. Japanese
 1266: Kublai Khan




demands Japan to
submit to his rule
1274-1281
Mongol Warlord
Kublai Khan tries to
conquer Japan
Second invasion:
sends 140,000 soldiers
Japanese build stone
wall (Hakata Bay) and
hold of Mongols for 2
months
About 2.5 km long

23. Mongols vs. Japanese
 A powerful typhoon wrecks the fleet
 Kamikaze, “divine wind”
[Video]
13th century Mongol ship
found near Nagasaki in
2011

24. Zen Buddhism
 Introduced from Song China,
c. 1100
 Interested warriors



Salvation through enlightenment,
not faith
Similar to Daoism
Develop discipline through
meditation
• Inspired art and culture
•
•
•
Landscape architecture: Zen
gardens
Tea ceremony: spiritual calm
Noh play: dance dramas
Noh Plays
Masks worn by actors
Ryoanji, Zen garden

25. Women in Japanese Society
 Served as rulers, including Shogun and Empresses
 Writers
 Trained in military arts
 Status began to decline in the 14th and 15th centuries
 Daughters no longer allowed to inherit

26. Questions
 In what ways did China influence Japan?
 Which is the most important? Why?