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MEDIEVAL JAPAN

MEDIEVAL JAPAN. SECTION 1. 1. GEOGRAPHY OF JAPAN. chain of islands in northern Pacific Ocean more than 3,000 islands most Japanese live on four largest islands mostly covered by mountains (80%) 20% farmable land 188 mountains are volcanoes many earthquakes occur

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MEDIEVAL JAPAN

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  1. MEDIEVAL JAPAN SECTION 1 1

  2. GEOGRAPHY OF JAPAN • chain of islands in northern Pacific Ocean • more than 3,000 islands • most Japanese live on four largest islands • mostly covered by mountains (80%) • 20% farmable land • 188 mountains are volcanoes • many earthquakes occur • lack of natural resources • dependence on foreign territories • geography isolates Japanese • natural isolation (island nation) • resulted in limited & selected foreign influence 2

  3. Islands of Japan 3

  4. Where did most Japanese live? • Japan’s four largest islands • Hokkaido • located furthest north • Honshu • Largest • Heian (Kyoto) • Mt. Fuji • Nara • Edo (Tokyo – today capital of Japan) • Shikoku • smallest • Kyushu • located furthest south 4

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  6. MOUNT FUJI • located on Honshu • west of Tokyo • highest mountain in Japan (12,388 ft.) • symmetrical cone-shape • sacred place- one of three holy mountains (Mt. Tate & Mt. Haku) • believed to have a soul • thousands climb yearly to reach shrine at top • frequently depicted in art and photographs • well-known symbol of Japan 6

  7. MOUNT FUJI 7

  8. JOMON • means “cord marks” • 5000 B.C. wandering groups • made clay pottery, using knotted cords to make designs • over time, settled in fishing villages along coast • fishing way of life 8

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  10. YAYOI • ancestors of the Japanese people • introduced farming • practiced skills learned from Chinese & Koreans • potter’s wheel • grew rice in paddies 10

  11. POTTERY WHEEL 11

  12. Rice Paddy 12

  13. YAYOI (continued) spear • skilled metal-workers • axes, knives & hoes from iron • swords, spears, & bells from bronze • organized themselves into clans • buried chiefs in tombs called kofun bell axe 13

  14. CLANS • group of families related by blood or marriage • headed by small group of warriors • warrior chiefs protected people for share of rice harvest • under warriors – farmers, artisans, and servant of warriors 14

  15. KOFUN • large mounds of dirt carefully shaped and surrounded by ditches • tombs where chiefs buried • many large • as big as Egypt’s pyramids • largest • longer than five football fields • at least eight stories high • filled with personal belongings • pottery, tools, weapons, and armor 15

  16. KOFUN MOUND 16

  17. KOFUN BURIEL SITE 17

  18. Myth: The Creation of Japan • two gods dipped a spear into sea • they pulled it out • drops of salt water fell on water’s surface • formed the islands of Japan • two gods then created sun goddess Amaterasu 18

  19. AMATERASU Susanowo • “sun goddess” • ruled over Earth • companion, Susanowo, storm god • children became first people of Japan • sent grandson, Ninigi, to rule over them • gave him her mirror, her jewel, and a sword • to make sure everyone accepts his power • became sacred symbols of leadership Ninigi 19

  20. YAMATO • clan in A.D. 500s • brought most of Japan under its rule • other clans held their lands • gave loyalty to Yamato chief • Yamato chiefs claimed they came from sun goddess • result - had the right to rule 20

  21. JIMMU • Yamato leader • took title “emperor of heaven” • founded line of rulers never been broken • Akihito • is one of Jimmu’s descendants • Japan’s emperor today 21

  22. Prince Shotoku • Prince Shotoku emerged as the leader of the Yamato clan & initiated a reform program modeled after Tang China. • gave constitutional power to the emperor. 22

  23. PRINCE SHOTOKU • took charge of Japan on behalf of his Aunt, the empress Suiko (regent) • powerful emperor • with help of trained officials chosen for abilities • wanted to create a strong government • created Japan’s first constitution • borrowed many ideas from China • sent officials and students to China to study 23

  24. CONSTITUTION • a plan of government • created by Prince Shotoku • many ideas borrowed from China • all power given to emperor • even appointing officials • created bureaucracy • government divided into departments • listed rules for working the government • taken from ideas of Confucius 24

  25. HORYUJI • Shotoku ordered Buddhist temples and monasteries built throughout Japan • Japan’s oldest temple • world’s oldest surviving wooden building 25

  26. TAIKA • “great change” • divided Japan into provinces or regional districts • run by officials who reported to emperor • all land under emperor’s control • clan leaders… - can direct farmers working land - cannot collect taxes • government officials gather part of farmer’s harvest in taxes for emperor 26

  27. RESULTS • Taika or “great change” PLUS • Prince Shotoku’s reforms • created Japan’s first strong centralized government 27

  28. ANIMISM • early Japanese belief • all natural things are alive and have their own spirits • the winds, mountains, and rivers • people needing help, asked nature spirits to help them • called nature spirits “kami” 28

  29. KAMI • “nature spirits” • Kami helps Japanese • only if a person is pure • illness causes spiritual stains • must be cleansed by bathing and other rituals before praying • honor kami at shrines • beliefs developed into Shinto religion 29

  30. Torii Gate SHRINES • holy place • place of worship • honored “kami” (nature spirits) • priests, musicians, and dancers performed rituals • people ask gods for…. • a good harvest • a wife • a child • some other favor Shinto Shrine 30

  31. SHINTO • Japanese religion • means “way of the spirits” • based on nature spirits • believed all natural things were alive (the winds, mountains, and rivers) • spiritual stains must be cleansed by bathing and other rituals before praying 31

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