Ancient Japan

1. Ancient Japan

2. Outside Influences • Many ideas and practices borrowed from China and Korea • Korea: metal work, rice, Buddhism • China: philosophy, writing, calendar, gov. • Golden age –time of learning, discovery, and gaining riches, Prince Shotoku –sent people to learn from Korea and Japan

3. Buddhism • Buddha –born Siddhartha Gautama, could walk and talk at birth, “I am here to free humans from suffering” • Grew up in luxury and sheltered from all bad parts of the world, high caste in N. India • Sneaks out of palace, witnesses suffering, abandons his rich life, lives with ascetics for years

4. Tries to find meaning of life and suffering—sits under Bodhi tree and gets enlightened—becomes Buddha • Finds the “Middle Way” –moderation of things in life • Suffering caused by desire

5. No caste system, thoughts and actions are what matter • Reincarnation is not reward or punishment • Zen Buddhism –reach enlightenment suddenly through focus on koans (riddles, puzzles) –mostly in Japan

6. Feudal Japan • Country controlled by lords –a lot like medieval England • Lords hire warriors to protect their land –Samurai • Eventually a military government –ruled by a Shogun –very powerful, like a general of the samurai • Japan holds off the Mongols but it weakens the country

7. Europeans in Japan • Explorers from Europe arrive and convert many to the Catholic Faith • Shogun worries about western influence • Orders all Christians to leave Japan and bans trade with Europe and west • Japan isolates itself from the world for nearly 200 years