Early Japan

1. Early Japan Part I: Geography and Religion

2. Japan’s Geography • Archipelago: a group of many islands in a large body of water • Near China and Korea • Borders Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean • Offers natural protection from outsiders

3. Japan’s Geography Only 15% of land usable for farming Lots of rain and sunlight = good farming Experiences many earthquakes, tidal waves, and typhoons

4. Shinto (-ism) • Ancient Japanese religion • “the way of the gods” • Only worshipped in Japan • Has no books or priests • Ancestors are seen as important

5. Kami • Includes gods called Kami, meaning superior. • Kami promote fertility in crops and people • The belief that spirits existed in all things, living or not, was part of the religion.

6. Kami • Some kami are the spirits of ancestors. In Shinto’s earliest days, each clan honored its ancestral kami. • Other kami are the spiritual forces in nature and the environment.

7. Shrines • Kami are honored at shrines. The first shrines were outdoor spots-perhaps a large rock or tree-where people brought offerings of flowers or grain.

8. Shrines • Later, shrines were enclosed in buildings surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Many families have a small shrine in their houses or in their gardens.

9. Torii • When entering a shrine area, visitors pass through a gate called the torii. • Beyond the gate is a stone water basin. • Guests rinse their hands to purify themselves before entering the shrine area.

10. Buddhism in Japan • Spreads to Japan from China in 550 C.E. • Japanese worshipped both Shinto and Buddhism. • Spread of Buddhism led to the spread of other Chinese ideas.

11. Chinese Influences in Japan • Japanese developed out of Chinese writing. Chinese characters Japanese characters

12. Chinese Influences in Japan • Japanese architecture or building style copied many Chinese styles. Japanese building Chinese building

13. Early Japan Part II: Government and Social Structure

14. Heian Period • 794 – 1185 C.E. • Elaborate rituals and artistic pursuits • Everyone wrote poetry and painted • The Tale of Genji is an account of the life of a prince in the imperial court, the world’s first novel

15. Feudalism in Japan • Court families became more interested in luxuries than governing • Landowners began to rise in power and set up private armies • Feudalism: a political and military system in which individuals receive things in return for loyalty, military assistance, and other services.

16. Emperor - is just a figure head with little power. Shogun - Supreme Military Ruler. Minamoto Yoritomo became first shogun in 1192 Daimyos - Lords (landholders) Often fought each other for land/power. Samurai - Made up daimyo’s private army and followed bushido code

17. Samurai Codes • Bushido • Stressed bravery, loyalty, and honor • Samurai had to experience great physical pain and hardship without complaining. • They could not fear death. • Seppuku • Samurai commit suicide as an honorable way to avoid torture, execution, or defeat in battle.

18. Kamakura Shogunate • The real power during this time was at the military headquarters at Kamakura • Shoguns ruled from 1192 to 1868 C.E. • They pulled together to defeat the Mongols, but lost money in the process • Samurai attached themselves to their local lords instead of the central government