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Medieval Society, Economy and Culture. Diffusion of Technology. Compact Settlements. Demographic base of medieval agricultural revolution. Retreat of Epidemic disease. Population growth. Land Clearance. Medieval agricultural revolution: Clearing fields.
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Diffusion of Technology Compact Settlements Demographic base of medieval agricultural revolution Retreat of Epidemic disease Population growth Land Clearance
Medieval agricultural revolution: Clearing fields
Medieval agricultural revolution: plowing, planting • Water wheels • Metal tools • Double cropping • Fertilizer • Population rises -> 6 to 12 million, from about 1200-1600
Greater productivity-> greater specialization • At first, under patronage of temples or nobles; a sort of “estate”, generating shiki or shares • Artisan colonies become independent of estate owners • Pay dues to a lord in exch. for protection • Markets emerge
Medieval Kyoto, female money lender
Medieval Kyoto street life
New Economic Context for Cultural Life • Economic developments > social changes • Increased stratification in peasants communities • New class of merchants and artisans in cities • Enables new support for culture, religion
New BuddhistSects • Kyoto and Nara Buddhism too exclusive & complicated (ritualistic) for new classes • Salvation ideas within Tendai became popular from late Heian period • Amida would save humans in age of decline • Rebirth in Pure Land (Paradise) stop-over to Nirvana
Genshin’s “Essentials of Salvation” • Imported from China • Depicted paradise and hell for the first time • Easy to understand also for commoners
Amida Buddhism: 2 versions • Hōnen(1133-1212): Pure Land • Invocation of Amida superior to other methods • Repeated recitation of Nembutsu (Praise Amida)
(2) Jōdo Shinshū: True Pure Land • Shinran(1173-1262) • Brought Amidism to its logical conclusion • One sincere thought enough • Popular among lower classes and warriors
Nichiren (1222-1282) • All secrets can be found in the Lotus Sutra • Uncompromising and nationalistic • Japan would reinvigorate Buddhism • But only if Nichiren's Buddhism was followed • Predicted Mongol invasions • Nichiren/Lotus Sect
Tariki (strength of others) vs. Jiriki (strength of self Belief that individuals’ actions cannot bring them to nirvana Reliance on others Pure Land True Pure Land Belief that true understanding can only come from within Reliance on self Zen
Zen Buddhism founders Eisai (1141-1215) (at left) and Dōgen (1200-1253) (not pictured
Gold Pavilion
Ryōanji rock garden Tea Ceremony implements
Conclusions • Economic vitality despite (or because of) political disunity • Religious vitality and diversity, linked to more complex society and economy • Draws on cultural flows from Asian continent