Japan: Shinto, Buddhism & Chinese Influences | Geography, Culture & History

1. Japan

2. Objectives • The student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: • Describing Japan, with emphasis on the impact of Shinto and Buddhist traditions and the influence of Chinese culture • Questions • How has Japan’s geography influenced its development? • How did Chinese culture influence Japan? • Why were Shinto and Buddhism important to the development of Japanese culture?

3. Geography • Chain of islands between Sea of Japan & the Pacific Ocean • Four large islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, & Kyushu) • 3900 smaller islands • Mountains cover ¾ of Japan • Valleys between mountains are fertile (rice) • Sea is also a main source of food

4. Geography • Advantages • Southern Japan enjoys mild climate with plenty of rainfall • Being surrounded by water offered protection from outsiders. • Japan’s development was influenced by the proximity to China • Disadvantages • Mountainous • Only 15% of land is suitable for farming • Lack of natural resources • Natural disaster threats • Typhoons, earthquakes, and tidal waves

5. Early Japan • Japan a collection of hundreds of clans • Not a unified state • Practiced early form of Shinto religion • No complex rituals or philosophy • Based on respect for the forces of nature and worship of ancestors • Believed in kami • The divine spirits that dwelled in nature • The Yamato • By 5th century, the Yamato clan established itself as the leading clan • Claimed to be descended from sun goddess, Amatersu • By 7th century called themselves the 1st emperors of Japan • Lacked real power but never overthrown

6. Beginnings of Japan • About 500 • Around same time agriculture improved dramatically • Chinese influences begin to appear

7. Influences from China • Buddhism • Brought to Japan by Korean travelers • Imperial court accepted in mid-700s • By 8th century had spread throughout Japan • Appreciated its teachings and the beauty and mystery of its ceremonies and art • Combined both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs • Buddhism is declared the state religion of Japan in 594 C.E. • Shinto – ancient Japanese religion focusing on rituals of cleanliness, loyalty to family, respect to ancestors, valuing nature, & worshipping the emperor. • Associated with Imperial family • No scriptures but ceremonies that are a part of daily life • Confucianism from China

8. Selective Borrowing • Prince Shotoku 607 C.E. • Converted to Buddhism • Sent “missions” to China to study Chinese civilization 1st hand • Sent several groups over a 200 year period, during the Tang Dynasty • Taking Chinese ways but modifying them • Example: • Japan didn’t adopt civil service exams but they did adopt a tradition of inheriting status through family tradition • Officials were educated sons of nobles • As Tang Dynasty declined in China, Japan turned away from that model • Asserted Japanese identity • Japanese culture would bloom

9. Chinese influence • 1st brought by Korean travelers • Pictographic Writing (kanji) - one character represents a meaning • By 900, Japanese simplified kanji to make kana (“borrowed letters”). Kana includes Hiragana & Katakana. • Simpler set of letters based on sounds

10. Influences from China • Architecture Chinese building Japanese building

11. Influences from China • Other areas of influence • Government • Modeled Japanese government on China’s • Planned a strong central government • Examination system failed • Noble families retained power • Art • Painted landscapes like Chinese artists • Everyday living • Cooking, gardening, drinking tea, and hairdressing

12. Heian Period • Japanese capital moved to Heian (Kyoto) in 794 C.E. • Many noble families moved as well • Capital moved away from influence of Buddhist priests • Led to creation of highly refined court society • Japan broke off much of their Chinese contacts • By 1000 C.E. Japan was isolated from China and Korea

13. Heian Period (794- 1185 C.E.) • Court • Elegant and sophisticated culture • Fairy-tale atmosphere • Elaborate rules of dress • Heian women produced important works of literature • Diaries, essays, poetry • Pillow Book, written by Sei Shonagon 900s A.D. • Court manners, Amusements • Décor , dress

14. Women’s Rights • Women had a certain level of equality • Laws made it clear that women were still subordinate to men • Men could still divorce women for not bearing children, talking to much, or severe illness • Played an active role in society • Aristocratic women were prominent at court • Writers • painters

15. Heian Period • Lady Murasaki • Best know writer • Tale of Genji, world’s first full-length novel • Adventures of Prince Genji and his son • Full of romance, but haunted by sadness • Love does not last

16. Japanese Feudal System • Most of Heian period the Fujiwara family held real power • By 11th century power of the central government and family declined • Large families living away from capital set up private armies • Marked beginning of feudal system • Farmers and small landowners traded parts of their land to strong warlords in exchange for protection • Daimyo – a local warrior-lord in Japan during the samurai era

17. Japanese Feudal System • Since warfare was common, each lord surrounded himself with loyal warriors called samurai • “one who serves” • Lived according to a code called Bushido • “way of the warrior” • In late 1100s the two most powerful clans fought for power • 1192 C.E. the emperor gave a Minamoto leader named Yoritomo title of Shogun • Shogun – head of the military government of Japan during the samurai era • Powers of a military dictator • Officials, judges, armies, and roads under his authority • Pattern continued until 1868 C.E. • Local lords still held great power

18. Samurai Military Training • Military Training • Archery • Fencing (kendo style) • Horsemanship • Alternative Weapons (metal fans or wood staffs) • Martial Arts • Valued accuracy without thinking • Mental Training • Self-Control (endure pain & suffering) • To think they were already dead. • Alertness (as a “6th sense”)

19. The Samurai Code • Bushido – code that samurai lived by ~ “the way of the warrior” • Includes the need to be honest, fair, and fearless. • Loyalty to their lord • Personal Honor • Price for failing to meet the code was seppuku • Educated in writing and calligraphy. • Matsuo Basho – a samurai who invented the haiku • Tea Ceremony – performed in a certain way (step by step)

20. Seppuku • Defined as a ritual suicide by cutting the stomach with a knife or sword • Also known as hara-kiri • Performed when disgraced, to protest an injustice, or when sentenced to death

21. Mongol Invasion • Kublai Khan launched invasion in 1274 • Typhoon wrecked Mongol fleet • 1281, Mongols tried again but again a typhoon hit! • Called kamikaze or divine winds • Reinforced the Japanese sense that were a people apart who enjoyed the special protection of the gods