The Ancient Civilization of

1. The Ancient Civilization of Japan

2. Architecture and the Arts -Japanese architecture was heavily influenced by Chinese and Korean architectural styles. These styles usually always use wood as their primary material, the use of stone was often avoided except for specific uses like temple foundations and podiums. -The general structure would be supported by wooden posts or lintels that also supported a gently curved roof. The roofs were the most often visually impressive component of the structure and had to be supported by a complex bracket system. The structure would then be finished off with paper thin walls, that were often moveable like sliding doors.

3. Examples of Japanese Architecture Curved Roof often extends from building. Supporting Posts Stone Foundation Caption: This is a photo of a traditional Harajuku style temple.

4. The Arts • Traditional Japanese art always covered a wide range of pottery, wood or bronze sculptures, and ink paintings on silk. Only until the 9th century did they begin to form their own expression of art when they turned away from the Chinese influence. Water colour painting was a preferred expression and was often used to capture scenes of nature and beauty. Japanese ceramics are among the finest and were clearly expressed through their architecture. Sculpting however, was a less popular form of expression as it was often associated with religion. Bibliography “Japanese Architecture”. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_architecture “Ancient Japanese Art”. Country Facts. http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/japan/ancient-japanese-art/1401 Famous painting of the “Tiger” painted by Itō Jakuchū in the Edo period (1603-1868).

5. Role of Women • Ancient women were restricted to their homes. They were accountable until they reached the age to marry into another family. • Some women in major cities were given the opportunity to have a formal education and study alongside men. This was a large stepping stone for Japanese women. • Marriages were often arranged by parents. During the wedding ceremony it was customary for the new wife to bow and serve tea to her in-laws. To gain respect she was never to disobey in- laws especially her mother in-law and was supposed to act as a servant. It was customary for the bride to wear red as in Japanese tradition it was considered a sign of luck.

6. Role of Women Fashion Upper class people in society wore finer fabrics made of silks and flannels. While poorer classes wore less finer clothing made of wool. This clothing for women usually consisted of long tunics with a belt. On special occasions women would wear the traditional “Kimono”. Traditional Japanese Kimono.

7. Religious Legacy of Ancient Japan One religion of Ancient Japan is Shinto, which means “Way of the Deities”. The kami (what the deities were called) could be portrayed as objects or personalities (ie. a mountain) that inspire awe. The kami didn’t answer prayers, but people made offerings to them. They were responsible for the good and bad things that happened to humans. If they were upset, they would bring curses or pollution upon humans. Good actions were never rewarded, and bad ones were not always punished. The afterlife was a gloomy and shadowy place called yomi. It was much the same as earth and everyone went there when they died. However, there was no promise that if you lived a good life, you would be rewarded with paradise. This is why many converted to the new religion/belief that was emerging; Buddhism Caption: Japanese Shinto Shrine

8. Religious Legacy of Ancient Japan • With Buddhism, there were new schools or sects that were established. The first school was named Pure Land. It taught people they could be happy only relying on faith. The second was founded by monk Nichiren and named after him. He believed salvation was to be achieved by veneration of the Lotus Scripture (who thought otherwise, according to him, would be damned). The third and most important school was called Zen Buddhism. It focused n self-discipline (emotion was the source of action), and the practice of zazen (meditating until it suddenly brought you enlightenment). All the schools were strongly against killing. Zen gradually spread the belief that the real killer though, was the sword. You can see Buddhism throughout the world today. Buddhism has stood the test of time, coming from an ancient world to a modern one. Many people still practice in Buddhism. Bibliography  Newman, Garfield. Echoes of the Past: World History to the 16th Century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2001.

9. The Samurai: A Japanese Legacy What is a Samurai? A samurai is a highly skilled Japanese Warrior. Class structure of the Ashikaga Shogunate divided the people of Japan into four groups : (In Order of Social Status) • Warrior • Merchant • Artisan • Farmer Throughout the Kamakura and Ashikaga Shogunates class divisions hardened and the commoner’s rights declined. Because of this, the Ethos of the warrior was clearly defined.

10. How did someone become a Samurai? • Samurai’s were physically hardened from a young age. Tactics included forcing the youth to stand for hours under a freezing cold waterfall, run in the snow barefoot for kilometres and even go without food for days. Through all of this, nothing made a Samurai complain. Samurai’s were taught to dance , to appreciate art, to sing, and to arrange flowers. His tutors forced him to be alert and ready all the time. They would sneak up on him and would try and hit him with a heavy stick. Samurai’s were warned to avoid a luxurious life and were taught that their wife and kids would behave the same.

11. What did a Samurai look like? • The Samurai class represented 3- 5% of the population at any given time and were easily recognizable. They were allowed to carry two swords and to wear silk clothes. A samurai’s most prized possession was his sword. When a sword was completed it was made of thousands sometimes a million layers of hard and soft metals. It would never break or become dull. They all wore a type of jacket which had their family crest on it. This jacket was called a Katanigu. The samurai’s shaved the top of their head and gathered all the long hair from the back and sides, oiled it, and doubled it back over the crown tying it tightly so that no hairs were out of place.

12. In Battle • Samurai’s wore several layers of under garments and and armour made of tiny scales of lacquered iron which was strong light and flexible. During the Ashikaga period, battles mostly started out with warriors facing each other to recite their family history. Next, after an exchange of arrows, the warriors charged into battles on horses and only got off to exchange in hand to hand combat with opponents who were worthy. A samurai counted his victories by collecting the heads of the enemy which he had cut off. Before battle samurai’s burned incense in their helmets so if their heads had become trophies at least they would smell good.

13. The Bushido Code • The Bushido code was the creed of the Samurai. It was made up of different elements: • The Conviction that “death weighs no heavier than a feather.” A true warrior would never retreat or surrender no matter what the circumstances. • True loyalty to One’s Superior • The Importance of Face. The ultimate expression of the face ritual was the ritual suicide. The act of Seppuku or Hara-Kiri (as it is referred to by the Japanese) means “Slitting the Abdomen”. This was performed to express a samurai’s shame and to show loyalty to one’s superior. It was very painful.

14. Could a Female become a Samurai? • Female Samurai’s came to be at the beginning of the feudal period in the 12th century. The best known female Samurai was Tomoe (toh-moh-eh). As the time went on female warriors became rare, women were seen as not strong enough to defend property. They became to be used as pawns, hostages or spies in the changing alliances of the time.

15. Why are Samurai’s an important Legacy? Samurai’s are important legacy for Japan because even their soldiers in the second world war followed the Bushido code such as their loyalty to their leader and to their country , the conviction that death weighs no heavier than a feather and the ritual suicide. An example is when the Japanese planes/ jets went on suicide missions to Pearl Harbour. Also, another example is when took two Atomic bombs being dropped, by the U.S., for the Japanese to surrender because surrendering wasn’t an option. Surrender meant disgrace. Bibliography  Newman, Garfield. Echoes of the Past: World History to the 16th Century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2001.