1 / 59

Medieval Japan

Medieval Japan. 794-1867 The Land of the Rising Sun. Geography. A Land of Many Islands. Japan is an Archipelago - a chain of many islands. Made up of over 4,000 islands And has four main Islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

amos-pena
Download Presentation

Medieval Japan

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Medieval Japan 794-1867 The Land of the Rising Sun

  2. Geography

  3. A Land of Many Islands • Japan is an Archipelago- a chain of many islands. • Made up of over 4,000 islands • And has four main Islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu

  4. It is located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Asian mainland • About 500 miles from the coast of China but only 100 miles from Korea • The islands were formed by volcanoes and earthquakes

  5. Tsunamisare destructive waves caused by underwater earthquakes

  6. It also causes Japan to be Mountainous • 73% of the country is covered in mountains • Mount Fuji- is Japan’s highest peak (12,388 feet)

  7. The Sea • Mountains made travel over land difficult • There was also less room to grow crops • So they used the sea as a highway and major source of food

  8. Shinto • To make sense of the beauty and brutality of their land the Japanese developed Shinto • It started in Japan and is its oldest religion

  9. Shinto Beliefs • Teaches respect and love for nature and remembrance of ancestors • Belief in Kami- are nature spirits or gods/goddesses that are in all natural objects, such as: trees, rocks, rain, lakes, the sky, a typhoon

  10. Shinto Shrines • Often built in beautiful natural surroundings • Go to honor kami and be close to spirits of their ancestors • Ceremonies are held there • Entrances marked by Torri gates

  11. Influence of China Super Early History: Before 800AD

  12. Everyone Loves Tang • Civilizations in East Asia thought that China, under the Tang Dynasty, was a very advanced civilization • So they welcomed Chinese visitors call diplomats and copied some of Chinese culture • The Japanese based the characters of their writing system, laws, and government on what the Chinese had done

  13. Buddhism Arrives • Buddhism- spread from China through Korea and into Japan • Many Japanese did not give up Shinto; they blended the two religions • Zen Buddhism • Most popular form of Buddhism in Japan • Stresses deep meditation called to clear the mind of any stress • Most Japanese practice Shinto and Buddhism

  14. The Heian Period 794-1195

  15. The Heian Period • The Heian period was mostly a peaceful time which the Japanese culture thrived • In the 800s the Japan began to develop its own culture that was different from the Chinese and ended relations with China

  16. Kyoto: An Impressive Capital City • Emperor ruled from the capital city of Kyoto • Fine architecture, literature and gardens all became a part of life for the nobility.

  17. During WWII- the US limited bombings on Kyoto • Because high-ranking officials in our government knew how important the city is to the history and culture of the Japanese people

  18. The Japanese Nobility • Nobles are powerful government officials, who are often wealthy, and control a large section of land • The nobles believe that the importance of their families and their position within the government set them apart from others; that they were better than others • Even among the nobles, people belonged to different ranks or classes. • The nobility wore beautiful robes to indicate their status or position in society.

  19. In a Time of Peace Trouble Was Brewing • Heian means , but it would not last • A powerful family of nobles named the Fujiwara married into the imperial (emperor’s family) • Members of the Fujiwara family/clan also held the most powerful government positions • Not everyone was happy with this…

  20. In a Time of Peace Trouble Was Brewing • Through this peaceful period, other clans were gaining power outside of Kyoto • These clans were headed up by nobles called daimyo • Some of the daimyo were also related to the emperor… and they resented the Fujiwara

  21. In a Time of Peace Trouble Was Brewing • As the Fujiwara are living in luxurious life in Kyoto… • The daimyo in the countryside are claiming more territory and amassing large armies

  22. Feudalism • The nobles/daimyos owned large estates outside of the city that typically included a castle, village, and farmland • Work was performed by peasants: they had to in order to live on the land and get back some sort of protection • This kind of economic system where poor people (peasants) are legally bound to work for wealthy land owners is call Feudalism. • Samurai were private armies hired by the nobles/daimyo to protect the estate

  23. Feudalism in Japan • During the 1000 the emperor controlled the capital: Kyoto, but steadily lost his grip on the rest of Japan • Daimyo became very rich and powerful: they started to disobey the emperor • During the 1150s war breaks out between powerful clans and the emperor (some wars fought in Kyoto)

  24. Samurai Warriors • Daimyo hired private armies of samurai warriors • Highly skilled warriors • Excellent archers • Swordsmen • Hand to hand combat • Dedicated, disciplined, and loyal

  25. Samurai Warriors • Most were literate, religious, and many had an artistic side

More Related