1 / 28

Japan

Japan. …. The Land of the Rising Sun. Japan & The Japanese writing system (s). Nihon:. Ni hon. Ni ho n. Ni ho n. Chinese words “kanji” Pictographs. Foreign words “katakana” Phonetic. Japanese “hirakana” Phonetic. Japan’s Writing Systems. Kanji:

hye
Download Presentation

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. Japan …. The Land of the Rising Sun

  2. Japan & The Japanese writing system (s) Nihon: Ni hon Ni ho n Ni ho n Chinese words “kanji” Pictographs Foreign words “katakana” Phonetic Japanese “hirakana” Phonetic

  3. Japan’s Writing Systems • Kanji: • Borrowed from China with meanings intact • Pronounced with Japanese sounds • Hirakana: • Adapted Chinese characters • Phonetically represent Japanese words • Katakana: • Chinese characters stripped of meaning • Phonetically represent foreign words

  4. Japan’s Self Conception Small Country • Population:127,433,494 in July 2008 • Economy: World’s 2nd largest (US 13.7T, Japan 5.1T, Germany 3.0T, China 2.9T) • Land Mass: Size of California, but only 12% is arable Small? Not really. Objectively a middle sized nation.

  5. Japan’s Self Conception Vulnerable • Too close to China • Too close to Korea • Open to Western naval attack • Resource & Agriculture poor Vulnerability only became a problem since the Tang Dynasty (China) 600 CE Especially Yuan invasion 1275, 1281 Again in Western Imperial period 1853 +

  6. Japan’s Self Conception • Unified population • Racially defined • Hence exclusionary and “racist” • Racial Background: Mongoloid, probably from central Asia • Also possibly from Oceania • Largest minority: Koreans 0.6% • Ainu, even smaller (Caucasian native race)

  7. Japan’s Creation Myth Izanagi & Izanami • Foam from his sword congeals to become Japanese Archipelago • Their Children: • Amaterasu(sun goddess) • Tsukyomi (moon god) • Susanowo (storm god) • And others are the main gods (kami) of Japan’s native religion

  8. Amaterasu Omikami Sun Goddess First born Primary goddess of Japan Mother / grandmother of Japan’s first emperor Patron deity of Japan, “The Land of the Rising Sun” The whole nation and people are ultimately descended from the kami – especially Amaterasu Japan’s population is one large family Japan’s Creation Myth

  9. The Way of the Gods Specific to Japan Amaterasu is the Greatest of the gods Animistic religion Tied to Imperial household Japan’s Native Religion: Shinto Tori Gates 

  10. Shinto • Formal and ritualistic • Positive and hopeful • Contemplative • Emperor has A special Role in Shinto ↑ Ise Shrine  Shinto Priest

  11. Shinto • Ethical system based in relationships • “Situational ethics” • No concept of “sin” • No absolute right or wrong • Responsibility is important • Harmony with nature Shinto Shrine & Japanese Garden

  12. Japan: Chronological History • Latecomer to advanced civilization • 3000 BCE: Pit dwelling culture • 300 BCE: Tomb culture • Definite continental/Chinese influences seen in artifacts • Pre-literate: hence Archeology, NOT History (at least for our purposes)

  13. Japan, A Latecomer • Yamato Clan: About 300 CE • Dominates in Kanto Plane (Tokyo area) and the Tokyo-Osaka corridor on southeast side of Honshu (see map next page) • Yamato Clan Patron Diety … guess who? Amaterasu Omikami • Establish early centralized government • Early Literacy emerges in 500s CE

  14. Prince Shotoku 572-622 CE Early great leader Sent embassies to China Instituted “Chinese” reforms Never ruled as emperor Governed from behind scenes for his aunt Foreshadows “SHADOW LEADERSHIP” style that typifies Japan Early Japanese Leadership

  15. Prince Shotoku’s leadership begins the pattern of borrowing from China Borrow & Adapt to Japanese Needs Japan Borrows Buddhism as well as Chinese government forms Brings Buddhist Scholars and Craftsmen from Western Korea Early Japanese Leadership  Both these pictures  represent Shotoku in Buddhist forms.

  16. Early Japanese Government • Shotoku brought Chinese FORMS of government, but never completely copied them • Conducted exams, but didn’t use them to recruit • Primitive Shinto, in contrast to Confucianism has a death place taboo • death is a pollutant • The death of an emperor pollutes the whole city • Capitols moved with each emperor’s death

  17. Buddhism enters from Korea about 500 AD Korean monks and artisans provide Japan’s early Buddhist art and culture Buddhism is accepted as a compliment to Shinto Both become “Japanese” religions Practiced side-by-side without conflict Shinto deities are elevated to bodhisattvas in Japanese Buddhism Buddhism In Japan

  18. Kojiki 712 CE Mythological Record of Japan Crucial to Shinto Includes Creation Myth Written in Chinese Characters (Kanji) BUT, the characters are read phonetically, not as characters with a fixed meaning Very difficult to read Japan’s Early Literature

  19. Nihongi: 720 CE Historical Chronicle of the early Yamato Clan’s period Early Korean Connection? Kojiki’s Census report of about 700 CE shows 1/3 of nobles are Korean families Koreans emphasize that Japan got everything from Korea Japanese like to ignore their cultural debt to Korea Japan’s Early Literature

  20. Emperor Naka-no-oye: 645 CE Disinterested in direct governance Close friend – a commoner – is interested and capable Emperor names friend: Fujiwara Fujiwara governs behind the emperor (Shadow Government) Yamato Clan provide Emperor Fujiwara clan Governs and provides all the brides Nara Period: Fujiwara Fujiwara

  21. Nara Period • Buddhism becomes more prominent • Buddhism has no death-place taboo • Japan builds a first “permanent” capitol in Nara

  22. Nara Period • Taika Reforms 645 AD • Naka-no-oye & Fujiwara complete the Sinofication of Japanese Government • Japan has borrowed China’s government form, but adapted it to Japan

  23. Heian Period:794-1158 Kyoto established as new permanent capitol Buddhism Fully Established Very formal culture

  24. Heian Period:794-1158 CE Lady Murasaki Tale of Genji First Japanese Novel World’s First Novel 1007 AD

  25. Kyoto’s Great Shrine

  26. Heian Period: (794-1158) Taxation system too weak • decay of central authority • Great families don’t pay taxes • Small landholders can’t afford taxes • Grants to temples (also tax exempt) Great families emerge and govern in their realms • Japan’s Feudal System emerges • Great families hire professional retainers for protection as a private army • Samurai is created

  27. Finale of the Heian Period • Royal inheritance: 6 generations? • Gempei Wars: Taira vs Minamoto clans 1158-1185 AD • Minamoto Yoritomo becomes the first Shogun • Kamakura Period

More Related