Japanese History

1. Japanese History By Jessica R. and Taryn W.

2. First appearance of Japan in History • Japan was first mentioned in history by the Chinese, in 57AD. • The Japanese were referred to as the “Wa” people by the Chinese • The Chinese described them as a people living without a writing system or political cohesion • China greatly influenced their culture, bringing them Buddhism, government, and a basic system of writing. • Korea also brought some cultural influence

3. Prehistoric Japan Evidence has been found of people living in Japan since just after the first ice age, in the form of tools that are up to 32,000 years old.

4. Ainu-the Native People of Japan • The Ainu are the first known people to have inhabited Japan • They are said to have originated on Hokkaido • They were mainly hunters, fishers, and gatherers • Full blooded ainu people are mostly fair skinned, the men having dense hair growth

5. Ainu People

6. Jomon Period (13000BC to 300 BC) • During this period the Japanese were hunters and gatherers, mainly. • This era was named after the pottery style of the time • Some lived in wood stilt houses or pit dwellings, and they may have had an early form of agriculture • There have been some tools and artifacts found from this time period

7. Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD) • Rice culture was introduced during this time • Social classes began to evolve • Parts of the country were divided and controlled by powerful land owners • New technologies were arriving from China and Korea

8. Ancient and Classical Japan

9. Kofun Period (300-538) • By around 400 AD the country was united as Yamate Japan, with it’s political center around the province of Yamato. (Hokkaido was not yet included in Japan) • The Yamato court controlled clans in Kyushu and Honshu

10. Asuka Period (592-645) • Buddhism arrived in Japan • Governed by the emperor and several other powerful clans • Imperial family intermarried with other powerful clans, such as the Soga clan, and the Fujiwara clan.

11. Nara Period (710-794) • Capital moved to what is present day Nara • Literature first appears from Japan, mostly from the imperial court • Most people were Shinto, but there were also few Buddhists • The area was better governed, and tax collection became more routine • Coins were minted, if not widely used by the Japanese people • The first known outbreak of smallpox threatens the area and spreads from Kyushu to Nara

12. Heian Period (794-1185) • This period is considered the last in traditional Japanese history. • The imperial court is at it’s peak during these times • This marks the beginning of the Samurai culture • The capital is moved again, to Kyoto this time • This is said to be the most peaceful and prosperous time in Japanese history.

13. Feudal Japan Japanese emperors had lost much of their power, and the land was ruled by powerful families and military leaders called Shoguns. This type of government was called a Shogunate.

14. Kamakura Period (1185-1333) • Named after the Kamakura Shogunate that ruled Japan during this time • Mongols tried to invade Japan • Battles with the Mongols weakened Japan, and although they were successful in driving the Mongols away, the Shogunate eventually lost power • Go Daigo became emperor for a short time

15. Muromachi Period (1336-1573) • The Ashikaga Shogunate took power • The last shogun of this period was Ashikaga Yoshiaki • He was evicted from the capital (Kyoto) • A Portuguese ship arrived in Japan, teaching the Japanese about firearms • From that time, a few other trading ships reached Japan, and continued to open the country’s eyes to new technologies

16. Azuchi-Momoyama (1568-1600) • Many parts of Japan were united again and the military grew stronger • Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a military leader who wanted to take over Korea and China • He sent troops of 160,000 to Korea, but they failed, and returned to Japan. • In 1598, Toyotomi died, and the Japanese dropped the idea of taking over it’s neighboring countries. • During this time, many Koreans were brought to Japan, and they brought artistic ability and knowledge with them.

17. Edo Period (1603-1868) • During this period, Japan was ruled by about 200 small rulers called Daimyo • The most powerful of these was called the Tokogawa clan. They ruled for fifteen generations from a place called Edo, which is near present day Tokyo • The highest group in society became samurais. Agriculturalists and artists were considered lower class than the samurai • Many new art forms were created, including a new form of block printing, and two types of theater, the Kabuki and Bunraku • Trade and commerce continued to rise during the Edo period • In 1868, the Boshun war took place, resulting in the end of the Shogunate rule, putting Japan under the rule of an emperor once more

18. Picture of a Group of Samurai

19. Castles from the Feudal Period in Japan • Osaka castle

20. Nijo Castle or Shogun’s Palace Located in Kyoto

21. Himeji Castle -the largest Castle in Japan-Nicknamed white heron from white wing architecture

22. Quiz!!

23. What were the Japanese first called by the Chinese people?

24. The “Wa” people.

25. Where did the Ainu people originate from?

26. Hokkaido.

27. What is the name of the first period in prehistoric Japanese history?

28. The Jomon Period.

29. What was the most powerful clan in ancient Japan?

30. The Fujiwara clan, or the Soga clan.

31. When did the first known outbreak of smallpox occur in Japan?

32. During the Nara Period.

33. Which war resulted in the end of the Shogunate rule?

34. The Boshun war.

35. Where is Nijo castle or the Shogun’s palace located?

36. Kyoto.

37. Which castle is the largest in Japan?

38. Himeji castle.

39. What year did Toyotomi die?

40. In 1598.

41. During what period was the imperial court at it’s peak?

42. The Heian period.

43. TIE BREAKER:

44. In what year was the Boshun war?

45. In 1868.