Medieval Japan, Korea & Vietnam

1. Medieval Japan, Korea & Vietnam

2. Japan • Japan- means “origin of the sun” • 4,000 islands- extends 1,200 miles • Relatively isolated for thousands on years • Most live on 4 major islands • Mild climate • Only 15% of land suitable for farming • Lacks raw materials like coal, iron and oil • Suffers from typhoons, earthquakes and tidal waves

3. Religion • Varied customs and beliefs will combine to form a religion called Shinto • “way of gods” • No complex rituals or philosophy • Encourages obedience and proper behavior • Based on respect for forces of nature and worship of ancestors • Believe in Kami- • Divine spirits that dwelled in nature • Believed that any unusual or especially beautiful tree, rock, waterfall or mountain was home of Kami

4. Buddhism • First introduce to Japan by Korean traders • By 700 AD imperial court has accepted Buddhism • Buddhism will spread rapidly but will not replace Shinto. • Most will adopted Buddhism but will also hang on to Shinto beliefs

5. Yamato • First important ruling family • Claim that emperor is direct descendant of the sun goddess • Helps Yamato stay in power • Because emperor is viewed as being divine • Emerge as leaders in the 5th century • Unique because it is both the first and only dynasty to rule Japan • Current emperor is a descendant of this clan

6. Prince Shotoku • Will send a mission to Tang China to study the Chinese civilization first hand • Will adopt the Chinese system of • writing, • painting style • simple art of everyday living like • gardening, • hairdressing • drinking of tea • cooking

7. For a while will even model Chinese government • Strong central government and examination system • Fail • In Japan, birth will remained the key to winning a powerful position

8. Heian Period • 794 CE capital moved to Heian • Moved because security of royal court felt threaten by Buddhist monks • Chinese influence lessen while power of aristocratic families increased • Counterbalance to the Buddhists monasteries • Assume most central government positions • Organized militia- • role in bringing down the control of imperial gov’t

9. Fujiwara • Powerful family who had intermarried with emperor family for several generations • Ran the affairs of the country • Emperor will remain as a figurehead • Real power to the Fujiwara family

10. Court filled with elaborate ritual and artistic pursuits • Rule dictated every aspect of court life • Length of swords • Color of officials robes • Number of skirts a women wore • Etiquette was extremely important • No loud laughter, • mismatch clothing, • blacken their teeth • Tea ceremony • Looks down on the common people

11. Everyone at the court was expected to write poetry and paint • Diaries of the women of court provided true insight • The Tale of Genji written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu • Considered to be the world’s first novel

12. By 12th century power had spread to larger group of noble families • Soon fighting with each other for control over small territories • Japan devolved into a feudal system • Same time as it developed in Western Europe • Developed independently

13. Gempei Wars • Late 1100’s Japan two most powerful clans fought for power • 30 years of war • Taira & Minamoto families • Japanese countryside destroyed • Victory of Minamoto leads to the the establishment of the bakufu • Military government at Kamakura • Military leader • shogun • Beginning of Japanese feudal age

14. Shogun • Yoritomo will take the title of Shogun • “supreme general of the emperor’s army” • Power of military dictator • Real power

15. Daimyo • Japanese emperor will be a figurehead while the real power will be with the Shoguns • Shoguns will strengthen their control by assigning military governors called Daimyo • Part warrior, part nobility • Responsible for maintaining peace and order • Impose a degree of centralization • Shoguns will rule Japan for nearly 700 years

16. Samurai • Samurai –loyal warriors • Mounted troops • Loyal to military elite • As result- peasants reduced to the status of serfs • Bushido- code of behavior for samurai • Show reckless courage, reverence for gods, fairness • If a samurai failed to meet his obligations, he was expected to commit suicide called seppuku

17. Dying an honorable death judged more important than living a long life • Rather die by than part with their sword

18. Practice the Zen school of Buddhism • Emphasis on spirituality through self discipline and meditation • Allegiance to feudal lords more important than duty to the family • Death before dishonor

19. The emperor reigned, but did not always rule! Feudal Society

20. Comparing European and Japanese Feudalism • Similar • Political structure • Social structure • Honor code • Both based on culture • Different • Treatment of women • Legal arrangement • Europe- contract was an arrangement of obligation enforced by law • Japan- feudal arrangement was based solely on group identity and loyalty

21. Upon Yoritomo death the Bakufu was dominated by the Hojo family • Manipulated the Minamoto shoguns • Who claimed in to rule in the name of emperor at Kyoto

22. Under daimyo the foundation for a lasting political unification will begin because of • Bureaucratic infrastructure • Economic and cultural growth • Strength of commercial and artisan classes • Improved administration

23. Vietnam & Korea • Chinese had expanded into areas as early as Han dynasty • But large scale military campaigns that resulted in cultural exchange

24. Korea • Had an independent & powerful dynasty but in order to maintain good relations with China, they became a vassal state of the Tang • Gift giving and exchanges resulted in Korean schools and imperial court being like Chinese • However did not develop a true bureaucracy based on merit because of power of royal family and nobility • Birth over test scores • Tribute relationship responsible for spread of Confucianism and Buddhism to Korea • Korean elite will most likely be Buddhists

25. Merchant or artisan class will not develop in Korea • Due to monopolization of all things Chinese

27. Vietnam • Not as willing to accept the tribute relationship with China and will actively fight the Tang • Eventually forced to accept the Tang tribute system • Accepted Confucian education • Active trade relationship • Vietnamese will maintain local traditions & continue to revolt against Tang • Will not adopt the Chinese belief in nuclear families

28. Chinese will not be able to assimilate the Vietnamese because • Peasantry was not impacted by the Chinese cultural imports • After fall of Tang the Vietnamese will be successful in maintaining their independence • Vietnamese rulers will maintain the Chinese administrative system based on the Confucian examination system.

29. Japan was never conquered or directly rule by China like Vietnam and Korea • Able to selectively import Chinese culture • Accepted Chinese script, art and Buddhism • After failure of Taika reforms interest in China culture slowed • No growth of scholar- gentry • Lack of central administration