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Japan

Japan. Early beginnings to the Middle Ages. Location, location, location. North of China/Korea Group of four main islands – Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu Volcanic & Tuscarora Deep Mountainous, little arable land, seafood Close Isolation allows for selective and adaptive borrowing

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Japan

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  1. Japan Early beginnings to the Middle Ages

  2. Location, location, location • North of China/Korea • Group of four main islands – Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu • Volcanic & Tuscarora Deep • Mountainous, little arable land, seafood • Close Isolation allows for selective and adaptive borrowing • Chinese character alphabet with a Finnish syntax (weird but true)

  3. Early peoples • Modern Japanese are mixed race- Asian but more of a yellow pigmentation and smaller bone structure • Ainu- early Caucasians- still live there in a small group of hunter/gatherers on Hokkaido (Finnish???)

  4. More early people • Jomon- c. 3000bc – “ cord pattern” • Hand thrown pottery • Stationary hunter/gatherers, no ag. • Yayoi- 300-100bc- wheel pottery, rice agriculture similar in style to China

  5. Still more • Tomb culture- 3rd century joins the Yayoi (separate island) • Tombs suggest aristocracy to command contstruction • Similar architecture to that of Koreans. • Wa culture on Kyushu is first mentioned in China c. 292 a.d. • Dwarf people, tattoos, liquor, matriarchal

  6. Shinto “the way of the gods” • Animism origins • No founder, no text • Reinforces Japanese reverence for nature and the Japanese homeland as divine • Kami- sense of happy awe • Tsumi- sin- ritual impurity, not crime- physical uncleanliness must be eliminated before worship

  7. AsukaPeroid 552-710 AD • Date corresponds with the introduction of Buddhism • Three families- Soga (b), Mononobe and Nakatomi (s) • Soga builds Buddhist temple- Plague breaks out- blamed • Warfare until 587- Buddha wins • Aristocratic rivalry in the making of temples • Not a huge hit with the common people

  8. AsukaPeroid 552-710 AD cont…. • Prince Shotoku (Taishi) 572-622 AD • Adopts Chinese models of politics, religion and art- • sends first emissaries in 607. • Constitution set to centralize Japan under one ruler- tried unsuccessfully to implement legalism • Creates a court rank system

  9. Changes after Shotoku • Taika Reform 645 • All land now belongs to the emperor • Census and taxes – military exempt • Code of law (Taiho) • Department of Worship- Shinto shrine upkeep • Department of state- military, civil laws • Improved roads, bridges for govt. communication • Exam system- allowed for new blood, but nobles were exempt.

  10. Nara Period- 710-794 Culture • 710 First official capital at Nara- no more fear over someone’s creepy ancestors haunting the palace • Buddhism rampant- rise in monasteries • Poetry, statuary and recordings of legends/origins- conflicted with Buddhism (worldly)

  11. Heian Peroid 794-857 • Sakanouye Tamura Maro- becomes first Shogun “barbarian subduing general” for defeat of Ainu in land uprising. • Fujiwara (late Heian) 858-1158- family dynasty- warfare, feudalism

  12. Rise of the Samurai • Bushido “way of the warrior” • Sword making ritual- the samurai’s honor resided within • Bow and arrows (Mongol style warfare) • Armor- small metal plates or polished wood laced together- light and flexible

  13. Kamakura Period 1185-1336 • Government control by Shogun • MinamotoYoritomo- rules on “behalf of the emperor” • Shogun title becomes hereditary by force • Mongol attacks • 1274 Northern Kyushu – loss • 1281- last attack- saved by “wind of the Gods” kamikaze

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