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Japanese Geography

Japanese Geography. Japan: Physical Characteristics. Japan’s four major islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku Japan actually consists of 1000s of islands The capital of Japan is Tokyo. Japan: Physical Characteristics. Japan is a little smaller than California

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Japanese Geography

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  1. Japanese Geography

  2. Japan: Physical Characteristics • Japan’s four major islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku • Japan actually consists of 1000s of islands • The capital of Japan is Tokyo

  3. Japan: Physical Characteristics • Japan is a little smaller than California • Japan’s climate varies greatly….Why? • Land is distributed North to South • Northern areas have climates similar to Portland • Southern areas have climates similar to the Bahamas

  4. Japan: Land of Earthquakes • Japan suffers through frequent earthquakes because of its position along the intersection of tectonic plates.

  5. Physical Characteristics • Much of Japan is covered in mountains or volcanoes. • Population: 125 million • Most people live crowded along cities on the coast.

  6. CREATION MYTH Gods thrust a spear into the ocean, drops of water fell to the surface and formed the islands

  7. EARLY INHABITANTS HUNTER GATHERERS CAME TO JAPAN FROM THE MAINLAND (10,000 YEARS AGO)

  8. CHINESE INFLUENCES • Introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 500s opened Japan up to Chinese influences • Art, medicine, astronomy, philosophy, writing

  9. SETTLING DOWN 710 - first permanent Japanese capital is built at Nara

  10. SETTLING DOWN - capital is moved to Heian (Kyoto) 1867 – capital is moved to Tokyo

  11. NARA PERIOD (700s) • Formal capital with palace, broad streets, public squares… • Buddhism reaches its peak, does not replace Shinto • First written literature (histories, poems) TODAJJI TEMPLE

  12. HEIAN (KYOTO) PERIOD (800s – 1800s) • Pursuit of beauty (poems, calligraphy, gift wrapping….) • Women & literature (Tale of Genji) • Political decay (warlords controlled local areas)

  13. WARRIOR CULTURE

  14. SHOGUN • Means “General” • Title given by the emperor in late 1100s • Had military and political power • “Shogunate” – military government • YoritomoMinamato – first shogun

  15. DAIMYO • Land-owning warriors & highest ranking samurai (medieval lords) • Daimyo offered protection to peasants who worked their land, in return the peasants paid taxes (feudalism) • Samurai pledged their loyalty to a daimyo

  16. SAMURAI • Loyal to a daimyo • Fought on horseback • Loose fitting clothes/armor • Bows, arrows, swords • Honor, Honor, Honor

  17. BUSHIDO • Shoguns, daimyo, and samurai all followed the code of Bushido • “The way of the warrior” – bravery, self-discipline, loyalty • Dishonor or defeat led to ritual suicide (seppuku)

  18. BY THE 1500S…. • Japan was in turmoil • Emperor and Shogun were figureheads • Daimyo (warlords) were fighting against each other • “the strongest eat the weak and become the meat” – Japanese saying of the time

  19. TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE • Began in 1600 when Tokugawa Ieyasubecame Shogun (lasted for 250 yrs) • Established his gov’t in Edo (Tokyo) • Emperor remained in Kyoto but Tokugawa had the real power TOKUGAWA IEYASU

  20. CHANGES UNDER THE TOKUGAWA…. Divided Daimyo into 3 groups: a. Relatives (best lands near Edo) b. Long-time supporters c. Recent supporters New rules for daimyo: a. Sankin-Kotai(“attendance by turn”) b. Permission to repair/build castles Metsuke – officials who travelled the country to look for and report trouble 4. Seclusion Policy – can’t leave country, killed upon your return METSUKE

  21. CONTACT WITH THE WEST Get out! We don’t want you here!!! • 1500s – Europeans first come to Japan • Early 1600s – Japanese cut off almost all trade (similar to Chinese response to the West)

  22. OPENING THE DOOR TO JAPAN….. • By the mid 1800s the U.S. and European countries wanted to open up Japan • Why? • Trade • Coaling port for steamships • Treatment for shipwrecked sailors J A P A N

  23. COMMODORE MATTHEW PERRY • 1853 – 4 American warships led by Perry sailed into Edo (Tokyo) • Shogun decided to sign a treaty with the U.S. (why? – think China) • In the next 5 years Japan signed treaties with Britain, France, Holland, Russia, and the U.S. (unequal treaties – think China again)

  24. STUPID SHOGUN!!! WHY DID HE SIGN THOSE TREATIES? LET’S OVERTHROW HIM • Samurai lords were furious with the treaties • 1868 – group of samurai overthrew the Shogun and allied themselves with a new Emperor, Mutsuhito (kept the real power for themselves) • Mutsuhito was known as the Meiji (Enlightened) Emperor and the new leaders of Japan were known as the Meiji leaders

  25. CHANGES MADE BY THE MEIJI LEADERS… Great power that could compete with the West Introduced parliamentary gov’t Strengthened the military Created an industrial society Universal education Ruling class based on education and talent (not birth

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