early japan

JapanJapan600-1450600-1450

Early BeginningsEarly Beginnings

According to Shinto belief, Jimmu is regarded as a direct descendant of the sun goddess, Amaterasu and claimed the title

of Emperor.

Original prehistoric inhabitants were of Polynesian stock, called Ainu. The Ainu were displaced by people of Mongolian background around 500 CE.

This gave rise to the first dominant clan called the Yamato.

(573-621) — One of Japan's best early rulers•Played a crucial role in the transmission of Chinese culture to Japan. •Pro-Buddhist faction won control at the Yamato court, and established Buddhism as the official religion of Japan.•Used Chinese Confucian principles to organize the government.

Prince ShotokuPrince Shotoku

From very early on in Japan’s history, Japan was fascinated with Chinese culture. In the early 600’s,

Prince Shotoku, a member of the Yamato ruling family, decided to learn about the Chinese directly. He sent young Japanese nobles to study in China

who returned eager to spread Chinese thought, technology, and arts. Equally important, they

imported Chinese ideas about government. After the first enthusiasm for everything Chinese died down, the Japanese became more selective. This became

known as selective borrowing which means that they kept some Chinese ways but discarded or modified

others.

710-784 CE•The Yamato Emperor established a capital in Nara and ruled there until 794 CE•The Japanese continued to “selectively borrow” from China

The Nara PeriodThe Nara Period

What did the Japanese borrow from the Chinese?

The Great Wall of China design

Chinese civil service exam

Chinese Characters in the written language

Mandate of Heaven

Confucian Literary classics

Chinese architecture

Court etiquette from the Tang Dynasty

Buddhism

794-1185 CE•Capital city and Emperor’s court was moved to Heian (Kyoto)•“City of Peace” established a long period of peace in Japan known as the “Classical Era”

The Heian PeriodThe Heian Period

Emperor became more isolated and simply stayed in Heian and oversaw Shinto rituals

- figurehead

Lords controlled the political realms of Japan

Various noble landowning clansmen vied for the title of Kwampaku, or Chancellor.

They ruled in the Emperor’s name

Led to the rise of powerful families with private armies – the Fujiwara, Tairo, and

Minamoto families were the most influential

Oversaw an artistic and cultural flowering at the court

Cultural Developments: The traditional Japanese religion is Shintoism.

Everything in nature possesses a spirit and natural forces govern the earth. Traditional

Japanese customs combined with Buddhism produced Zen Buddhism.

Contacts with China were halted during the Heian Period (794-1185) as the Japanese were encouraged to express traditional Japanese

culture.

Women dominated literature. The Tale of Genji was written by Lady Murasaki. Women

enjoyed considerable legal and economic rights compared to later periods.

Economic Development:

Japan was a predominantly agrarian society with a local

artisan class of weavers, carpenters, and iron workers.

Most people worked on land that was owned by other people and

had to pay an in-kind tax on their harvests on a yearly basis.

The Heian PeriodThe Heian Period

Yoritomo Minamoto (1147-1199AD) set up a new government close to the present city of

Tokyo. The new government was called bakufu or “tent government,” suggesting a

military encampment.

Although the emperor continued to exist in Kyoto, his role would only be ceremonial.

Yoritomo simplified the government processes and instituted a basic legal code, although the court in Kyoto retained much

of its form and administrative function. Large family domains retained varying

numbers of samurai. Common people tilled the land, much as they had always done.

The Kamakura PeriodThe Kamakura Period

Geography: Island configuration of Japan led to the development of isolated communities

Political Developments: Attempts at centralizing the Japanese state were relatively unsuccessful during the first millennium. The

Japanese also attempted to fashion their bureaucracy in the image of the Chinese

Confucian model. Emissaries and scholars were sent to China to study.

The Rise of Feudalism:

Eventually a system of feudalism developed in which a central figure, the Shogun, reigned as

supreme military general and political authority over Japan. The power of the shogun was

depended on the loyalties of the local daimyos and samurais.

1185-1333

The Kamakura PeriodThe Kamakura Period

Loss of Central AuthorityLoss of Central Authority

• Powerful families & Buddhist leaders Powerful families & Buddhist leaders began to challenge the central began to challenge the central governmentgovernment

• Regional rulers with their own armies Regional rulers with their own armies gained power.gained power.

Loss of Central AuthorityLoss of Central Authority• Mini-states, or shogunates, took the Mini-states, or shogunates, took the

place of the central government. place of the central government.

Japanese Feudal PeriodJapanese Feudal Period

• From the 1000s to From the 1000s to the 1500s, Japan the 1500s, Japan was in the “Era of was in the “Era of Warrior Dominance” Warrior Dominance” or its feudal period.or its feudal period.

• Though there was Though there was an emperor, real an emperor, real power was with the power was with the shoguns and their shoguns and their samurai armies.samurai armies.

Feudal JapanFeudal Japan

FeudaFeudal l

SocietSocietyy

FeudaFeudal l

SocietSocietyy

The emperor The emperor reigned, but reigned, but

did not always did not always rule!rule!

CastlesCastles

Osaka CastleOsaka Castle

Main Gate of Hiroshima Castle

Main Gate of Hiroshima Castle

Caernorfon Castle, Wales

Caernorfon Castle, Wales

Warwick Castle, EnglandWarwick Castle, England

FeudalismFeudalismFeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.

Japan:Japan:

A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.

Japan:Japan: Shogun

Daimyo Daimyo

Samurai Samurai Samurai

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Shoen

Land - Shoen

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

FeudalismFeudalismFeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.

Europe:

A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.

Europe:

King

Lord Lord

Knight Knight Knight

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Fief

Land - Fief

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

Code of Code of BushidoBushidoCode of Code of BushidoBushido

* Fidelity

* Politeness

* Virility

* Simplicity

* Fidelity

* Politeness

* Virility

* Simplicity

Code of Code of ChivalryChivalryCode of Code of ChivalryChivalry

* Justice

* Loyalty

* Defense

* Courage

* Faith

* Humility

* Nobility

* Justice

* Loyalty

* Defense

* Courage

* Faith

* Humility

* Nobility

European knightEuropean knight Samurai WarriorSamurai Warrior

vs.vs.

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Knight’s ArmorKnight’s Armor Samurai ArmorSamurai Armor

vs.vs.

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Comparison of Feudalism in Europe and Japan

  Europe Japan

NobilityKing, Lord,

Lesser LordEmperor, Shogun,

Daimyo

WarriorsKnights – Loyal to

their LordSamurai – Loyal to

their Lord

Code of conduct Chivalry Bushido

Evolution

•Both practices developed in response to the need for security and stability •everyone had well-defined social roles •helped preserve law and order

Samurai WarriorsSamurai Warriors

Samurai SwordSamurai SwordSamurai SwordSamurai Sword

Full Samurai AttireFull Samurai AttireFull Samurai AttireFull Samurai Attire

Early Mounted Early Mounted Samurai WarriorsSamurai WarriorsEarly Mounted Early Mounted

Samurai WarriorsSamurai Warriors

Samurai ChargingSamurai ChargingSamurai ChargingSamurai Charging

Seppuku: Seppuku: Ritual SuicideRitual Suicide

Seppuku: Seppuku: Ritual SuicideRitual Suicide

Kaishaku – his “seconds”

Kaishaku – his “seconds”

It is honorable to die in this way.

It is honorable to die in this way.

Seppuku: Ritual SuicideSeppuku: Ritual Suicide

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism A Japanese variation of the Mahayana form of Buddhism, which came from India through China.

It reinforced the Bushido values of mental and self-discipline.

Mongol“Invasion

s”of Japan

Mongol“Invasion

s”of Japan

4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds stopped them.

4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds stopped them.

Japanese Landscapes

European Landscapes