Ancient Japan, to 645 AD

Libertyville HS – World History

“Three Patriarchs”: Confucius (in hat), Buddha (curled hair), Lao Tzu (white haired elder)

Japanese Geography• Over 3000 islands,

separated from mainland by Sea of Japan – 600 inhabited islands– Four main islands: Honshu,

Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido

• Very mountainous terrain– Internal isolation

Ancient Japan• First humans arrived

30,000 years ago– About same time Bering land

bridge existed– Land bridge between Japan,

Korea and Japan and Russia (Siberia)

– Jomon Culture formed around 10,000 BC

Jomon Culture (10,000-200 BC)• Stone age people

– Hunter gatherers, fishing– Lived in small tribal groups– Made pottery (first ever –

surprising; shaped by hand)

• Around 5-2500 BC, Jomon developed towns, sculpted figurines

• By 2000 BC, developed agriculture, artwork

• By 1000 BC, developed religion (goddess figurines)

Jomon to Yayoi Culture (300-200 AD)

• Around 300 BC, Jomon displaced by wave of Chinese immigrants, from Korea– Explains why Japanese,

Chinese language are in same family of languages

– Japanese argue Jomon absorbed Yayoi into their culture (politics in history)

Spread of Yayoi culture

Yayoi Culture• Yayoi technologies

– Agriculture (rice cultivation)– Bronze & iron metallurgy– Religion to become Shinto

• Modern Japanese language, culture, social structure & religion date from Yayoi immigrants– Lived in clans (uji)– Each clan had own god, to

whom chieftain led all prayers

Kofun (300-500 AD)• Around 300 AD, new

culture emerged in SW part of Honshu

• These people built giant tomb mounds, called kofun (similar practice in Korea)– Tombs filled with armor,

weapons

Various Kofun

Kofun, toscale (400meters in length!)

Yamato State (500-645 AD)

• Earliest Japanese state, ruled by a “Great King”– Yamato Plain is the richest

agricultural region in Japan– Yamato nobility based on

Korean models (titles)– Military nobility became

Japanese constant, until 1868

• Yamato even held lands in Korea

Yamato State• In 513 AD, Korean king

sent a Chinese Confucian scholar to Japan

• Resulted in Chinese culture being imported into Japan– Written language– Confucianism– Buddhism

• Long term profound impact on Japanese culture, history

Japanese Emperor

Yamato State• In late 500s, alliance between

Korea, Japan broke down– Mass Korean immigration– Yamato military aristocracy

rebelled, too

• Central government responded with Chinese style government– Sent envoys to China to

observe its government– Adopted 17 Article Constitution

• Combined Confucian, Buddhist principles

• Created office of Emperor