Download - 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