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The Emergence of Japan

World History

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Emergence

of Japan

Geography

Early Japan

Nara & Heian Periods

Rise of the Shogun

Social structure & daily life

Religion

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Geography

Archipelago of 4000 islands (4 main ones) with 12% arable land

146,000 square miles (size of Montana or California)

Few natural resources

Temperate climate, & mountainous; prone to earthquakes, floods, typhoons, & volcanic eruptions

Geographically isolated; ocean/seas provided food and protection (harvest sea urchins)

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Early Japan

Kyushu 1st island inhabited; tribal society of farmers with an aristocratic classCreation myth – sun goddess call Amaterasu (each emperor claimed to be a descendant)Yamato clan rules Japan (A.D. 400), & emperor is a ceremonial religious figurePrince Shotoku rules Japan (A.D. 593) – writes a constitution & converts to BuddhismCentralized political system & sent missions to China (constant threat)Chinese culture influences Japan: Confucianism, written characters, Buddhism, civil service, and government

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Nara & Heian Period

Capital moved to Nara (710)Calligraphy, literature (Tale of the Genji – 1st novel), & poetryAristocracy dominates with the Fujiwara clan becoming powerfulCapital moved to Heian (Kyoto) in 794 – becomes the imperial capitalBushi maintained own militaryRise of samurai w/feudalism (lesser nobility and military retainers) - lived by Bushido (w/seppuku) and were loyal military retainers/lesser nobilityTaika reforms - attempt to revamp imperial administration along Chinese lines (eventually rejected)

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Rise of the ShogunMinamoto Yoritomo becomes 1st shogun (Kamakura) in Tokyo; eventually overthrown after establishing bakufuDecline of imperial power; Mongols invade in 1274 & 1281 (with 150,000); typhoon destroys fleet (twice); “divine wind” or kamikaze protects Japanese peopleGempei Wars (1100s) – peasants vs. samurai & Minamoto vs. Taira; countryside destroyedDaimyo’s (warlords each with a kingdom - #300) power grows; collects taxes for irrigation – have castles or fortresses like in EuropeCivil war (1467-1477); shogunate collapses

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Social Structure & Daily LifeFarming society; the masses were peasant farmers who became serfs

Merchants and artisan guilds arose (for men and women)

Traded paper, pearls, lumber, gold, painted fans, iron casting, porcelain, silk, books, swords, etc.

Japanese elite enjoyed life of leisure & court ritual

Early art imitated Chinese art, but then became uniquely Japanese (tea ceremony and decorative gardens)

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Religion

Worshipped nature spirits (animism) or kami - evolves into Shinto

Divinity of the emperor - serves as a figurehead from Kyoto

Buddhism arrives from China (6th cent.) & mixes with Shinto

Most Japanese become Shinto & Buddhist – can be both

Zen Buddhism becomes most popular

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Korea

Most profoundly influenced by China (& longest)

Descended from hunting & herding peoples of eastern Siberia & Manchuria

Earliest Korean kingdom – Choson in the north

Koguryo people established independent kingdom in north

Kingdoms of Silla and Paekche fight wars w/Koguryo – weakens each other & Tang dynasty conquers (allied w/Silla)

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KoreaChinese withdraw in 668 – Silla left in power & Korea remains independent until 20th century (off & on)Sinification (adoption of Chinese culture) hits Korea – Buddhism, Chinese writing; also porcelain (celadon) & printing, but became better than ChineseTribute system used by Chinese instead of invasion – Korea sent embassies, kowtowed, offered gifts to Chinese - (ensured peace)Had access to Chinese learning, art , & manufactured goods

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Vietnam

Conquered by China in 2nd centuryMaintained unique identity & culture – dressed differently, language, village autonomy, nuclear family; women had greater freedom & influence than in ChinaConsidered “barbarians” by ChineseConquered by the Han Chinese – assimilation & diffusion through Chinese troops and administrators (bureaucracy, agriculture, schools, & military)

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Vietnam

Revolts – Trung sisters in 39 C.E. – women were hostile to Confucian ideals939 C.E. win independence & remains so until the French in 19th century (Mongol & Ming try, but fail)Expansion & division – north vs. south, Nguyen vs. Trinh, defeated Khmer & Cham neighbors