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