Chapter 5: JapanChapter 5: Japan

Early JapanEarly Japan

Shoguns and SamuraiShoguns and Samurai

Life in Medieval JapanLife in Medieval Japan

Japan’s GeographyJapan’s Geography Japan’s mountains and Japan’s mountains and

islands isolated Japan and islands isolated Japan and shaped its societyshaped its society

Because of Japan’s Because of Japan’s mountains, only 20% of its mountains, only 20% of its land can be farmedland can be farmed

The rugged terrain forced The rugged terrain forced many Japanese to turn to many Japanese to turn to the sea for a livingthe sea for a living

The vast ocean around The vast ocean around Japan kept it isolated and as Japan kept it isolated and as a result, Japan developed its a result, Japan developed its own intensely independent own intensely independent society with its own religion, society with its own religion, art, literature, and art, literature, and governmentgovernment

The First Settlers of JapanThe First Settlers of Japan The Yayoi people were the early settlers The Yayoi people were the early settlers

of Japanof Japan Around 300 CE the Yayoi organized Around 300 CE the Yayoi organized

themselves into clansthemselves into clans A clan is a group of families related by A clan is a group of families related by

blood or marriageblood or marriage During the 500’s a clan called the Yamato During the 500’s a clan called the Yamato

became strong enough to rule all of Japanbecame strong enough to rule all of Japan Yamato chiefs claimed they were Yamato chiefs claimed they were

descendents of the Sun God and the descendents of the Sun God and the emperor of Japan today is a descendent of emperor of Japan today is a descendent of these ancient rulersthese ancient rulers

Prince Shotoku’s ReformsPrince Shotoku’s Reforms Around 600 CE, a Yamato prince named Shotoku took charge of Around 600 CE, a Yamato prince named Shotoku took charge of

JapanJapan He wanted to create a strong government so he looked to China He wanted to create a strong government so he looked to China

as an example of what to doas an example of what to do Shotoku created a constitution and gave all power to the Shotoku created a constitution and gave all power to the

emperoremperor The emperor had the power to appoint all of the government The emperor had the power to appoint all of the government

officialsofficials Government officials were sent to China to study Chinese art, Government officials were sent to China to study Chinese art,

medicine, government, Buddhism, and philosophy (much which medicine, government, Buddhism, and philosophy (much which came from Korea)came from Korea)

Shotoku ordered Buddhist temples and monasteries to be built Shotoku ordered Buddhist temples and monasteries to be built throughout Japanthroughout Japan

In 646 CE the Yamato began the Taika, or Great ChangeIn 646 CE the Yamato began the Taika, or Great Change They divided Japan into provinces and they were all run by They divided Japan into provinces and they were all run by

officials who reported to the emperorofficials who reported to the emperor These reforms created the first strong central government in These reforms created the first strong central government in

JapanJapan

The Shinto Religion of JapanThe Shinto Religion of Japan The Japanese religion The Japanese religion

called Shinto was called Shinto was based on nature spiritsbased on nature spirits

They believe that all They believe that all things in nature have things in nature have their own spiritstheir own spirits

This idea is called This idea is called animismanimism

Nature spirits are Nature spirits are called kamicalled kami

The word Shinto The word Shinto means “way of the means “way of the spirits”spirits”

BuddhismBuddhism During the same During the same

time the emperor’s time the emperor’s government was government was growing strong, growing strong, Buddhism became Buddhism became popularpopular

Buddhism became a Buddhism became a major religion in major religion in Japan and had an Japan and had an important role in important role in governmentgovernment

SamuraiSamurai Nobles formed private Nobles formed private

armies to protect their armies to protect their landland

To create their armies To create their armies they gave land to they gave land to warriors who agreed to warriors who agreed to fight for themfight for them

These warriors were These warriors were called Samuraicalled Samurai

Samurai lived by a Samurai lived by a code of conduct called code of conduct called BushidoBushido

A Samurai would rather A Samurai would rather die in battle than die in battle than betray his lordbetray his lord

ShogunShogun By the early 1100’s the most powerful Japanese By the early 1100’s the most powerful Japanese

families had begun fighting each other using their families had begun fighting each other using their Samurai armiesSamurai armies

In 1192, Yoritomo, the leader of a powerful family, In 1192, Yoritomo, the leader of a powerful family, was given the title of shogunwas given the title of shogun

The shogun is the commander of all of the The shogun is the commander of all of the emperor’s military forcesemperor’s military forces

The military government was known as the The military government was known as the shogunateshogunate

Japan’s government was run by a series of shoguns Japan’s government was run by a series of shoguns for the next 700 yearsfor the next 700 years

In 1274 and 1281, the shogunate successfully held In 1274 and 1281, the shogunate successfully held off attacks by the Mongolsoff attacks by the Mongols

The Daimyo Divide JapanThe Daimyo Divide Japan As the shogun’s power weakened, Japan broke As the shogun’s power weakened, Japan broke

into warring kingdoms run by rulers known as into warring kingdoms run by rulers known as daimyodaimyo

The daimyo pledged loyalty to the emperor and The daimyo pledged loyalty to the emperor and the shogun, but they ruled their lands as if they the shogun, but they ruled their lands as if they were independent kingdomswere independent kingdoms

To protect their lands they created their own local To protect their lands they created their own local armies made up of Samurai warriorsarmies made up of Samurai warriors

Samurai became vassals when they pledged to Samurai became vassals when they pledged to serve their daimyo in times of war and in return serve their daimyo in times of war and in return the daimyo gave them landthe daimyo gave them land

This bond of loyalty between a lord and a vassal This bond of loyalty between a lord and a vassal is known as feudalismis known as feudalism

Japanese Religion and Japanese Religion and CultureCulture

Buddhism and Shinto shaped much of Japan’s cultureBuddhism and Shinto shaped much of Japan’s culture These religions affected Japanese art, architecture, novels and playsThese religions affected Japanese art, architecture, novels and plays The arts of Japan revealed the Japanese love of beauty and simplicityThe arts of Japan revealed the Japanese love of beauty and simplicity The art of folding paper, know as Origami, was invented in JapanThe art of folding paper, know as Origami, was invented in Japan Calligraphy, the art of writing beautifully, was much admired in JapanCalligraphy, the art of writing beautifully, was much admired in Japan Japan’s oldest form of poetry was the tankaJapan’s oldest form of poetry was the tanka Tanka was an unrhymed poem of five linesTanka was an unrhymed poem of five lines Tanka poems capture nature’s beauty and the joys and sorrows of lifeTanka poems capture nature’s beauty and the joys and sorrows of life By the 1600’s, tanka poems changed into a new form called haikuBy the 1600’s, tanka poems changed into a new form called haiku Haiku consisted of 3 lines of words with a total of 17 syllablesHaiku consisted of 3 lines of words with a total of 17 syllables The oldest type of Japanese plays were called Noh and they were The oldest type of Japanese plays were called Noh and they were

written to teach Buddhist ideaswritten to teach Buddhist ideas Some Japanese nobles, merchants, and artisans grew wealthy during Some Japanese nobles, merchants, and artisans grew wealthy during

the shogun period, but the lives of women remained restricted in the shogun period, but the lives of women remained restricted in many areas of lifemany areas of life