Feudal Japan World History/Napp
“Japan lies east of China, in the direction of the sunrise. In fact, the name Japan comes from the Chinese word ri-ben, which means ‘origin of the sun’ or ‘land of the rising sun.’ Japan’s island location shaped the growth of its civilization. About 120 miles ofwater separates Japan from its closest neighbor, Korea, and 500 miles of water separatesJapan from China. The Japanese were close enough to feel the civilizingeffect of China. Yet they were far enough away to be reasonably safe from invasion.
About 4,000 islands make up the Japanesearchipelago, or island group, that extends in an arcmore than 1,200 miles long. Historically, most Japanese people have lived on thefour largest islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Japan’s geography has both advantages and disadvantages. Southern Japanenjoys a mild climate with plenty of rainfall. The country is so mountainous,however, that only about 12 percent of the land is suitable for farming. Naturalresources such as coal, oil, and iron are in short supply. During the late summerand early fall, strong tropical storms called typhoons occur. Earthquakes andtidal waves are also threats.
The first historic mention of Japan comes from Chinese writings ofthe first century B.C. Japan at this time was not a united country. Instead, hundredsof clans controlled their own territories. Each clan worshiped its ownnature gods and goddesses. In different parts of Japan, people honored thousandsof local gods. Their varied customs and beliefs eventually combined to formJapan’s earliest religion. In later times, this religion was called Shinto, meaning ‘way of the gods.’ Shinto was based on respect for the forces of nature and on the worship ofancestors. Shinto worshipers believed in kami, divine spirits that dwelled innature.
By the A.D. 400s,the Yamato clan had established itself as theleading clan of Japan. The Yamato claimed to bedescended from the sun goddess Amaterasu. By the seventh century, the Yamato chiefscalled themselves the emperors of Japan. Theearly emperors did not control the entirecountry, or even much of it, but the Japanesegradually accepted the idea of an emperor.Although many of the Yamato rulerslacked real power, the dynasty was neveroverthrown. When rival clans fought forpower, the winning clan claimed control ofthe emperor and then ruled in the emperor’sname.” ~ World History
Questions:
1- How has Japan’s location affected its history?
2- Identify Japan’s geographic features and effects.
3- Identify and explain the beliefs of the Shinto religion.
4- How did the Yamato clan change Japanese history?
5- Prove that although Japan had one dynasty and therefore one family of emperors that the Japanese emperor was sometimes a figurehead or a ruler without real power.
Cultural Borrowing / Heian Period / Feudalism- One of the most important influences brought by Koreantravelers to Japan was Buddhism
- The Japanese, however, did not giveup their Shinto beliefs
- Interest in Buddhist ideas at the Japanese courtsoon grew into an enthusiasm for all things Chinese
- The most influential convert toBuddhism was Prince Shotoku
- In 607, Prince Shotoku sent the first of three missions to China
- The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing and also followed Chinese styles inthe simple arts of everyday living
- But the Japanese did not adopt China’s civil-service system; in Japan, noblebirth remained the key to winning a powerful position / - In the late 700s, the imperial court moved its capital from Nara to Heian, the modern Kyoto
- Among the upper class in Heian, a highly refined court society arose
- This era in Japanese history, from 794 to 1185, is called the Heian period
- Rules dictated every aspect of court life – the length of swords, the colorof official robes, forms of address, even the number of skirts a woman wore
- One of the finest writers of the period was Lady Murasaki Shikibu
- Lady Murasaki’s 11th-century masterpiece, The Tale of Genji,is an account of the life of a prince in the imperial court
- This long prose narrativeis considered the world’s first novel / For most of the Heian period, the rich Fujiwara family held the real power in Japan
- By about the middle of the 11th century, however, thepower of the central government and the Fujiwaras began to slip
- Large landowners living away from the capital set up private armies
- Thecountryside became lawless and dangerous
- For safety, farmers andsmall landowners traded parts of their land to strong warlords in exchange for protection
- This marked the beginningof a feudal system of localized rule
- Since wars between rival lords were commonplace, each lordsurrounded himself with a bodyguard of loyal warriors called samurai
Questions:
1- Prove that the Japanese engaged in selective borrowing – taking some ideas from its neighbors but not every idea.
2- Describe court life in the Heian period.
3- Why was Lady Murasaki Shikibu significant in world history?
4- Why did feudalism develop in Japan?
5- Define samurai.
- What are some similarities or differences between Japanese samurai and European knights?
- How might the code of the Samurai help them in battle?
- What is surprising about Tomoe Gozen? Explain your answer.
- Explain reasons for the elaborate outfit of the samurai.
Which geographic factor best explains China’s ability to influence the cultural development of Japan?- tropical climate
- location
- mountains
- navigable rivers
- Widespread mineral deposits led Japan to industrialize before England.
- The lack of natural barriers made it easy to conquer Japan.
- Large tracts of arable land made Japan a leading agricultural exporter.
- Japan’s location allowed selective borrowing from China.
- Power had been granted to shoguns and daimyos.
- Communist guerillas had destabilized domestic political institutions.
- A democratic constitution prevented the emperor from centralizing authority.
- American occupation forces had undermined the belief in the emperor’s divinity.
- were traditional religious leaders
- occupied military posts in the Chinese Empire
- expelled the Moors from Spain
- held positions of power in feudal systems
A student is writing a research paper about foreign influence upon Japan. Would this diagram be of use to the student?
- Yes, because it indicates the strong impact of foreign merchants on Japan’s economy.
- Yes, because it is a primary source that demonstrates the role of artisans as global consumers.
- No, because it features an isolated, hierarchal economic and social system.
- No, because it is a secondary source that shows the vast power of Japanese merchant elite.