Japan Honors World Studies Mrs. Steinke

Japan  Although little is known about the early history of Japan, it is known that the first inhabitants arrived there several thousands of years ago.

Japan  Like the earliest members of other cultures, these people survived by hunting, fishing and gathering plants.

Japan  By 200 B.C. the Japanese people started to farm and cultivate irrigated rice.

Japan  At the same time, there was a large influx of people form other areas of continental Asia that resulted in a significant population growth.

Japan  As its population grew, Japan began to emerge into a distinct and homogeneous culture. Yet, the nation was not politically unified.

Japan  Japanese society was divided into tribal organizations called uji, or clans, each of which had a well defined social grouping that was dominated by aristocrats and included warriors and spiritual leaders.

Japan  Because the islands’ mountainous terrain forced settlements in scattered coastal plains or narrow valleys, the clans remained relatively independent and no central government could be established.

Japan  The clans were constantly fighting with one another, but by the mid 4 th century, a clan called Yamato emerged as the nation’s most powerful clan.

Japan  The Yamato leaders established a relationship with the Chinese. As a result, many Chinese ideas and beliefs were introduced into Japanese society.

Japan  The Japanese were heavily influenced by the Chinese culture. The Japanese borrowed the Chinese system of writing

Japan  The Japanese were heavily influenced by the Chinese culture. The Japanese borrowed the Chinese system of writing, adopted the dominant religions, and even attempted to mimic the Chinese system of centralized imperial rule. The attempt to centralize the government failed, however, and mist Japanese emperors turned out to be little more than figureheads manipulated by the most powerful family of the time.

Japan  The leader of the dominant family, who was known as the shogun, was the true ruler of the country, using bands of hired warriors known as samurai to keep order throughout the nation.

Japan  Despite the influence of the Chinese, Japan developed its own distinctive cultural identity. Certain elements of the Japanese culture, such as the emphasis on the family and respect for authority, do reflect the impact of Chinese ideas.

Japan  Other elements, however, are of purely Japanese origin. A number of these elements, including deep appreciation for nature and preference for simplicity originated from the oldest Japanese religion, Shintoism.

Japan  The emphasis on simplicity is exhibited in all types of Japanese literature. The vast majority of Japanese poems are extremely brief, reflecting the Japanese preference for simplicity and suggestion, rather than direct statement.

Japan  In Japanese, a haiku poem is usually divided into three groups or lines of syllables, the first and last with 5 and the second with 7.

Japan  Haiku represents simple imagery, devoid of similes, metaphors, and eloquent adjectives and adverbs.

Japan  When crafting a Haiku, think of a group of words that represent an observation in a way that appeals to the senses.

Japan  Use sight, touch, sound smell, taste or sensations like pain or movement.

Japan  Tell of a specific event or observation; do not write in general terms.  Write in PRESENT tense.  Try to indicate the feelings of the poet as he or she is writing the poem.  When describing an event, present it as an image.

Japan  This is NOT a Haiku:  I watched the gray rain  Drops as they fell and splattered  Into the puddle

Japan  This is the same sentiment as expressed by Haiku:  Soft warm splatterings  Echoing into circles  Calm in the puddle

Japan  To complete this assignment:  Go outside and look at one small object in nature. Or, close your eyes and imagine you are in nature.  Watch a cricket move, describe a leaf, observe the clouds.  Record what you see, then work it into a haiku.