 Chinese knew about Japan before 100  Japanese adopted Chinese writing  Japanese adopted Buddhism from the Chinese in 552  Started with the people in the Japanese court and then moved on to common people  Most believed in both religions

 By 794, the ruling class in Japan began to turn away from Chinese models  Poets began writing in Japanese  There began a distinct Japanese culture

 Two general sources of power  Central government – important families influenced power  Local land owners – very powerful and had their own warriors

 First family to gain control over central government was Fujiwara  1185, Minamoto takes control  Change the way the government is run  Minamoto Yoritomo was the first shogun or general ▪ In charge of military, finances, and laws ▪ Ashikaga shoguns had power for 250 years  Emperor keeps the throne

 Wealthy landlords held power, called the Daimyo  They hired warriors called samurai for protection  Samurai followed code of behavior called Bushido, “the way of the warrior” ▪ Stressed bravery, loyalty, and honor ▪ If samurai displeased their masters or were defeated, they may practice seppuku, or ceremonial suicide to avoid dishonor

 The daimyo and their samurai became the most powerful people in Japan during the Ashikaga Shogunate  Japan had no strong central government  Warfare was common  But Japan continued to grow economically and socially

 The daimyo taxed whatever they could  Taxed crops  Taxed items that were traded  Daimyo offered a chance for social mobility  If one could use a sword or a lance, that person may be able to join a daimyo’s army  If they were good, they could move up in rank

 Ashikaga family starts to fight over who will be the next shogun  This starts 100 years of constant warfare  Local daimyo fought for control of Japan  Late 1500s, three daimyo were victorious and established themselves as overlords of other daimyo ▪ Built a centralized feudal system in Japan

 Tokugawa family was victorious over the other three overlords and he became shogun  The Tokugawa family kept the shogunate for over 250 years  Established their own government – the Tokugawa Shogunate  A cross between feudalism and central monarchy

 Daimyo governed as an almost absolute rule  Everyone else from farmers on down to traders paid strict taxes to the higher classes.  Tokugawa daimyo strictly controlled government and trade, leading to very uneven social classes.  Social class was determined by birth – sons followed the occupations of their fathers ▪ There was no upward mobility

 Emperor  Shogun  Daimyo  Samurai  Peasants  Artisans  Merchants

Japan was mostly free of foreign influence for hundreds of years.  An isolated nation, brought more than two centuries of stability to Japan ▪ Banned most foreign trade ▪ People prohibited from traveling abroad ▪ Banned foreigners from traveling to Japan

 In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry, an American, visited Japan.  Perry was sent because Japan’s government refused to shelter foreign ships during storms.  The U.S. wanted to form an agreement that would guarantee the safety of their sailors and open Japan up to foreign trade.

 Treaty of Kanagawa 1854  Opened Japanese ports to let Americans obtain fuel, shelter, and supplies  Within two years, Japan traded with Great Britain, Russia and the Netherlands as well.  A group of samurai leaders became unhappy after the settling of the treaty.  Worried that the government’s inability to resist Western demands cast doubt on its right to rule Japan.

 Japan was clearly behind the rest of the world in terms of technology and influence.  A number of leaders rose up to change the entire structure of the government.  This change is called the Meiji Restoration.  Meiji meant “enlightened rule,” which indicated the revolutionaries wanted smarter leadership in the nation.

 Supporters of the Meiji wanted a strong government like those in the West.  Began making changes to Japanese society. ▪ Weapons like the machine gun. ▪ Increase Trade with western societies. ▪ First hints of imperialism to nations bordering Japan.

 No more social classes.  People may do whatever they want with their lives.  Government reflects western society.  Ex.) the Diet is a national assembly of elected officials, much like Congress in the U.S.  Rapid Industrialization begins to take place.  No longer a society based on agriculture.

 By 1900 Japan is the first country in Asia to industrialize, or develop from an agriculture based society to one with machinery.  People are encouraged to start businesses  Railroads and telephones link the nation for the first time.  Japan is essentially the only modernized nation in Asia at the time.

 Japan begins practicing imperialism – when one country controls another, less powerful country.  The Japanese fight with the Chinese in the Sino- Japanese War over control of Korea in 1894 and again in ▪ Japan defeats China with a more modern army. ▪ Japan now is able to trade in China and is the dominant force in Asia. ▪ Korea is now an independent nation (1895)  In a matter of a few decades Japan is now a major world power!