Geography Mountains 80% –Difficult to unite and attack –Hard to grow food –Appreciation for nature (earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, volcanoes) Archipelago- chain of islands –Difficult to unite and attack –Food from sea –Developed unique cultures (isolated) Next to China –China was a major source of cultural diffusion –China was a major trade partner –Potential military threat –Korea serves as a “bridge” between China and Japan

Shintoism Shintoism (Traditional Japanese Religion) Shinto- “way of the gods” A form of animism- belief in spirits in nature Kami- nature spirits (found in trees, rocks, mountains, lakes) Sun goddess Amaterasu- major deity –Believe Emperor is descended from Sun Goddess (emperor is sacred) Practice involves quiet reflection at shrines in natural setting (Shinto gates)

Zen Buddhism A Japanese variation of the Mahayana form of Buddhism, which came from India through China. It reinforced the Bushido values of mental and self- discipline.

Heian Period Emperor and nobles more concerned with luxury and arts than governingEmperor and nobles more concerned with luxury and arts than governing Elaborate court lifeElaborate court life Obsessed with fashionObsessed with fashion Emphasis on etiquetteEmphasis on etiquette Growth of large landed estatesGrowth of large landed estates Arts & literature of Japan flourished Arts & literature of Japan flourished Moving away from Chinese models in religion, the arts, and government Moving away from Chinese models in religion, the arts, and government Emperor and nobles more concerned with luxury and arts than governingEmperor and nobles more concerned with luxury and arts than governing Elaborate court lifeElaborate court life Obsessed with fashionObsessed with fashion Emphasis on etiquetteEmphasis on etiquette Growth of large landed estatesGrowth of large landed estates Arts & literature of Japan flourished Arts & literature of Japan flourished Moving away from Chinese models in religion, the arts, and government Moving away from Chinese models in religion, the arts, and government

Heian Court Dress

Heian Literature Female writers: The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon (10c) The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki (1st novel- 1,000 pgs.+)

The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon (diary)

Tale of Genji Scroll (first novel)

Lady Murasaki Shikibu She contributed much to the Japanese script known as kana, while men wrote with Chinese characters, kanji.

Heian Period: Cultural Borrowing 1.Chinese writing 1.Chinese artistic styles 2.Buddhism (in the form of ZEN) 3.BUT, not the Chinese civil service system 1.Chinese writing 1.Chinese artistic styles 2.Buddhism (in the form of ZEN) 3.BUT, not the Chinese civil service system

Japan Borrows and Adapts Chinese Ideas

Feudalism Developed Lack of strong central government Large landowners (daimyo) in countryside set up private armies and began to fight each other for power Minamoto family (daimyo) emerged as most powerful 1192 the Emperor appoints the Minamoto leader as Shogun (supreme general of the Emperor’s army) The Shogun held true power while the emperor was a figure head (leads country, but doesn’t have any real power)

Minamoto Yoritomo Founded the Kamakura Shogunate:

Japanese Feudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service. Shogun Daimyo Samurai Peasan t Land - Shoen Protection Loyalty Food

Feudal Society The emperor reigned, but did not always rule! Peasants have higher status than merchants because of respect for farming and agriculture.

Code of Bushido Loyalty to master * Loyalty to master * Politeness * Respectful * Masculinity * Simplicity * Artistic Ability * Live as though dead * Educated in reading and writing Loyalty to master * Loyalty to master * Politeness * Respectful * Masculinity * Simplicity * Artistic Ability * Live as though dead * Educated in reading and writing Code of conduct for samurai

SeppukuSeppuku Ritual suicide

Full Samurai Attire

Samurai Sword

The Tale of the Forty-Seven Ronin Ronin= Samurai’s without a master

FeudalismFeudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service. Europe: King Lord Knight Peasant Land - Fief Protection Loyalty Food

European Knights: Code of Chivalry * * Justice * Loyalty * Defense * Courage * Faith *  Humility * Nobility * * Justice * Loyalty * Defense * Courage * Faith *  Humility * Nobility

European Knight Samurai Warrior vs. Medieval Warriors

Knight’s Armor Samurai’s Armor vs. Medieval Warriors

Mongol “Invasion of Japan” 4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds stopped them

CASTLESCASTLES CASTLESCASTLES

Osaka Castle

Main Gate of Hiroshima Castle

Caernarfon Castle, Wales

Sengoku Period  Daimyos and their samurai battle one another  Europeans arrive in Japan bringing firearms & Christianity  Christianity & foreign trade flourish The Age of Warring States

Oda Nobunaga ( )  Banishes the last Ashikaga shogun  Used guns to defeat enemies  Unifies a large part of Japan

Toyotomi Hideyoshi ( )  “The Rat”  Becomes suspicious of European territorial ambitions  Orders all European missionaries expelled from Japan  Tries to invade Korea, but fails  Sword Hunt- peasants surrender weapons, only samurai have swords

Tokugawa Ieyasu ( )  Successfully united Japan  Moved capital to Edo (Tokyo)  Required daimyos to live at court for half of the year, while their families remained in the capital

Tokugawa Shogunate Period  Peaceful and stable  The government is centralized with all power in the hands of the shogun  Edict of Closes Japan to foreigners  Japan closed off to all trade (except to the Dutch and Chinese; restricted to a small island in Nagasaki harbor)  Japanese Christians persecuted and Christianity is forbidden  Domestic trade flourishes  merchant class becomes rich  Towns increase  Samurai become bureaucrats or teachers  no more fighting

 Wealth and isolation leads to an explosion of culture  New art forms- haiku poetry, kabuki theater, bunraku  Geisha  Japanese culture flourished, but scientific innovation lagged behind west Tokugawa Culture