Creation ofJapan
The Creation A mythical story is told about the beginnings of Japan. Long ago the islands of Japan did not even exist, only ocean. A god and goddess looked down from the heavens above and saw a long, colorful rainbow streaking over the ocean.
The Creation The rainbow formed a splendid bridge and the god and goddess decided to walk across it. Pausing in the center of this stretch of color, the god lowered his jeweled spear into the ocean.
The Creation He swirled the spear around and around and lifted it from the water. Tiny water drops fell from the tip of the spear, and as they hit the ocean, they turned into land.
The First Emperor The god and goddess descended to their newly created land where the goddess gave birth to Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. Her great, great grandson is thought to be Jimmu, founder of Japan’s royal family.
The First Emperor Every emperor of Japan, from Jimmu’s time to present day, have been directly related to Jimmu and therefore, a descendant of the gods.
Three Treasures Jimmu carried with him the proof he needed to verify his divine ancestry: Three treasures, handed down by the gods, were always to be kept in possession of Japan’s emperors. With this evidence, no one could ever doubt that Japan’s emperors were truly related to the gods.
Three Treasures The first treasure was a mirror that belonged to the sun goddess, representing the emperor’s relation with the gods.
Three Treasures The next treasure was a special sword, representing the emperor’s strength.
Three Treasures The third treasure was a jewel, said to actually have been taken from the steps of heaven, representing the great wisdom the emperor possesses.
A Lasting Heritage Jimmu was most likely a real person. The mythical beginnings of Japan is a story still enjoyed by the Japanese, though the actual relation of the emperor to the gods was renounced by the emperor of Japan, Hirohito, after WWII.
A Lasting Heritage Emperor Hirohito’s heritage can, however, be traced directly back to Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan. Emperor Hirohito died in 1989, and today his son is the emperor of Japan.
Full Samurai Attire video
Feudal Hierarchy in Medieval Japan Shogun: “great general”; military leader who ruled under emperor & hired daimyo to run his farms. Daimyo: “large private land”; nobles (lords) who supported the Shogun by owning and caring for large farming estates & hired samurai to protect farms. Samurai: “one who serves”; armored and mounted warriors who fought to the death to protect their lord (daimyo) and his farm.
The Life of a Samurai
SAMURAI CODE To live and die sword in hand. To always be brave and warlike.
BUSHIDO “the way of the warrior” The religious commitment to military life Influenced by Buddhism & Confucianism Required to give up life to protect his lord Followed code of behavior: Courage, endurance, honor, kindness, etc.
TRAINING Trained from birth to die in battle. You must be born a Samurai Age 5 or 6: taught to shoot bow & arrow and ride a horse. Older boys: long fasts, barefoot hike in snow, practiced with wooden sword, studied martial arts
COSTUME Designed to scare opponents (esp. mask). Armor: overlying iron plates, breastplate, leg shields, & neck collar. Intricately designed – considered art.
WEAPONS Two swords: Bows & Arrows Shorter blade for ritual suicide or defeat of opponent. Samurai battle sword – “the soul of the samurai” – craftsmen had supernatural powers – made of hard steel – could cut a man in two. Bows & Arrows
HONORABLE DEATH A heroic death in battle was the samurai’s most honorable goal. If samurai failed to protect his lord or were captured, he was humiliated and would kill himself. Before killing a defeated opponent, a samurai would compliment him on his bravery and then kill him with shorter blade.