What was it like to live in ANCIENT JAPAN?

Role of Women Ancient women were restricted to their homes. They were accountable until they reached the age to marry into another family. Some women in major cities were given the opportunity to have a formal education and study alongside men. This was a large stepping stone for Japanese women. Marriages were often arranged by parents. During the wedding ceremony it was customary for the new wife to bow and serve tea to her in-laws. To gain respect she was never to disobey in- laws especially her mother in-law and was supposed to act as a servant. It was customary for the bride to wear red as in Japanese tradition it was considered a sign of luck.

In ancient Japan, marriages were arranged by parents, priests, or family friends. Many times, marriages were set up to try to further the bride’s family financially and/or socially A groom would visit his bride at her home every night but only after the birth of a child or the loss of her parents would the bride be accepted as the wife in the man's home. The most popular time to get married was in spring when the Cherry Blossom trees were in bloom Ceremonies were usually held at tori gates or shines to allow people visiting to pay their respects to the gods and pray the gift of good fortune

Geishas Geisha were a large part of ancient Japanese entertainment. Geishas are women who entertain guests by engaging in various forms of performing arts such as playing musical instruments, dancing, carrying out a tea ceremony, Ikebana or flower arrangement, and reciting poetry.

Geishas To become geishas, young girls attend special training schools at the age of fifteen  Geisha's dress in traditional kimonos.  The color, pattern, and style of kimono depends on  the season. They wore high platform sandals and arrange flowers in patterns in their hair. Geishas use a white foundation make-up and paint their lips bright red. Geishas had a very high status in ancient Japanese society.

Kamishimo A kamishimo is a 2 piece costume worn over the kimono. This is only worn by samurais! Kataginu- The upper half. It is a sleeveless vest with large shoulders. Hakama- The lower half. They are flowing pants whose design contain an important meaning to the samurai.

Kimono The kimono is the national costume or outfit of Japan. The kimono robe falls to your feet and wraps around your body from left side to right. A wide belt called an obi is tied around the kimono. They are made from a piece of fabric called a “tan” and traditionally are sewn by hand. Most are made of silk, yet today they are made from cotton and other fibers. A complete kimono outfit today can cost up to ten thousand dollars.

JUDO From the twelfth to the nineteenth century Japan was ruled by the samurai, a class of professional soldiers. This provided fertile ground for various martial arts to develop. In addition to fighting with swords and bows and arrows, the samurai developed jujitsu to fight enemies at close quarters on the battlefield. Several different styles of jujitsu evolved, and hand-to-hand combat spread as an important form of military training. One of the most well known types of jujitsu is called JUDO

In sumo, two people who are wearing nothing but a mawashi (loincloth), face each other in a dohyo (circular ring) and push, grapple, and try to throw each other. The one who forces his opponent to the ground or pushes him out of the ring is the winner. Many aspects of Japan's traditional culture can be seen in sumo. For example, the wrestlers throw salt into the ring to purify it before they begin their match, as the dohyo is considered a sacred place. Sumo has a long history, and it has been called Japan's national sport. Although many professional sports are played in Japan, such as baseball and soccer, sumo is the nation's oldest professional sport.

Manners in Ancient Japan Almost everyone is aware that the Japanese way of greeting is bowing. It is such an integral and vital part of Japanese etiquette, that employees of various companies are trained to bow in the right manner. The reason why bows are so important are because they express reverence for the opposite person. As such, the practice of bowing while greeting should not be taken lightly. Bows are informal and formal. While the general norm for men is to maintain the hands at their sides and bend forward from the waist, for girls it is the same with the hands placed on the lap, with the eyes looking down. Formal bows are deeper than informal bows. A bow is returned with a bow and should normally last only up to 2-3 seconds. Shaking hands, sometimes in combination with a bow, has now become a common practice in Japan, especially with outsiders and tourists. As a tourist, if you are applying this greeting, ensure you bend to the left and not straight, to avoid knocking down the opposite person.

Manners in Ancient Japan While visiting someone's house in Japan, where being invited is a big honor, it is polite to remove shoes outside the house so as to avoid soiling the floors inside the house. When shoes are removed they should be pointed outward, facing away from the entrance door. It is important to maintain hygiene of the feet as foot odor is rude, and is generally a put-off. If you are wearing open footwear, carrying a pair of white socks to wear while entering the house is necessary, and is a gesture that shows concern for the host's hospitality. The hosts generally offer slippers to wear inside the house, but ensuring they are clean is the guest's responsibility. A hat or coat is to be removed before the door to the house is opened, while it should be put back on only after the guest has left the premises of the house, and the door to the house has been closed. The norm followed while visiting someone's house is to carry a gift, where going without one is considered impolite. The gift is placed on the paper bag in which it has been bought, and given with both hands, immediately upon entering the living room.