Chapter 8 Japan

Geography of Japan Mountainous island country Mild climate Near China and Korea Rice Fish

Terraced Rice Fields

Nature and Shinto Shinto Shinto means “way of the gods” and is based on respect for nature and ancestors Mt. Fuji – there is great respect for Japan’s tallest mountain

Japan’s influential neighbors China and Korea Japan is referred to as “land of the rising sun” Nippon means Japan in Japanese

Chinese Influence on Japan Religion – Combined Buddhism with traditional Shinto rituals Government – adopted principles of Confucianism for Japanese government Writing system – used Chinese characters to stand for additional ideas and sounds Arts – Used Chinese techniques in landscape painting Agriculture – used Chinese wet-field rice cultivation

Structure of Japanese society Clans Most were workers – farming and fishing Special skills – pottery or weaving Some were slaves who took care of nobles Shinto unified Japan honoring divine spirits and ancestors

Japan’s emperors 400s – Yamato clan Emperors seen as descendants of the sun goddess Emperors – godlike Military had the real power

Prince Shotoku 593-622 Encouraged Japanese to learn from China Open a Japanese embassy in China Had Japanese learn Confucian principles of hard work and obedience to authority

Shotoku promotes Buddhism At first, Buddhism challenged Shinto, the traditional Japan belief system Most Japanese blended Buddhism

Summary Japan’s island location and proximity to China and Korea affected its development Japanese emperors reigned but had little power Prince Shotoku introduced Chinese culture to Japan