Japanese Religion and Culture

Buddhism & Shinto

Shinto and Buddhism shaped much of Japan’s culture. These religions affected Japanese art , architecture, novels, and plays.

Religion is apart of everyday life in Japan. During the middle ages Shinto is concerned with daily life, while Buddhism prepares you for the life to come.

Buddhist ideas inspired many Japanese to build temple, produce paintings, and write poems and plays

Pure Land Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism began in India then spread to China and Korea. In time spread to Japan

Pure Land Buddhism Sect – is a smaller religious group and this is the most popular sect of Buddhism

Pure Land Buddhism – Lord Amida Many followed this sect of Buddhism because of the message of a Happy Life after death. Lord Amida – Buddha of love and mercy & created a paradise in the clouds. To get there you have to have faith in Amida and chant his name.

Zen Buddhism Another sect of Buddhism in Japan was Zen. In 1100’s C.E. Buddhist monks brought Zen from China. Zen taught people can find inner peace through self-control and a simple way of life.

Zen Buddhism Zen Learned to control their bodies through Martial Arts – sport that involves combat and self-defense. Samurai liked this.

Zen Buddhist Practiced Meditation A person would sit crossed –legged and motionless for hours, mind clear and no thoughts or desires. To relax and find inner peace

Artisans made Wooden Statues, Furniture, and Household items Art and Architecture Artistic Ideas came from China and Korea but soon they developed their own style. Japan’s art was love of beauty and simplicity. Artisans made Wooden Statues, Furniture, and Household items

Art – much of the work used A shiny black and red Lacquer and the paintings were of nature or battles using inks and watercolors on paper scrolls or on silk

Art – The art of folding paper Origami

Shinto Shrines & Buddhist Temples Shinto shrines were built in nature to worship the beauty of nature Buddhist Temples were built in Chinese Style and the temples were richly decorated

Japanese Gardens designed to imitate Nature in miniature form. Carefully place rocks, raked sand, and few plants built in a way to create a feeling of peace

Japanese writing system 500 C.E. they adopted the Chinese writing system 800 C.E. they changed the characters to mean Symbols like our Alphabet. CHINA

Calligraphy – art of beautiful writing Every educated person in Japan was expected to practice it. Handwriting revealed a person education, social class, and character.

Tanka – Japans oldest form of Poetry Unrhymed poem of 5 lines that captured the beauty of nature, Joys and sorrows of life

1st great Japanese story were by women @ 1,000 C.E. Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji, adventures of a Japanese prince. The world’s 1st long fictional story.

The Tale of Heike @ 1,200 C.E. writers wrote stories of warriors and battles. This tale was about the fight between the Taira and Minamoto Clans

Japanese Plays were called Noh @ 1,300 C.E. the plays were used to teach Buddhism. Performed on bare stages the actors wore masks and elaborate robes, they danced, chanted poetry to drums and flutes

Economy and Society Under the shoguns, Japan produced more goods and grew richer. The Emperor, the nobles, and military officials benefitted from the growing wealth. A growing class were the merchants and traders but farmers remained poor.

Farmers – much of the Wealth Japan acquired was from the hard work of their farmers. They grew rice, wheat, millet and barley. Things improved for farmers better irrigation more crops to sell at the markets.

Artisans started producing more goods They made weapons, armor, and tools they were brought and sold at local markets. With roads being built trade increased which included pottery, paper, textiles, lacquered ware. All this helped Japan’s economy to grow.

Kyoto became a center of production and trade. Many artisans and merchants lived there, they formed guilds to protect and increase profits. Daimyo protected them from rival artisans and they sold goods to the daimyo which he could not get on his own.

Japan’s wealth increased as trade increased With Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. They traded Lacquered goods, sword blades, and copper for silk, dyes, pepper, books, and porcelain.

The Role of Women Japanese family included grandparents, parents, and children living together. The Man was the head of the family and the Woman was to obey the father, husband, and the son. Some marriages were arranged.

Early Japan Women were Empresses During the Warrior Society women lost their freedoms. Farming Women had more say in the Family Artisan Women Ran the Family while the man worked. Despite Restriction Women contributed as artists, writers, and Warriors (lady Samurai).