Early States Continental Civilization and Japan

Population Islands Mountain and rivers Natural dangers

Rainfall and avg. temperature

Korea divided amongst three principal kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche, Silla Japanese have base in Kaya, friendly w/ Paekche Involved in wars on Korean peninsula

Yamato’s relations with Korea Nihongi claims that Emp. Jingu conquered Korea in 4th c. CE Above: 1880 Yoshitoshi print of Empress Jingu landing on the Korean peninsula.

Korea divided amongst three principal kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche, Silla Japanese have base in Kaya, friendly w/ Paekche Involved in wars on Korean peninsula Lose Korean foothold, when Silla triumphs

T’ang, Silla, Yamato Connections: 600s By 600s, power concentrated in Japan Yamato clan, and allies, involved in Korean struggles T’ang Silla

“ Import” of Buddhism ca. 550 Accelerated by Prince Shotoku ( ), in earlly 7 th c. in alliance with Soga family

Buddhism in India World is a place of suffering and pain Suffering comes from desires and acquisitiveness Must deny desire, deny the self Find release (nirvana) in the eight-fold path Gautama ( BCE) Hard for most people to realize; instead accumulation of karma (cause and effect) leads to cycle of rebirth (samsara)

Buddhism in Japan Early reception of Buddhism in Japan: –1 life is suffering, impermanent –2 Buddhism offers healing powers and salvation, through faith and acts –3 legacy in art & architecture – 4 sense of partaking in higher

Sh ō toku's other accomplishments 1. Merit based ranking system –Cap ranks (Kan'i) –Overlapped the existing hereditary system 2. Seventeen Articles of 604 –Moral codes based on Confucianism One ruler Bureaucracy to replace clan heads 3. Missions to China (607, 608, 613) –"From the Sovereign of the Rising Sun” Nippon (Nihon) > Japan

T’ang, Silla, Yamato Connections: 600s

Shipwreck

Hōryūji Temple

Hōryūji temple Yakushiji temple

The T’ang model: 640s through end of century Especially under Temmu, 672 Emperor at apex of political order Built up military Law codes Land allocation and tax system Provincial capitals and governors Official patronage of religion (Buddhism)

Imperial grants of court ranks and office

Public land (equal field= j  ri) system Ritsuryō law codes

Nara, first permanent capital, 710 In early days, “moving capitals” from 601in Asuka Plain

Provincial governor sent off to his post

Legitimizing the political order Via origin myths, or history Kojiki (Chronicle of Ancient Japan), 712 Nihon shoki [also called Nihongi] (Chronicles of Japan), 720

Construction of the Great Buddha at Tōdaiji Legitimizing the Political Order: Promoting Religion

Great Buddha, Of Tōdaiji Temple

Dedication ceremony of Great Buddha, 752

Move to Heian (794) [Emperor Kammu]

North Present day Kyoto (former Heian)

Concluding points Importation of culture and political order -First in diffuse fashion, then systematically via “missions State system on Chinese model –Political and economic institutions –imperial and allied aristocratic families Cultural foundations –Buddhism –Myth of “Japanese” founding