The Emergence of Japan January 25, 2012World History

Geography of Japan o Located on an archipelago o Chain of islands 100 miles off the Asian mainland o Very mountainous region which makes it difficult to farm o People settled in the narrow river valleys o Japan is close enough to China to share ideas, but far enough to prevent being conquered o Located in the Ring of Fire o An area in the Pacific that is subject to earthquakes and volcanoes

Early Traditions of Japan The Yamato clan dominated the part of Honshu, the largest Japanese island, in 500 A.D. –They set up Japan’s first and only dynasty, and claimed direct descent from gods and goddesses Many of the early peoples were Shinto –Shinto = the worship of the forces of nature From early on, Japanese and Koreans were in constant contact with one another

Japan’s Relationship with China  In the 600s, Japanese scholars began studying in China  Japanese government was modeled after the Chinese government  The Japanese took many cultural traits from the Chinese  Japanese used selective borrowing to maintain their own identity

The Heian Period  A period in Japan from 794 – 1185 where are and literature flourished  It was a time of beauty and wealth  Women were among the most valued writers and artists, and many female works remain today