Early Japan  Hunter-gatherers  Settled farmers  Influences from China & Korea China Korea Japan Writing, Buddhism, idea of emperor as god, government

Prince Shotoku  Ruled Japan in late 500s & early 600s  Brought Buddhism & Chinese culture to Japan  Buddhism competed with Shinto  Taika Reforms

Shintoism  Traditional Japanese religion  Based on “kami” ( 神 or かみ )  Similar to nature spirits & found in natural objects (rocks, trees, water, etc.). Built shrines (Torii gates) dedicated to different kami

Emperors in Charge  Capital at Kyoto ( 京都 or きょうと )  Golden Age of literature, art, & drama  Tale of Genji  Power of emperors declined after Gempei War ( ) between Minamoto & Taira clans

Tale of Genji  Written by Murasaki Shikibu, a self-taught female writer  Considered to be first modern novel  Over 400 different characters  Continuous plot

Kamakura & Ashikaga Shoguns  Emperors had no real power during this time  Shoguns allowed to rule country in exchange for keeping the peace. Fighting between different factions of samurai in countryside.

Mongol Invasion  “Kamikaze” ( かみかぜ / 神風 ) or “Divine Wind” – origins  Mongols tried to invade Japan in 1274 & 1281  Typhoons wrecked Mongol invasion fleets & Japanese samurai took care of the rest

Warring States  Different clans fighting for control of Japan & “Ikko- ikki” (peasants/monks who fought against samurai)  Frequent betrayals & changing alliances “Ikko-ikki” – peasants & monks who fought against samurai

Oda Nobunaga  Daimyo who fought to unify most of Japan  First to use guns in battle  Captured Kyoto & destroyed Ikko monks

Toyotomi Hideyoshi  Peasant who rose through the ranks & became Nobunaga’s top general  Finished reunifying Japan after Nobunaga

Tokugawa Ieyasu  Served under Nobunaga & Hideyoshi before founding Tokugawa Shogunate  Kept a strict social order to preserve a traditional society  Persecuted Christians & banned trade with Europeans