Chapter 5.1 Early Japan

I. JAPAN’S GEOGRAPHY Japan is a chain of islands (an archipelago) in the northern Pacific Ocean. The four largest islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The islands of Japan are mountaintops from the ocean floor. 188 are volcanoes.

Only 20% of Japan’s land is farmable Only 20% of Japan’s land is farmable. Japanese people fought over farm land. Many people settled in coastal villages to fish or trade. The ocean kept Japan isolated from Asia. Japan developed an independent society with a unique culture.

II. THE FIRST SETTLERS The first people probably walked to Japan on a land bridge from northeast Asia (30,000 - 10,000 BC). Around 300 BC, the Yayoi people appeared (ancestors of the Japanese people). They were skilled farmers, potters, and metalworkers.

The Yayoi people were organized into clans The Yayoi people were organized into clans. Warrior chiefs protected the people in return for part of the rice harvest. They buried their chiefs in large mounds (Kofuns). The Yamato clan became strong enough to rule most of Japan. Jimmu, a descendant of the sun goddess, founded an unbroken line of rulers.

III. Prince Shotoku’s Reforms Yamato prince Shotoku looked to China’s government as an example. Shotoku created a constitution, with laws based on ideas of Confucius. The constitution gave all power to the emperor and the ability to appoint officials (bureaucracy). The Great Change, Taika Reforms, divided Japan into provinces. Gov’t officials, instead of clan leaders, ran provinces and collected taxes. This was Japan’s first strong central government.

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Shotoku sent officials and students to China to learn about gov’t, Buddhist teachings, medicine, art, and philosophy. He ordered Buddhist temples and monasteries built. Horyuji is Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple and wooden building in the world.

IV. SHINTO Early Japanese people believed in animism, all natural things are alive and have spirits. Japanese people worshiped at shrines, or holy places, to honor the kami (nature spirits). The religion of Shinto developed from animism and means “way of the spirits.” It is about harmony with nature. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ikvSZOOw0

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