1. Part I: Geography and Religion
Early Japan
Part I: Geography
and Religion

2. Japan’s Geography Archipelago: a group of many islands in a large body
of water
Near China and Korea
Borders Sea of Japan
and Pacific Ocean
Offers natural protection
from outsiders

3. Japan’s Geography Only 15% of land usable for farming
Lots of rain and sunlight = good farming
Experiences many earthquakes, tidal waves, and typhoons 3

4. Shinto (-ism) Ancient Japanese religion “the way of the gods”
Only worshipped in Japan
Has no books or priests
Ancestors are seen as important

5. Includes gods called Kami, meaning superior.
Kami promote fertility in crops and people
The belief that spirits existed in all things, living or not, was part of the religion.

6. Kami
Some kami are the spirits of ancestors. In Shinto’s earliest days, each clan honored its ancestral kami.
Other kami are the spiritual forces in nature and the environment.

7. Shrines
Kami are honored at shrines. The first shrines were outdoor spots-perhaps a large rock or tree-where people brought offerings of flowers or grain.

8. Shrines
Later, shrines were enclosed in buildings surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Many families have a small shrine in their houses or in their gardens.

9. Torii
When entering a shrine area, visitors pass through a gate called the torii.
Beyond the gate is a stone water basin.
Guests rinse their hands to purify themselves before entering the shrine area.

10. Buddhism in Japan Spreads to Japan from China in 550 C.E.
Japanese worshipped
both Shinto and
Buddhism.
Spread of Buddhism led
to the spread of other
Chinese ideas.

11. Chinese Influences in Japan
Japanese developed out of Chinese writing.
Chinese characters
Japanese characters

12. Chinese Influences in Japan
Japanese architecture or building style copied many Chinese styles.
Japanese building
Chinese building

13. Part II: Government and Social Structure
Early Japan
Part II: Government
and Social Structure 13

14. Heian Period 794 – 1185 C.E. Elaborate rituals and artistic pursuits
Everyone wrote poetry and painted
The Tale of Genji is an account of the life of a prince in the imperial court, the world’s first novel

15. Feudalism in Japan
Court families became more interested in luxuries than governing
Landowners began to rise in power and set up private armies
Feudalism: a political and military system in which individuals receive things in return for loyalty, military assistance, and other services.

16. Emperor - is just a figure head with little power.
Shogun - Supreme Military Ruler.
Minamoto Yoritomo became first
shogun in 1192
Daimyos - Lords (landholders)
Often fought each other for land/power.
Samurai - Made up daimyo’s private army and followed bushido code

17. Samurai Codes Bushido Seppuku Stressed bravery, loyalty, and honor
Samurai had to experience
great physical pain and hardship without complaining.
They could not fear death.
Seppuku
Samurai commit suicide as an honorable way to avoid torture, execution, or defeat in battle.

18. Kamakura Shogunate
The real power during this time was at the military headquarters at Kamakura
Shoguns ruled from 1192 to 1868 C.E.
They pulled together to defeat the Mongols, but lost money in the process
Samurai attached themselves to their local lords instead of the central government