1. Feudal
Japan

2. Geography of Early Japan
Japan is a string of islands that are really just the top of undersea mountains
The Japanese learned to prepare seafood as their primary diet
Because Japan was separate from the rest of Asia, they developed their own culture, including its social structure and religion

3. Yamato Period: 300-710 “Great Kings” era
The Ainu – spoke a different language and looked different from other people of Japan.
The people who lived south of the Ainu became the Japanese
They lived in small farming villages
Ruled by powerful clans and a chief
Shinto became the traditional religion of Japan
Everything an nature has kami, which helps people live and keeps them from harm
“Great Kings” era

4. The influence of China on Japan
China and Korea began to influence Japanese culture in the mid-500s.
Japanese learned to write in Chinese and used Chinese characters to represent sounds used in Japanese.
First history of Japan was written in Chinese and Chinese was the official language of Japan’s government

5. Prince Shotoku: 573-621 Adopted Chinese culture and Confucianism.
Buddhist sects allowed to develop.
Created a new government structure:
17 Article Constitution in 604. 

6. Heian Period: 794-1156 Characteristics: Growth of large land estates.
Golden age of art
Visual art: painting (bright bold colors), calligraphy (poems)
Architecture: copied Chines building styles. Open airy designs with natural elements, gardens and ponds
Performing arts: such as musicians, jugglers and acrobats.
Elaborate court life separate from the common people
Fashion and appearance – nobles loved elaborate outfits made of silk and gold jewelry
Literature
Personal diaries: The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon [10c]
The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu [1000 pgs.+] World’s first full length novel

7. Different forms of Buddhism developed.
Land Buddhism did not require special rituals, it was for the common person.
Zen Buddhism believed that neither faith nor good behavior led to wisdom, but self-discipline, meditation or quiet thinking.

8. Heian Period: Cultural Borrowing
Chinese writing.
Chinese artistic styles.
Buddhism [in the form of ZEN].
BUT, not the Chinese civil service system! 

9. Heian Court Dress

10. The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon (diary)

11. The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon (diary)

12. Tale of Genji (first novel)

13. Tale of Genji Scroll (first novel)

14. Lady Murasaki Shikibu
She contributed much to the Japanese script known as kana, while men wrote with Chinese characters, kanji.

15. Founded the Kamakura Shogunate: 1185-1333
Minamoto Yoritomo
Founded the Kamakura Shogunate:

16. The emperor reigned, but did not always rule!
Feudal Society

17. Feudalism
A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service Japan:
Shogun
Land - Shoen
Loyalty
Land - Shoen
Daimyo
Daimyo
Loyalty
Samurai
Samurai
Samurai
Food
Protection
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant

18. Code of Bushido
Fidelity (loyalty)
Politeness
Bravery
Simplicity

19. Seppuku: Ritual Suicide
It is honorable to die in this way.
Kaishaku – his “seconds”

20. Full Samurai Attire

21. Samurai Sword

22. Early Mounted Samurai Warriors

23. Underpinnings: Basic Steps in Self Defense
A COTTON BREECH CLOUT that extended up over the chest was the basic undergarment of a samurai’s costume
A SHORT SLEEVED KIMONO, or “armor robe,” was tied snugly at the waist with a special knot (lower right)

24. BILLOWING PANTALOONS,worn over the armor robe, fitted loosely in the legs to allow freedom of movement
AN EXQUISITE BROCADE, richly worked with a design of peonies, was one of the extravagant materials used in an armor robe that may have been made for a 14th Century imperial prince
STURDY SHINGUARDS of cloth or leather were reinforced with strips of iron to give protection from the front

25. Samurai Charging

26. Modern-Day “Samurai Warriors”

27. Feudalism
A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service Europe:
King
Land - Fief
Loyalty
Land - Fief
Lord
Lord
Loyalty
Knight
Knight
Knight
Food
Protection
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant

28. Code of Chivalry Justice Loyalty Defense Courage Faith Humility
Nobility

29. Medieval Warriors
vs.
European knight
Samurai Warrior

30. Medieval Warriors
vs.
Knight’s Armor
Samurai Armor

31. Zen Buddhism
A Japanese variation of the Mahayana form of Buddhism, which came from India through China.
It reinforced the Bushido values of mental and self-discipline.

32. 4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds stopped them.
Mongol “Invasions” of Japan
4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds stopped them.

33. Ashikaga Age: 1338-1573 Shoguns fought for power. Laws are unclear.
Less efficient than the Kamakura.
Armies of samurai protected the country. 

34. C A S T L E S

35. Osaka Castle

36. Main Gate of Hiroshima Castle

37. Caernorfon Castle, Wales

38. Warwick Castle, England

39. R O E N S

40. The Age of the Warring States: (1467 - 1568)
Castles built on hills in different provinces.
Power shifts from above to below.
Europeans arrive in Japan  bringing firearms & Christianity.
Christianity & foreign trade flourish.

41. Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) Banishes the last Ashikaga shogun.
Unifies a large part of Japan.

42. Catholic Jesuits in Japan
St. Francis Xavier [First Catholic Missionaries in Asia]

43. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598)
Becomes suspicious of European territorial ambitions.
Orders all European missionaries expelled from Japan. 
Tries to invade Korea, but fails.

44. First Christian Martyrs (1597): Shrine in Nagasaki Today

45. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) Appointed shogun by the Emperor.
Four-class system laid down with marriage restricted to members of the same class! 
Warriors.
Farmers.
Artisans.
Merchants.

46. Tokugawa Shogunate Period
Japan closed off to all trade [except to the Dutch and Chinese]. 
The Dutch were restricted to a small island in Nagasaki harbor.
Japanese Christians persecuted and Christianity is forbidden.
The government is centralized with all power in the hands of the shogun.
Domestic trade flourishes.
Towns, esp. castle towns, increase.
Merchant class becomes rich! 
New art forms  haiku poetry, kabuki theater.