1. Civilizations of Asia (500-1650)
Topic 3, Lesson 5 The Island Kingdom of Japan

2. Explain how geography set Japan apart.
Civilizations of Asia ( )
Topic 5, Lesson 5 The Island Kingdom of Japan
Learning Objectives
Explain how geography set Japan apart.
Understand how China influenced Japan, and describe the Heian period.
Summarize the Japanese feudal system.
Explain how the Tokugawas united Japan.
Identify how Zen Buddhism shaped culture in Japan.

3. archipelago Tsunamis Shinto selective borrowing Kana Murasaki Shikibu
Home Learning: Vocabulary
Topic 3, Lesson 5 The Island Kingdom of Japan
Key Terms
archipelago
Tsunamis
Shinto
selective borrowing
Kana
Murasaki Shikibu
Samurai
Bushido
Zen

4. Bell Ringer:

5. Key in its development as a culture
Japan’s Geography
Japan is an archipelago, or chain of islands, about 100 miles off the Asian mainland and east of the Korean peninsula.
Japan's isolation
Key in its development as a culture

6. The Sea Sets Japan Apart The Pacific Ring of Fire
Japan’s Geography
Read pg
A Mountainous Land
The Sea Sets Japan Apart
The Pacific Ring of Fire
6. Integrate Information: How did Japan avoid being dominated by Chinese armies and influences?

7. Bell Ringer: Tsunamis in Japan
What is a tsunami?
What effect does tsunamis have on island nations?
How can island nations prepare for tsunamis?

8. Mountainous Land
Most land too mountainous to farm, therefore most people settled along the coast
Mountains prevented Japanese from uniting

9. Sea Sets Japan Apart Seas protected and isolated Japan
Closed enough to Korea and China to trade, but too far for them to conquer Japan
Seas allowed for trade, especially among the Japanese islands
The seas provided enough food resources

10. The Pacific Ring of Fire
Japan lies in the Ring of Fire—a region subject to earthquakes and volcanoes.
Underwater earthquakes lead to tsunamis.
Japan has experienced many tsunamis, which are caused by earthquakes in the sea floor that send out huge surges of water that come ashore with destructive force. This one shows the 2011 Tsunami

11. Early Japan
Japanese people likely migrated from the Asian mainland more than 2,000 years ago.
They slowly pushed the earlier inhabitants, the Ainu, onto the northernmost island of Hokkaido.

12. Activity: Early Japan
Read pg
The Yamato Clan
Shinto: A Religion of Nature
Contact With Korea
7. Connect: How did the Yamato clan affect Japan?
8. Identify Cause and Effect: Explain why the Japanese language is related to Korean. Use text details to support your answer.

13. Yamato Clan
Japanese society was divided into uji (clans)—each uji had its own chief and god or goddess.
The Yamato clan came to dominate Japan in the 500s
Set up Japan’s only dynasty—the rising sun became their symbol
Japanese emperors were revered as Gods

14. Early Japan
Since A.D. 500, the Japanese emperor has traced his lineage through one clan. Here, the Japanese royal family poses around 1900.

15. Shinto: A Religion of Nature
Early Japanese honored kami (natural or divine spirits)
Worshipping these spirits became known as Shinto— “The way of kami”
Today its not a major religion, but plenty of Shinto shrines exist in Japan usually dedicated to objects, such as mountains, ancient trees, waterfalls, etc.

16. Contact With Korea
Japanese language is related to Korean, but different from Chinese
Korea and Japan proximity allowed for cultural exchange—pottery, metalwork, language, etc.
Missionaries from Korea introduced Buddhism

17. Chinese Influence in Japan
In the early 600s, Prince Shotoku of the Yamato clan decided to learn about China directly instead of through Korean sources.
He sent young nobles to study in China.
Over the next 200 years, many Japanese students, monks, traders, and officials visited the Tang court.
Prince Shotoku was an advisor to Empress Suiko. He revolutionized Japan by creating a government based on Chinese practices and Buddhist teachings.

18. Culture (clothing, food, music, etc.)
Chinese Influence in Japan
Read pg “Japan Imports Ideas from Tang China” and “Selective Borrowing”
Categories
Identify the Ideas Japan Borrow From China
Government/Law 1. 2. 3.
Cities
Culture (clothing, food, music, etc.)
Religion
Confucius Philosophy 3
Architecture

19. Japan’s Feudal Age
While the Emperor ruled his court at Heian, rival clans batted for control of the countryside.
Local warlords were loyal to these clans, rather than the Emperor
As these armies struggled for power, Japan created a feudal system.
As in medieval Europe, a warrior aristocracy (nobles) dominated Japanese society.

20. Japan’s Feudal Age
In the 1100s, daimyo Yoshitsune Minamoto (center) appeals to the shogun for forgiveness after being defeated in battle. The shogun refused.

21. Japan’s Feudal Age

22. Japanese Feudal Culture Evolves
During Japan’s feudal age, a Buddhist sect from China won widespread acceptance among samurai. Known in Japan as Zen, it emphasized self-reliance, meditation, and devotion to duty.

23. Japanese Feudal Culture Evolves
Zen Beliefs
Artistic Traditions Change
New Drama Develops
Literature
Painting and Printmaking

24. Japanese Feudal Culture Evolves
This painting, Flowers of the Four Seasons (ink and watercolor on gold leafed paper), by Shiko Watanabe (1683–1755) demonstrates the Zen ideal of subtle suggestion.

25. Quiz: Japan’s Geography
Why do tsunamis pose a great threat to Japan?
A. They cause the Ring of Fire to get worse.
B. They create hurricane strength winds that sweep inland into populated areas.
C. They occur at the same time volcanoes erupt.
D. They strike coastal areas where many Japanese live.

26. Quiz: Early Japan
How did the Yamato clan affect Japan in the long term?
A. They developed Shinto and helped it spread to other countries.
B. Their homeland became the center of Japanese government, and they established Japan’s only dynasty.
C. They warred frequently with Korea and China, until finally defeating them.
D. They sent Buddhist missionaries to Korea, where it became the national religion.

27. Quiz: Chinese Influence in Japan
Why did Japan adopt elements of Chinese society?
A. They believed some Chinese practices were superior to theirs.
B. The Chinese invaded Japan and forced their ways on the Japanese.
C. The Koreans adopted Chinese customs first.
D. Japanese society and government were failing and needed to be replaced.

28. Quiz: Japanese Culture in the Heian Period
Why did the Fujiwara have to use marriage to gain power?
A. They could not perform traditional religious ceremonies.
B. They could not produce great works of literature.
C. Their heirs could not become emperors.
D. Their marriages established elaborate rules of etiquette.

29. Quiz: Japan’s Feudal Age
Why did the shogun hold all the real power in the 1400s?
A. The Emperor was not descended from other emperors.
B. He controlled all the land in Japan.
C. The samurai were unorganized and disloyal.
D. Military strength was the only real power at the time.

30. Quiz: A United Japan
What was the main reason that the population of Japan increased after a central government was imposed?
A. Fewer people died during constant warfare.
B. People can travel freely from their homes to the capital.
C. Agriculture improved due to lack of war.
D. Merchants began to lend money to daimyo and samurai.

31. Quiz: Japanese Feudal Culture Evolves
Why did new artistic traditions most likely develop following the end of the earlier feudal period of warfare?
A. These traditions came out of military culture.
B. People now found time and money for the arts.
C. They were an extension of control of the population.
D. They appealed to the lawless nature of the Japanese.