1. An Introduction to Japan
In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:
Archipelago
Effects of Mountainous Terrain
Effects of Lack of Natural Resources
Shintoism
Kami
Cultural Diffusion
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2. Japan is an archipelago or a series of
islands.
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3. Japan is an archipelago or a series of islands.
While Japan consists of many islands, the people of Japan live on four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
The seas have protected Japan in the past.
Archipelago
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4. The Japanese have used the seas to fish. However, the seas have also
protected Japan from invasions.
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5. The islands of Japan are very mountainous.
The mountains are not high enough to separate the people of Japan but make farming difficult.
Japan has a scarcity of arable land (Japan lacks land for farming).
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6. Japan is mountainous.
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7. Lack of Natural Resources
Japan has few natural resources.
In the modern era, Japan has had to trade to acquire the resources necessary for manufacturing.
By importing raw materials or natural resources, Japan can export expensive finished or manufactured goods.
Lack of Natural Resources
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8. Japan is
geographically
close to Korea
and China.
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9. Cultural Diffusion Japan is close to Korea and China.
The Japanese borrowed many cultural ideas from China.
Through cultural diffusion, the Japanese acquired writing from China as well as the use of chopsticks and Confucian ideas.
Cultural Diffusion
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10. Shintoism is a popular religion in Japan.
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11. Shintoism is a uniquely Japanese religion.
It is Japan’s oldest religion.
Shintoism teaches the importance of the forces of nature. It is similar to animism. In these religions, spirits exist in the natural world.
Shintoism
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12. He is a Shinto priest. He believes that spirits inhabit the natural
world.
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13. The Japanese call the spirits that exist in the natural world “Kami”.
The Kami are considered kindly spirits.
The Japanese pray to the Kami.
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14. Questions for Reflection:
What is an archipelago and how has it effected the people of Japan?
What are two effects that Japan’s mountainous terrain has on the people of Japan?
How has the scarcity of natural resources effected the people of Japan?
Describe the religion of Shintoism.
Questions for Reflection:
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15. Japan’s Feudal Period
In this lesson, students will define the following terms:
Feudalism
Shogun
Daimyo
Samurai
Code of Bushido
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16. Japan is an archipelago in Asia.
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17. The Emperor Loses Power
By the 1100s, the emperor of Japan’s power was greatly weakened by civil war.
Noble families refused to pay taxes to the emperor. They grew rich and bought much land.
Eventually, one noble family grew more powerful than any other.
The Emperor Loses Power
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18. Noble families did not want to obey the emperor. They wanted power.
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19. Feudalism
A system of feudalism, similar to that found in European feudalism, arose in Japan.
In a feudal society, land is exchanged for military service.
Japanese lords gave away some of their land to other people in exchange for loyalty and military service.
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20. Do
You
remember
European
feudalism?
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21. The word “Shogun” means “great general”.
The leader of Japan’s most powerful family forced the emperor to appoint him shogun.
The word “Shogun” means “great general”.
For the next 700 years, powerful shoguns governed Japan.
The Shogun
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22. The Shogun said he ruled in the emperor’s name. In fact, the shogun
was a military
dictator who
controlled Japan.
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23. The Daimyo The Daimyo were Japanese lords or nobles.
The Daimyo had to obey the Shogun and provide military service.
The Daimyo controlled large estates. They were great landowners.
The Daimyo
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24. Daimyo were great landowners of feudal Japan. They were the
highest nobles
next to the Shogun.
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25. To provide military protection for their lands, Japanese daimyo recruited samurai.
Samurai were Japanese warriors.
Samurai had to provide military service and obey the Daimyo and Shogun.
The Samurai
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26. Samurai were Japanese warriors. They had to be loyal, brave, and
fearless.
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27. Samurai warriors had to follow the Code of Bushido.
The Code of Bushido was similar to European chivalry.
A samurai had to be loyal to his daimyo and show no emotion.
Code of Bushido
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28. If a samurai lost his honor, he had
to commit ritual suicide or seppuku.
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29. Questions for Reflection:
Compare and contrast Japanese and European feudalism.
Why did the Japanese emperor lose his power?
Who was the Shogun and why was he powerful?
What was the relationship between the Daimyo and the Shogun?
Who were Samurai and what was the Code of Bushido?
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