1. The Early History of Japan

2. Shape of the Day The Origins of Religion The Origins of Japan
Early Inventions of Japan
A Comparison of Religions

3. How Did Mankind Reach Japan?

4. The Jomon
The Jomon had a very simple civilization that largely survived off of hunting and gathering
There is evidence that civilization was based off small groups which were always in conflict

5. The Yayoi
The Jamon people, however, are not the true ancestor of Japan as a group from Korea known as the Yayoi displaced them
For quite a while Japan survived as a “province” of Korea
Modern Japanese people can be genetically traced back to ancestors from Korea and Northeast Asia
- Japanese were not their own distinct people until as late as 200 CE

6. Improvements of the Yayoi
With the migration of Koreans to Japan, a number of improvements came including:
Comparison of Japan to province of Korea
Rice Farming
Stronger Clay
Iron Weapons
Iron Tools

7. Replacement of Iron
Around 500 hundred years after the Yayoi period, Iron would be replaced by the much stronger metal steel
This would be crucial to the development of the famous samurai sword. Do you know what it was called?

8. The Rise of Japan
By the fifth century, people inhabiting Japan were unique enough that we many now call them Japanese
At this time the Japanese now had technology equivalent to the Shang Dynasty (the Shang Dynasty began 2000 years earlier)
The island of Japan at this point was made up of many strong families under the control of the Yamato family

9. Shinto Quickly read pages 180-181 *Stop when you reach Buddhism
Take a few notes on Shintoism
What is Kami?
What are some examples of Kami?
Is the sun significant?
Does Shinto involve spirits?
Compare Shintoism to the video “Origins of Religions”
Does this video compare well with Shinto?

10. Buddhism
While Buddhism spread to China and Korea rapidly, Japan was more skeptical
Japan did accept Buddhism for one reason however: the promise of an after life
In 552 Buddhism was declared the state religion of Japan by Prince Shotoku

11. Some More Chinese Influence
Prince Shotuko not only inherited Buddhism from China, but a number of other Chinese aspects as well
Shotuko sent hundreds of monks, painters, musicians, and government officials to learn from the Chinese, they would return 30 years later

12. The Influence of Chinese Government
Like the Chinese, the Japanese government used a number of officials to rule from the Japanese Capital
These officials would observe and control smaller areas of Japan, but could not live among them
This process was implemented in China during the Qin Dynasty