1. Japan Learns from China and Korea

2. Early Japanese Society
Early Japanese society received little influence from the rest of Asia
But, by the 500s, Japanese leaders started sending people to China and Korea to learn more about their cultures

3. Changes in Language Early Japan had no written language
Japan borrowed Chinese as a written language
Chinese characters represented Japanese sounds

4. Language The rich and educated learned to write in Chinese
Chinese was the official language of Japan’s government

5. Religion and Philosophy
Remember Shinto?
It originated in Japan
Shinto is Japan’s traditional religion
Shinto is the worship of nature spirits, called kami

6. Religion and Philosophy
One of the most influential leaders to bring Chinese ideas to Japan was Prince Shotoku
Prince Shotoku was a regent- a person who rules a country for someone who is unable to rule

7. Religion and Philosophy
Prince Shotoku sent scholars to China- they brought back Confucianism
What two principles did Confucius teach?
Japanese families began to live by the rules of Confucianism

8. Religion and Philosophy
Korea introduced Buddhism to Japan
People knew about Buddhism, but many still wanted to practice Shinto

9. Religion and Philosophy
Prince Shotoku was Buddhist- he worked to make Buddhism popular in Japan
He even built a Buddhist temple that still stands today

10. Government Villages in Japan were ruled by clan chiefs
What is a clan?
One clan, the Yamamotos, became powerful by conquering other clans
They called themselves the emperors of Japan
The son and grandson of Japan’s current emperor

11. Government
Prince Shotoku wanted Japan’s emperors to be powerful, like China’s
But, the clans didn’t agree
As a result, Japan’s emperors gained little power

12. Review Questions
True or False- Japan is made up of mountains, volcanoes and flat coastal plains

13. Review Questions
How did Japan’s location both separate it from and tie it to China and Korea?
Hint

14. Review Question
What is a clan?

15. Review Questions
What two religions did Prince Shotoku help spread in Japan?

16. Review Question
The influence of China and Korea on Japan’s early history, culture and development is found in all of the following except
Japan’s first writing system
The traditional Japanese diet
Early rules for family behavior
The practice of Buddhism

17. Review Question
What is a regent?

20. Changes in Language
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21. Religion and Philosophy
__________________________________

22. Government __________________________________
The son and grandson of Japan’s current emperor