2. Creation ofJapan

3. The Creation A mythical story is told about the beginnings of Japan. Long ago the islands of Japan did not even exist, only ocean. A god and goddess looked down from the heavens above and saw a long, colorful rainbow streaking over the ocean.

4. The Creation The rainbow formed a splendid bridge and the god and goddess decided to walk across it. Pausing in the center of this stretch of color, the god lowered his jeweled spear into the ocean.

5. The Creation He swirled the spear around and around and lifted it from the water. Tiny water drops fell from the tip of the spear, and as they hit the ocean, they turned into land.

6. The First Emperor The god and goddess descended to their newly created land where the goddess gave birth to Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. Her great, great grandson is thought to be Jimmu, founder of Japan’s royal family.

7. The First Emperor Every emperor of Japan, from Jimmu’s time to present day, have been directly related to Jimmu and therefore, a descendant of the gods.

8. Three Treasures Jimmu carried with him the proof he needed to verify his divine ancestry: Three treasures, handed down by the gods, were always to be kept in possession of Japan’s emperors. With this evidence, no one could ever doubt that Japan’s emperors were truly related to the gods.

9. Three Treasures The first treasure was a mirror that belonged to the sun goddess, representing the emperor’s relation with the gods.

10. Three Treasures The next treasure was a special sword, representing the emperor’s strength.

11. Three Treasures The third treasure was a jewel, said to actually have been taken from the steps of heaven, representing the great wisdom the emperor possesses.

12. A Lasting Heritage Jimmu was most likely a real person. The mythical beginnings of Japan is a story still enjoyed by the Japanese, though the actual relation of the emperor to the gods was renounced by the emperor of Japan, Hirohito, after WWII.

13. A Lasting Heritage Emperor Hirohito’s heritage can, however, be traced directly back to Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan. Emperor Hirohito died in 1989, and today his son is the emperor of Japan.

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

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

17. Code of Bushido  Fidelity  Politeness  Virility  Simplicity  Fidelity  Politeness  Virility  Simplicity

18. It originates from the samurai moral code stressing frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and honour unto death frugality loyaltymartial arts honourdeathfrugality loyaltymartial arts honourdeath

19. Seppuku: Ritual Suicide (Hari Kiri) It is honorable to die in this way.

20. Samurai Sword

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

22. 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.

23. Japan Opens for Trade On March 31 1854 representatives of Japan and the United States signed a historic treaty.On March 31 1854 representatives of Japan and the United States signed a historic treaty. A United States naval officer, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, negotiated tirelessly for several months with Japanese officials to achieve the goal of opening the doors of trade with Japan.A United States naval officer, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, negotiated tirelessly for several months with Japanese officials to achieve the goal of opening the doors of trade with Japan.

24. Full Samurai Attire video