1. MEDIEVAL JAPAN
SECTION 1 1

2. GEOGRAPHY OF JAPAN chain of islands in northern Pacific Ocean
more than 3,000 islands
most Japanese live on four largest islands
mostly covered by mountains (80%)
20% farmable land
188 mountains are volcanoes
many earthquakes occur
lack of natural resources
dependence on foreign territories
geography isolates Japanese
natural isolation (island nation)
resulted in limited & selected foreign influence 2

3. Islands of Japan 3

4. Where did most Japanese live?
Japan’s four largest islands
Hokkaido
located furthest north
Honshu
Largest
Heian (Kyoto)
Mt. Fuji
Nara
Edo (Tokyo – today capital of Japan)
Shikoku
smallest
Kyushu
located furthest south 4

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6. MOUNT FUJI located on Honshu west of Tokyo
highest mountain in Japan (12,388 ft.)
symmetrical cone-shape
sacred place- one of three holy mountains (Mt. Tate & Mt. Haku)
believed to have a soul
thousands climb yearly to reach shrine at top
frequently depicted in art and photographs
well-known symbol of Japan 6

7. MOUNT FUJI 7

8. JOMON means “cord marks” 5000 B.C. wandering groups made clay pottery,
using knotted cords
to make designs
over time, settled
in fishing villages
along coast
fishing way of life 8

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10. YAYOI ancestors of the Japanese people introduced farming
practiced skills learned from Chinese & Koreans
potter’s wheel
grew rice in paddies 10

11. POTTERY WHEEL 11

12. Rice Paddy 12

13. YAYOI (continued) skilled metal-workers
spear
skilled metal-workers
axes, knives & hoes from iron
swords, spears, & bells from bronze
organized themselves into clans
buried chiefs in tombs called kofun
bell
axe 13

14. CLANS group of families related by blood or marriage
headed by small group of warriors
warrior chiefs protected people for share of rice harvest
under warriors – farmers, artisans, and servant of warriors 14

15. KOFUN large mounds of dirt carefully shaped and surrounded by ditches
tombs where chiefs buried
many large
as big as Egypt’s pyramids
largest
longer than five football fields
at least eight stories high
filled with personal belongings
pottery, tools, weapons, and armor 15

16. KOFUN MOUND 16

17. KOFUN BURIEL SITE 17

18. Myth: The Creation of Japan
two gods dipped a spear into sea
they pulled it out
drops of salt water fell on water’s surface
formed the islands of Japan
two gods then created sun goddess
Amaterasu 18

19. AMATERASU Susanowo “sun goddess” ruled over Earth companion,
Susanowo, storm god
children became first people of Japan
sent grandson, Ninigi, to rule over them
gave him her mirror, her jewel, and a sword
to make sure everyone accepts his power
became sacred symbols of leadership
Ninigi 19

20. YAMATO clan in A.D. 500s brought most of Japan under its rule
other clans held their lands
gave loyalty to Yamato chief
Yamato chiefs claimed they came from sun goddess
result - had the right to rule 20

21. JIMMU Akihito Yamato leader took title “emperor of heaven”
founded line of rulers
never been broken
Akihito
is one of Jimmu’s descendants
Japan’s emperor today 21

22. Prince Shotoku
Prince Shotoku emerged as the leader of the Yamato clan & initiated a reform program modeled after Tang China.
gave constitutional power to the emperor. 22

23. PRINCE SHOTOKU
took charge of Japan on behalf of his Aunt, the empress Suiko (regent)
powerful emperor
with help of trained officials chosen for abilities
wanted to create a strong government
created Japan’s first constitution
borrowed many ideas from China
sent officials and students to China to study 23

24. CONSTITUTION a plan of government created by Prince Shotoku
many ideas borrowed from China
all power given to emperor
even appointing officials
created bureaucracy
government divided into departments
listed rules for working the government
taken from ideas of Confucius 24

25. HORYUJI Shotoku ordered Buddhist temples and monasteries
built throughout
Japan
Japan’s oldest
temple
world’s oldest
surviving wooden
building 25

26. TAIKA
“great change”
divided Japan into provinces or regional districts
run by officials who reported to emperor
all land under emperor’s control
clan leaders…
- can direct farmers working land
- cannot collect taxes
government officials gather part of farmer’s harvest in taxes for emperor 26

27. RESULTS Taika or “great change” Prince Shotoku’s reforms
PLUS
Prince Shotoku’s reforms
created Japan’s first strong centralized government 27

28. ANIMISM early Japanese belief
all natural things are alive and have their own spirits
the winds, mountains, and rivers
people needing help, asked nature spirits to help them
called nature spirits “kami” 28

29. KAMI “nature spirits” Kami helps Japanese honor kami at shrines
only if a person is pure
illness causes spiritual stains
must be cleansed by bathing and other rituals before praying
honor kami at shrines
beliefs developed into Shinto religion 29

30. SHRINES Torii Gate Shinto Shrine holy place place of worship
honored “kami” (nature spirits)
priests, musicians, and dancers performed rituals
people ask gods for….
a good harvest
a wife
a child
some other favor
Shinto Shrine 30

31. SHINTO Japanese religion means “way of the spirits”
based on nature spirits
believed all natural things were alive
(the winds, mountains, and rivers)
spiritual stains must be cleansed by bathing and other rituals before praying 31

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