The Emergence of Japan and the Feudal Age

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The Emergence of Japan and the Feudal Age
Joey Parks, Sean Pengelly, Ian Ghilardi, Danica
Carroll
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Important Vocabulary!!!

• Archipelago a chain of islands
• Shinto the worship of the forces of nature.
• Selective Barrowing to keep some cultural ideas
  and discard of modify others
• Kana symbols in writing representing syllables

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Important Vocabulary!!! Cont.

• Samurai warriors that were also lords.
• Bushido the code for samurais emphasizing honor,
  bravery and loyalty.
• Zen in Buddhism, the belief in self reliance,
  meditation, and devotion to duty.

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Geography

• Japan is about the size of Montana
• Only 1/5 of the land can be used due to the
  mountains, but because of rain, they farm their
  available land very well
• Japan is Archipelago- a chain of islands
• Located inside the Ring of Fire, so it is often
  hit by powerful tidal waves

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Early Japan

• Societies were divided into clans called Uji, and
  each had different beliefs
• 500 A.D.- The Yamato Uji dominated the corner of
  Japans largest Island, Honshu. They claimed that
  they were the decedents of the sun god.
• The Yamato clan still reigns, for the Emperor can
  trace his ancestry back to the Yamato Uji

• Japanese religion worships the forces of nature,
  now know as the Shinto
• Japan is closely related to Korea, and hold a
  stronger connection to them today

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New Culture

• The Japanese took many idea from the Chinese.
  They brought home many ideas such as technology,
  arts, trade and study.
• Selective borrowing was also a major part of this
  new culture. It is when Japan took some Chinese
  ways but did not use of modified others.

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The Heian Period

• The Heian Period took place from 794 to 1185. It
  was a blending of cultures.
• Nobles live very elegant lives.
• Women were not allowed to learn the language.
• Women still read and wrote books, like The Tale
  of Benji

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Feudalism

• Clans battled for power while under the emperor,
  so the feudal system developed
• Power laid with the shogun, or the military
  leader
• Shogun distributed land for protection from
  samurais. Samurais code of conduct was the
  bushido
• Japan held off conquest of China and Korea during
  this time

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Samurai

• Samurai trained themselves by going hungry or
  going barefoot in snow
• If a samurai broke the Code of Bushido, then the
  were expected to commit ritual suicide
• Also required to be artistic
• Helmets with horns and frightening masks. Armor
  was made of metal or leather scales tied together
  with string

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Emperor- Highest Rank, but really held no
political power
Shogun- Actual ruler
Daimyo- Large landowners
Samurai- warriors
Peasants- ¾ population
Merchants- lowest class, slowly gained power
Artisans- Made swords and armor for samurai
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United Japan

• 1600 A.D.- Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes master of
  Japan, wanted to end feudalism
• Created a Centralized Feudalism, where Daimyos,
  or large landowners, could keep their followers,
  but must follow rule set by him
• Economy grew with agricultural revolution and
  expanding trade

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Zen

• A variation of Buddhism from China, Zen focused
  on meditation and responsibility
• Zen Buddhists seek enlightenment through
  meditation.

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Art

• Noh Plays- Men wore masks and danced to music on
  a wood stage with no scenery. Usually displayed
  Buddhist themes or fairy tales
• Kabuki- Puppet plays with a narration. Usually
  comedic

• Painting- Most illustrated Chinese landscape or
  are humorous prints to illustrate town life in
  Japan

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Questions

• What type of land formation is Japan?
• What are the 2 countries closest to Japan?
• What is a Japanese Warrior called?
• Describe the role of women during the Heian
  Period.
• What bodies of water surround Japan?
• Describe the Japanese feudal age.
• How is the Japanese feudal system similar to the
  medieval feudal system in Western Europe?
• How are emperors of Japan different from Roman
  Emperors?
• What is the main difference between Zen Buddhism
  and regular Buddhism?
• Would you like to visit Japan?

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Connections

• A obvious connection you may have noticed was the
  how feudalism was established compared to the
  feudal era in Europe during the Medieval Times.
• When art and drama began in Japan, you may have
  noticed a connection to the rise of arts in
  Greece and Rome.

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Map
Sea of Japan
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean