MEDIEVAL JAPANMEDIEVAL JAPAN

Early JapanEarly Japan

GeographyGeography

• Japan is a chain of islands numbering Japan is a chain of islands numbering more than 3,000more than 3,000

• The four main islands are Hokkaido, The four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and KyushuHonshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu

• Many are volcanic islands that rose Many are volcanic islands that rose from the ocean floorfrom the ocean floor

• There are many earthquakesThere are many earthquakes

The Islands of JapanThe Islands of Japan

• Only about 20% of the land can be farmed Only about 20% of the land can be farmed due to the many mountainsdue to the many mountains

• Many Japanese turned to the sea for a livingMany Japanese turned to the sea for a living

• Made it easy to travel along the coast and Made it easy to travel along the coast and from island to island by seafrom island to island by sea

• Ocean kept the Japanese people isolated by Ocean kept the Japanese people isolated by setting Japan apart from rest of worldsetting Japan apart from rest of world

• Developed its own independent society with Developed its own independent society with its own religion, literature and governmentits own religion, literature and government

The First SettlersThe First Settlers

• Hunter-gatherers arrived in Japan from Hunter-gatherers arrived in Japan from northeast Asia about 30,000 years agonortheast Asia about 30,000 years ago

• Yayoi people appeared about 300 B.C.Yayoi people appeared about 300 B.C.

• Yayoi are ancestors of the Japanese Yayoi are ancestors of the Japanese peoplepeople

• Made pottery on potter’s wheel, grew Made pottery on potter’s wheel, grew rice in paddiesrice in paddies

• Made axes, knives, and hoes from ironMade axes, knives, and hoes from iron

• Made swords, spears, and bells from Made swords, spears, and bells from bronzebronze

• By A.D. 300, organized into clans led by By A.D. 300, organized into clans led by small group of warriorssmall group of warriors

• Warriors protected people in return for Warriors protected people in return for portion of rice harvestportion of rice harvest

• Burried their chiefs with some possessions Burried their chiefs with some possessions in large mounts called in large mounts called kofunkofun

Yayoi PotteryYayoi Pottery

The YamatoThe Yamato

• During the A.D. 500s, the Yamato clan During the A.D. 500s, the Yamato clan ruled most of Japanruled most of Japan

• Chiefs claimed to be descendants of the Chiefs claimed to be descendants of the sun goddess giving them the right to rule sun goddess giving them the right to rule JapanJapan

• Legend claims that Jimmu was the first Legend claims that Jimmu was the first emperor of Japanemperor of Japan

• Akihito, today’s Japanese emperor, is a Akihito, today’s Japanese emperor, is a direct descendant of the Yamatodirect descendant of the Yamato

EMPEROR JIMMUEMPEROR JIMMU

Prince Shotoku’s ReformsPrince Shotoku’s Reforms

• A.D. 600 Yamato A.D. 600 Yamato prince Shotoku took prince Shotoku took over in place of his over in place of his aunt, empress Suikoaunt, empress Suiko

• Created a Created a constitution, or a constitution, or a plan of governmentplan of government

• It gave all power to It gave all power to the emperorthe emperor

• Created a bureaucracy with the emperor Created a bureaucracy with the emperor appointing all officialsappointing all officials

• Sent officials and students to China to Sent officials and students to China to studystudy

• Learned about Buddhism, Chinese art, Learned about Buddhism, Chinese art, medicine, and philosophy through Koreamedicine, and philosophy through Korea

• Shotoku ordered Buddhist temples and Shotoku ordered Buddhist temples and monasteries built in Japanmonasteries built in Japan

• Horyuji is oldest of these and the world’s Horyuji is oldest of these and the world’s oldest wooden buildingoldest wooden building

The Taika ReformsThe Taika Reforms

• A.D. 646, the Yamato began the Taika or A.D. 646, the Yamato began the Taika or Great ChangeGreat Change

• Divided Japan into provinces run by Divided Japan into provinces run by officials reporting to the emperorofficials reporting to the emperor

• All land came under the control of the All land came under the control of the emperoremperor

• Clan leaders could direct the farmers, but Clan leaders could direct the farmers, but could not collect taxescould not collect taxes

• Together with Shotoku’s reforms, created Together with Shotoku’s reforms, created Japan’s first strong central governmentJapan’s first strong central government

ShintoShinto

• Early Japanese believed all natural Early Japanese believed all natural things are alivethings are alive

• Nature’s spirits were called Nature’s spirits were called kamikami

• They worshipped at shrines, holy They worshipped at shrines, holy placesplaces

• Early beliefs developed into the Early beliefs developed into the Japanese religion called Japanese religion called shintoshinto, , meaning the “way of the spirits”meaning the “way of the spirits”

NaraNara

• Early 700s, built new capital city of Early 700s, built new capital city of NaraNara

• Center of government and religionCenter of government and religion

• Called the Nara periodCalled the Nara period

• Looked much like China’s capital with Looked much like China’s capital with broad streets, public squares, broad streets, public squares, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrinesBuddhist temples and Shinto shrines

Emperor’s GovernmentEmperor’s Government

• Emperors organized government officials Emperors organized government officials into ranksinto ranks

• Emperors gave jobs to nobles from Emperors gave jobs to nobles from powerful familiespowerful families

• Officials could pass on their jobs to a son Officials could pass on their jobs to a son or other relativesor other relatives

• Officials received large estates (farms) and Officials received large estates (farms) and farmers to work the land in return for their farmers to work the land in return for their servicesservices

• Government census counted all Government census counted all people in the country and a list of people in the country and a list of landslands

• All land owners had to pay taxes in All land owners had to pay taxes in rice or silkrice or silk

• Men counted in the census had to Men counted in the census had to serve in the armyserve in the army

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism

• Came to Japan Came to Japan from Korea in the from Korea in the A.D. 500sA.D. 500s

• Government Government officials and nobles officials and nobles were first to accept were first to accept BuddhismBuddhism

• Soon became a Soon became a major religionmajor religion

• Some nobles who opposed Buddhism Some nobles who opposed Buddhism fought with Buddhist for controlfought with Buddhist for control

• 700s a Buddhist monk tried to take 700s a Buddhist monk tried to take control of the thronecontrol of the throne

• Emperor and his family briefly turned Emperor and his family briefly turned away from Buddhismaway from Buddhism

Rise of the ShogunRise of the Shogun

• A.D. 794, Emperor Kammu moved A.D. 794, Emperor Kammu moved the capital to Heian, which became the capital to Heian, which became known as Kyotoknown as Kyoto

• Remained the official capital for more Remained the official capital for more than 1,000 yearsthan 1,000 years

Government WeakensGovernment Weakens

• A.D. 800s, there were a number of A.D. 800s, there were a number of weak emperorsweak emperors

• Many were still children, and court Many were still children, and court officials ruled as regents (a person officials ruled as regents (a person who rules in place of a monarch)who rules in place of a monarch)

• The regents refused to give up power The regents refused to give up power after the emperors reached maturityafter the emperors reached maturity

• Most regents were Most regents were from the Fujiwara from the Fujiwara clanclan

• Emperors spent time Emperors spent time studying Buddhism studying Buddhism or writing poetryor writing poetry

• Other nobles gained Other nobles gained control of much of control of much of land in provincesland in provinces

• Government gave provincial nobles Government gave provincial nobles land in return for their workland in return for their work

• Nobles stopped paying taxesNobles stopped paying taxes

• Nobles began collecting more taxes Nobles began collecting more taxes from the peasants in order to govern from the peasants in order to govern their landstheir lands

The SamuraiThe Samurai

• Nobles formed Nobles formed private armiesprivate armies

• Warriors were Warriors were given land by given land by nobles in return for nobles in return for servicesservices

• These warriors These warriors became known as became known as samuraisamurai

• They fought on horseback with swords, They fought on horseback with swords, daggers, and bows and arrowsdaggers, and bows and arrows

• Wore armor of leather or steelWore armor of leather or steel• Samurai means “one who serves”Samurai means “one who serves”• Bushido-code of conduct meaning “the Bushido-code of conduct meaning “the

way of the warrior”way of the warrior”• Samurai had to be devoted to his Samurai had to be devoted to his

master, courageous, loyal, and master, courageous, loyal, and honorablehonorable

• Wealth was Wealth was unimportant and unimportant and looked down on looked down on merchantsmerchants

• Rather die in battle Rather die in battle than betray his lord than betray his lord or be capturedor be captured

ShogunShogun

• Early 1100s powerful Japanese Early 1100s powerful Japanese families fought each other using families fought each other using samurai armiessamurai armies

• Fought to get land and gain control Fought to get land and gain control of governmentof government

• 1180-Gempei War between the two 1180-Gempei War between the two most powerful clans: The Taira and most powerful clans: The Taira and the Minamotothe Minamoto

• Minamoto Yoritomo Minamoto Yoritomo was head of the clanwas head of the clan

• Yoritomo won warYoritomo won war

• Emperor decided to Emperor decided to reward Yoritomo to reward Yoritomo to keep him loyalkeep him loyal

• 1192, emperor gave 1192, emperor gave him title of shogun, him title of shogun, military ruler of military ruler of JapanJapan

• Emperor remained in his palace in Emperor remained in his palace in Heian, but had no powerHeian, but had no power

• Shogun set up his government in Shogun set up his government in KamakuraKamakura

• This military government is called a This military government is called a shogunateshogunate

• Shogunates ruled Japan for next 700 Shogunates ruled Japan for next 700 yearsyears

The Mongols AttackThe Mongols Attack

• In 1274 and 1281, In 1274 and 1281, Kublai Khan sent Kublai Khan sent ships and warriors ships and warriors to attack Japanto attack Japan

• Mongols were Mongols were defeated when defeated when fierce Pacific fierce Pacific storms smashed storms smashed their shipstheir ships

• Mongol troops that made it ashore Mongol troops that made it ashore were defeated by the Japanesewere defeated by the Japanese

• Japanese named the typhoons Japanese named the typhoons kamikazekamikaze or “divine wind” or “divine wind”

• In World War II, Japanese pilots who In World War II, Japanese pilots who crashed their planes into enemy crashed their planes into enemy ships were named kamikaze pilots ships were named kamikaze pilots after the typhoons of the 1200safter the typhoons of the 1200s

Daimyo divide JapanDaimyo divide Japan

• By 1333, many samurai had become By 1333, many samurai had become resentfulresentful

• As the samurai divided land among As the samurai divided land among their sons, they became poortheir sons, they became poor

• Samurai felt they no longer owed Samurai felt they no longer owed loyalty to shogunloyalty to shogun

• 1331-emperor rebelled and many 1331-emperor rebelled and many samurai came to his aidsamurai came to his aid

• Emperor refused to Emperor refused to give more land to the give more land to the samurai and could samurai and could not gain controlnot gain control

• General Ashikaga General Ashikaga Takauji made himself Takauji made himself shogun in 1333shogun in 1333

• Ashikaga were weak Ashikaga were weak rulersrulers

• Country divided into Country divided into small territories small territories ruled by military ruled by military lords called daimyolords called daimyo

• Daimyo pledged Daimyo pledged loyalty to emperor loyalty to emperor or shogun but ruled or shogun but ruled independently with independently with samurai armiessamurai armies

• Daimyo gave samurai land in return for Daimyo gave samurai land in return for loyalty and help in time of war making loyalty and help in time of war making samurai vassalssamurai vassals

• Bond of loyalty between lord and vassal is Bond of loyalty between lord and vassal is known as feudalismknown as feudalism

• 1467-1477, the Onin War ravaged Japan 1467-1477, the Onin War ravaged Japan destroying the capital of Kyoto (Heiandestroying the capital of Kyoto (Heian))

• Series of weak shogun tried to reunite Series of weak shogun tried to reunite Japan for 100 years after the Onin warJapan for 100 years after the Onin war

• Only a few powerful daimyo remainedOnly a few powerful daimyo remained• 1567-Ashikaga shogunate fell1567-Ashikaga shogunate fell

Japanese Religion and Japanese Religion and CultureCulture

• Chinese influenced Japan in areas of Chinese influenced Japan in areas of government, philosophy, literature, government, philosophy, literature, science, and religionscience, and religion

• Japanese came to believe in both Japanese came to believe in both Buddhism and ShintoBuddhism and Shinto

• Shinto concerned with daily life and Shinto concerned with daily life and Buddhism with preparation for life to Buddhism with preparation for life to comecome

Pure Land BuddhismPure Land Buddhism

• Buddhism had Buddhism had developed into sects developed into sects before reaching before reaching JapanJapan

• Pure Land Buddhism Pure Land Buddhism believed in a happy believed in a happy life after death in life after death in paradise above the paradise above the cloudsclouds

• Faith in Amida Faith in Amida Buddha and chanting Buddha and chanting led to paradiseled to paradise

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism

• Zen taught that people could find Zen taught that people could find inner peace through self-control and inner peace through self-control and simple way of lifesimple way of life

• Learned to control their bodies Learned to control their bodies through martial arts through martial arts

• Appealed to samurai Appealed to samurai • They would meditate motionless, They would meditate motionless,

cross-legged for hours with minds cross-legged for hours with minds clear to find inner peaceclear to find inner peace

Poems and PlaysPoems and Plays

• A.D. 500s, the Japanese borrowed A.D. 500s, the Japanese borrowed China’s writing systemChina’s writing system

• A.D. 800s, the Japanese added A.D. 800s, the Japanese added symbols that stood for sounds rather symbols that stood for sounds rather than whole wordsthan whole words

• Calligraphy, the art of beautiful Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, was practiced by the well-writing, was practiced by the well-educated peopleeducated people

• Japan’s oldest form of poetry is called Japan’s oldest form of poetry is called tankatanka

• Tanka is an unrhymed poem of five Tanka is an unrhymed poem of five lineslines

• By the 1600s, haiku was developedBy the 1600s, haiku was developed

• Haiku consists of 3 lines with a total Haiku consists of 3 lines with a total of 17 syllablesof 17 syllables

• Around A.D. 1000, Around A.D. 1000, women in Heian women in Heian wrote first great wrote first great storiesstories

• Murasaki Shikibu Murasaki Shikibu wrote wrote Tale of Tale of GengiGengi, possibly the , possibly the world’s first novelworld’s first novel

• 1300s: Noh is 1300s: Noh is oldest form of playsoldest form of plays

• Used to teach Used to teach Buddhist ideasBuddhist ideas

• Simple bare stage, Simple bare stage, masked actors, masked actors, elaborate robes, elaborate robes, slow deliberate slow deliberate dances, music of dances, music of drums and flute drums and flute

Farmers and ArtisansFarmers and Artisans

• Much of Japan’s Much of Japan’s wealth came from wealth came from Japanese farmersJapanese farmers

• 1100s, life improved 1100s, life improved for farmers with for farmers with better irrigation better irrigation methods and more methods and more cropscrops

• Could send more Could send more food to markets in food to markets in townstowns

• Artisans in daimyo estates began Artisans in daimyo estates began making weapons, armor, and toolsmaking weapons, armor, and tools

• Merchants sold these in town marketsMerchants sold these in town markets

• New roads made travel easier and New roads made travel easier and trade easiertrade easier

• Regions focused on making goods Regions focused on making goods that they could best producethat they could best produce

• Capital of Kyoto became major Capital of Kyoto became major center of production and tradecenter of production and trade

• Artisans and merchants settled there Artisans and merchants settled there and formed guilds to protect and and formed guilds to protect and increase profitsincrease profits

• Guilds relied on wealthy daimyo for Guilds relied on wealthy daimyo for protectionprotection

• Merchants sold daimyo goods he Merchants sold daimyo goods he could not get from his estatescould not get from his estates

• Increase trade with Korea, China, and Increase trade with Korea, China, and Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia

Role of WomenRole of Women

• Family included Family included grandparents, grandparents, parents, and parents, and children in same children in same householdhousehold

• Headed by a manHeaded by a man

• Woman expected Woman expected to obey her father, to obey her father, husband, and sonhusband, and son

• Wealthy families arranged marriages Wealthy families arranged marriages to increase wealthto increase wealth

• During time of Shotoku, women had During time of Shotoku, women had high positionshigh positions

• Several female rulers, and could own Several female rulers, and could own propertyproperty

• During warrior era of samurai and During warrior era of samurai and daimyo, women lost these freedomsdaimyo, women lost these freedoms

• Farm women had say in marriage, but Farm women had say in marriage, but worked long hours in fields, cooked, worked long hours in fields, cooked, spun, wove cloth, and cared for childrenspun, wove cloth, and cared for children

• Wives of artisans and merchants helped Wives of artisans and merchants helped with business and took care of homeswith business and took care of homes

• Some talented women gained fame as Some talented women gained fame as artists, writers, and even warriorsartists, writers, and even warriors

• The Tale of the The Tale of the HeikeHeike tells of the tells of the life of a female life of a female samuraisamurai

THE ENDTHE END

SAYONARASAYONARA