Japan• Country includes 4,000 islands• About 70% is covered by mountains and

hills• Most live on the four largest islands:

– Honshu– Hokkaido– Kyushu– Shikoku

• Around 500 A.D. Chinese ideas and customs began impacting the Japanese– Writing system – Buddhism

Japanese Clans• Heian Period (794-1185)

– High point of imperial rule

– People of the court wrote poetry, painted, and preformed rituals

– Central government controlled by a wealthy family

– Large Military clans controlled samurai armies

– Feudalism of localized rule began as landowners challenged wealthy power

Japanese Clans continued • Kamakura Period (1185-1333)

– Two powerful clans fought for power– Yoritomo became the first great general– Military governors were established – The military governors (daimyo) oversaw samurai

• Ashikaga Period (1338-1467)– Emperor overthrew the military headquarters to

restore imperial authority– Emperor overthrown by a military leader

establishing new military and imperial government – Imperial courts were at war for 54 years until they

came together in the 15th century– Peace deteriorated as political unrest gained and

nobles struggled for land and power

Japanese Clans continued• Warring States Period (1467-1568)

– Civil War– Military leaders became lords– Some military leaders sought to unite but unity

could not be found

• Tokugawa Period (1603-1867)– Japan became united– Japan enjoyed stability, prosperity– Urban population flourished– Foreign influence controlled with “closed

country policy” until Japan began trade with the U.S. in 1854.

Religions and Philosophies• Shinto (way of the gods)

– Divine spirits (Kami) that dwell in nature– Inhabitant of unusual or extremely beautiful nature

• Confucianism – Tokugawa Period

• Emperor believed to descend from Shinto sun Goddess• Samurai were elite class: warriors with conduct codes• Peasants lived burdened lives that were regulated for them• Artisans and Merchants were below peasants as Confucian

beliefs despised business and financial matters as virtue and service to state were valued instead.

• Buddhism– Eliminate material attachment– Siddhartha

• Zen Buddhism – Need self discipline to reach enlightenment– Meditation, discipline, simplicity

Muso Soseki (1275-1351)• Studied Shingon Buddhism• Converted to Zen Buddhism• Studied under Chinese and Japanese

Teachers• Influenced Zen Buddhism recognition from

Imperial court– Spread throughout Japan– Shaped monasteries into serious places of

study– Aspire to achieve spiritual enlightenment– Control over the ego