World History CP
Early Japanese SocietyEarliest Japanese
society was organized into clans, or groups of families descended from a common ancestor.Each family inherited
its position; warriors, farmers, weavers, potters
By 400 A.D.: Several clans formed a union and settled in the district called Yamato.
Early Japanese SocietyThe clans of Yamato
united much of Japan and even governed a small area of southern Korea.
Tenno ClanLed the unionClaimed to be
descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu.
In time, set up Japan’s first and only ruling dynasty.
Adapting Chinese Patterns500s: Missionaries from
Korea introduced Buddhism and Chinese culture to Japan.Brought Chinese script,
which became Japan’s first written language.
Japanese were impressed with the Chinese.
607 A.D.: Prince Shotoku of the imperial family sent a group of Japanese nobles to China.Spent years studying
Chinese government, art, literature, science, and philosophy.
Adapting Chinese PatternsChinese influence
reached every level of Japanese life.GovernmentConfucian and Daoist
philosophiesUsed Chinese tools
and farming methodsRaised Chinese cropsAbsorbed Chinese
ideas about music, dance, sculpture, and architecture.
Adopted the Chinese idea of one set capital.
Adapting Chinese PatternsDespite borrowing from
the Chinese, Japan still maintained their own identity.Selected the ideas that
worked for them.Wouldn’t use the ideas
that didn’t work. Tried civil service but
scrapped it.Never accepted the
Mandate of HeavenAccepted Buddhism, but
kept traditional beliefs.Did not change
dynasties, unlike the Chinese.
Heian Court794: Emperor moved his
court to Heian, present-day Kyoto.
During this time the developed a new Japanese system of writing called kana.
The power of the emperor was declining, and by the 800s great court families controlled Japan.Divided land into private
estates, which they assigned to local strongmen.
Peasants worked the land.
Heian CourtSlowly, a single
family, the Fujiwara gained great land wealth and concentrated power in their own hands.
Fujiwara ruled Japan for 200 years.Emperor became a
figured head. Carried out religious
duties but had no real power.
Japanese FeudalismDuring the 1100s,
strong warrior families challenged the power of the Heian court.
Samurai, or warrior knights, waged fierce battles for control of the land.
Feudalism emerged out of the conflict.Feudalism: System
where local lords ruled the land, but they had to be loyal to the emperor.
Japanese Feudalism1192: Minamoto
Yoritomo had emerged as the strongest military figure in Japan.The emperor gave
him the title of shogun, or chief general of the army.
A new feudal class system emerged under Minamoto and his successors.
Japanese FeudalismJapanese Feudal
SystemEmperor stood at the
head of the system, but remained a figurehead.
The shogun exercised the most power. Controlled the land and
the people. Commanded an army of
samurai.Commoners
Peasants, artisans, merchants
Japanese FeudalismIn theory, the Shogun
commanded complete loyalty of his lords.
In practice, the samurai lords and their followers battled for power with the shogun and one another.
By the 1400s, Japan was in constant state of war.The shogunate passed
from one military family to another.
Achieving Unity1500s: Several strong
military leaders pushed to reunite Japan.
Toyotomi HideyoshiAble general who was
the most successful in reuniting Japan.
1590: Brought all of Japan under his control.
Invaded Korea and hoped to conquer China.
Failed in his goals, but built the foundations for a united Japan.
Achieving Unity1600: Tokugawa
Ieyasu, Hideyoshi’s successor, claimed the title of shogun.Set up the Tokugawa
shogunate, which lasted until 1868.
During this time, shoguns created a peaceful, orderly society under centralized feudalism.
Achieving UnityTokugawa shoguns left
feudal class in place, but brought the daimyo under their control.Daimyo: great samuraiShogun required
daimyo to spend every other year in Edo (Tokyo).
Daimyo had to leave their wives and children in Edo as permanent hostages to ensure their good behavior.
Emperor remained a powerless figurehead.
Achieving UnityEconomic and Social
Changes:Edo grew from a small
fishing village to a bustling city.
Roads improved.Trade and travel
increased.Cities and towns
sprang up by harbors and along rivers.
New economic markets developed.
Achieving UnityEconomic and Social
Changes:The daimyo and their
samurai followers had to adapt to the changing conditions. No longer spent all its time
fighting. Some samurai became
government officials. Others managed the
estates of daimyos and the shogun.
Education became more widespread.
By the early 1800s, Japan had become a unified nation in many ways.
An Isolated NationEarly on, the Tokugawas felt threatened by the
growing number of westerners who were arriving in Japan.Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, EnglishCatholic missionaries had success in converting people,
which angered the shogun.Early 1600s: Japanese government began persecuting
foreign missionaries and Japanese Christians.1639: Japan was closed to the world.
Foreigners were forbidden from entering the country.Japanese who left couldn’t return.Outlawed the building of ocean-going ships.Exceptions: Some contact with China, Korea, and the
Dutch.Isolation lasted for more than 200 years.