Early Japan & Korea

622 CE – 1600 CE

Geography of JapanJapan is a chain of many islands. The population is concentrated on four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu (the main island), Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Japan is mountainous; the mountains were volcanic in origin. Only about 11% of Japan’s land can be farmed. The area is also prone to earthquakes!

Because they were isolated by their geography, the Japanese grew independent of other Asian influences and believed they had a destiny different from people on the continent.

Rise of Japanese StateThe Ancient Japanese settled primarily in the Yamato Plain (in red on map) sometime near the first century of the common era.

Their society was based on clans and the people were divided between a small aristocratic class (the rulers) and a large population of rice farmers, artisans, and household servants. The local ruler was responsible for protecting the population and in return was given a share of the harvest or an artisan’s wares.

In the early seventh century, Shotoku Taishi, a Yamato prince, tried to unify the clans of Japan so the Japanese could resist invasion by the Chinese.

Shotoku sent representatives to China to learn how they ran their government. He then began to create a new centralized government in Japan.

Prince Shotoku centralized the government under a supreme ruler so he could limit the power of the aristocrats and enhance the ruler’s power. He portrayed the ruler as a divine figure and the symbol of the Japanese nation.

Nara & Heian PeriodAfter Shotoku’s death in 622, the Fujiwara clan took over, although a Yamato was still emperor. A new capital was established at Nara in 710. The central government had difficulty collecting taxes from the aristocracy, who kept the taxes for themselves.In 794 the capital was moved to Heian (present day Kyoto). The Fujiwara clan still controlled the emperor.The government decentralized, with wealthy landowners collecting taxes, confiscating lands from the poor, and protecting their interests.

Rise of SamuraiAristocrats were responsible for protecting their interests: land, farmers, and small towns in their domain.

They employed military servants whose purpose was to protect the security and property of their employers Called samurai, they resembled the knights of Europe

They fought on horsebackWore helmets & armorLived by a strict warrior code called BushidoLoyal to the aristocratic lords

Kamakura ShogunateBy the end of the 12th century, Japanese aristocratic families (clans) were in a state of almost constant civil war.

Minamoto Yoritmo defeated several rivals and set up a new capital near the modern city of Tokyo.

He created a more centralized government under a powerful military leader known as the shogun. In this new system – called a shogunate – the emperor remained ruler in name only; it was the Shogun who actually exercised power.

The Kamakura Shogunate was founded in 1192 and lasted until 1333. The system worked will, with a strong central government backed up by military power.

One of the first tests of the Shogunate was an invasion y the Mongols. In 1281, Kublai Khan invaded Japan with 150,000 soldiers. Fortunately for the Japanese, nearly all of Khan’s fleet as destroyed in a massive typhoon. Japan was not invaded again until World War II in 1945!

Collapse of Central RuleAristocrats continued to grow in power during the 14th and 15th centuries

Heads of noble families, called daimyo, controlled vast land estates that paid no taxes to the government

Daimyo’s relied on samurai for protection and political power became concentrated in the hands of a loose coalition of noble familiesBy 1500, Japan was again in chaos

Onin War: 1467 – 1477, a civil war that destroyed Kyoto from armies moving back and forth, burning temples and palacesCentral authority disappearedAristocrats became increasingly powerful and seized large territories that they ruled as kingsRivalries among families created a state of almost constant warfare

Life in Early Japan Early Japan was mostly a farming society. The primary crop was wet rice, which could be grown in the mountainous regions. The abundant rainfall flooded fields, making them perfect for rice.

Manufacturing began to develop during the Kamakura period; markets appeared in larger towns and industries such as iron casting, paper making, and porcelain emerged.

Foreign trade developed in the 11th century, mainly with Korea and China; Japan exported raw materials, paintings, swords, and manufactured items in exchange for silk, porcelain, books, and copper coins.

Role of WomenIn early Japan, women were equal to men; women could inherit and own property, or divorce and remarry. In later Japan, women became subordinate to men

Wives were divorced for not producing male children or committing adulteryThey could also be divorced for talking too much, being jealous, or having a serious illness!

Women played an active role in society; wealthy women were prominent at court, or were artists or writers

Religion

Early Japanese people worshipped spirits called Kami, whom they believed lived in trees, rivers, streams, and mountainsThey also believed the spirits of their ancestors were present in the air around themEventually a state religion based on these beliefs was formed, called Shinto, and is still practiced today

Shinto is nature-based religionBuddhism became popular in Japan in the sixth century

A sect of Buddhists called Zen became popular with the samurai

Culture in Early JapanWomen were most productive story writers in Japan from the 9th to the 12th centuries

Primarily because aristocrats thought prose was vulgar, and thus beneath them.

The Tale of the Genji was written around 1000 CE, by Murasaki Shikibu (a woman); it is considered one of the world’s greatest novelsIn art and architecture, nature and landscape plays an important role and is a means of expression

Japanese seek harmony with nature and natural surroundings

Emergence of KoreaThe Korean Peninsula, between China and Japan, is relatively mountainous.

Korea was heavily influenced by the Chinese. In 109 CE, the northern part of Korea came under the control of the Chinese. By the third century, the Koreans drove the Chinese out. Three kingdoms emerged afterwards: Goguryeo (also spelled Koguryo), in the north, Paekche in the Southwest (Baekje), and Silla in the southeast.

Eventually, the kingdom of Silla gained control of the entire Korean Peninsula, but the king was assassinated. After the assassination, Korea was embroiled in civil war.

By the tenth century, a new dynasty called the Koryo (Korea) came to power and instituted a Chinese-style government. The Koryo remained in power for 400 years.

In the 13th century, the Mongols seized northern Korea and the Koryo dynasty fell under Mongol power. Koreans suffered under Mongol rule, as many were forced off their farms and into labor for the Mongols

Finally, in 1392, Yi Song-gye seized power and reunited Korea under the Yi dynasty.