Early JapanEarly Japan

A Mighty Fine Presentation by

Janet Pareja

Signature School, Evansville, IN

Nara and Heian PeriodsNara and Heian Periods710-1192710-1192

4 Main Islands

Closest Neighbor: Closest Neighbor: KOREAKOREA

• 120 miles away at closest point

• Tempestuous seas

• Spoken language- distantly related to Korean; unrelated to Chinese

Relative IsolationRelative Isolation

Distinctive CultureDistinctive Culture– Interacted & traded sometimes– Isolation by choice sometimes –

only in recent times open

ShintoismShintoism• “The way of the gods”

• Worship of KamiKami – nature & all forces of nature, seen & unseen

• Goal – become part of Kami – Follow ritual & customs– Obedience & proper behavior

• Emperor as descendent of Sun Goddess, a main force Yamato stayed in power

• Yamato Clan – first and only clan to rule! … current Emperor included

PatrilinealPatrilineal Path to the Path to the Chrysanthemum ThroneChrysanthemum Throne

Her Imperial Majesty MICHIKOMICHIKO, , Empress of Japan

His Imperial Majesty AKIHITOAKIHITO, the 125th Emperor of Japan

Crown Prince NaruhitoNaruhito, , Princess Masako , Princess Princess Masako , Princess AikoAiko

1. Naran Period: 1. Naran Period: 710-794710-794

EmperorEmperor

Agriculture, Agriculture,

Villages, Villages,

Fishing, Fishing,

Iron working.Iron working.

Chinese Influence

Tributary Relationship•Aristocratic sons studied Confucianism in China important positions in Japan

– ConfucianismConfucianism– Buddhism Buddhism – DaoismDaoism

•Chinese tastes, artistic Chinese tastes, artistic styles…styles…

Sinicization• Chinese art & literature Chinese art & literature

(Tang poetry)(Tang poetry)

• Capital modeled Capital modeled Chang’anChang’an

• Chinese Script adoptedChinese Script adopted

• Confucianism in upper Confucianism in upper classes; Buddhism in classes; Buddhism in lower classes. lower classes.

Chinese culture Arrived via Korea

Distinctive Japanese CultureDistinctive Japanese Culture

Chinese influence Chinese influence

NEVERNEVER

REPLACEDREPLACEDJapanese cultureJapanese culture

2. 2. Heian Period: 794 - 1185Heian Period: 794 - 1185

NO central government structureNO central government structureNO professional bureaucratsNO professional bureaucrats

– NO Civil Service Exam– NO Confucianism

WHY? WHY?

Nobility was Nobility was born, born, not taught not taught in Japan! in Japan!

-- Feudal LordsFeudal Lords- Hereditary Aristocrats, Royalty.- Hereditary Aristocrats, Royalty.

Heian PeriodHeian Period • Chinese influence

lessened & disappeared… replaced by Japanese FEUDALISM

• Fujiwara FamilyFujiwara Family– Intermarried w/

Royalty… ran country – Emperor as Figurehead

BOKUFUBOKUFU• “Tent Government” – temporary

• Title of Sei-i Taishōgun = “Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians”

• Minamoto Muromachi

• Yorimoto Tokugawa

• Kamakura

Feudal SystemFeudal System• 1192- 1864

• SHOGUNSHOGUN– Title given by

emperor– Real power;

Emperor as figurehead

DaimyoDaimyo

• “Counts” – warrior / noblemen

• Huge landowners

• SamuraiSamurai

SamuraiSamurai

• Vassals to Daimyo

• Land (& Protection)

for Loyalty Exchange– Peasant farmers– Artisans– Soldiers

Bushido• “The Way of the Warrior”

• Strict code of Conduct– Loyalty– Courage– Honor

Japanese ladies were not esteemed. No chivalry, no religious overtone in Bushido.

SeppukuSeppuku

Ritual Disembowlment

“Hari Kari”

-Avoid falling into Enemy hands

-Avoid punishment / torture/ execution

-Avoid Shame of letting down one’s Lord

-Assumed / Ordered by their Lord

Chivalry vs. Bushido• King – ruled

• Lord- – landowning warrior– Vassals

• Knights

• Women:– Few rights, but protected– Romantic love

• Religious values important

• Emperor – figurehead• Shogun ruled

• Daimyo – – landowning warrior– Vassals

• Samurai

• Women – – NOT held in high esteem,

but some rights

• No Religious overtones

Bushido vs. Confucianism• Emperor – figurehead• Shogun ruled

• Daimyo – – landowning warrior– Vassals

• Samurai

• Women – – NOT held in high esteem,

but some rights. Heian court women.

• No Religious overtones

• EmperorEmperor

– Ruled China as Middle Kingdom, Tributary States

• Shi / Scholar BureaucratsShi / Scholar Bureaucrats– Confucian Junzi /Scholars

• GeneralsGenerals reported to Emperor.

• WomenWomen– NOT held in high esteem –

patriarchal Confucian society. Footbinding.

• Filial Piety, Rituals, Education: Filial Piety, Rituals, Education: Confucianism, Buddhism & Confucianism, Buddhism & Daoism OK. Daoism OK.

Heian Women

Twelve Lined RobesTwelve Lined Robes

Made of?

Heian PeriodHeian Period Kyoto: JAPANESE

Imperial Court Culture794 – 1185 CE

Upper Class Heian Women Could inherit and keep property,

although usually a man administered it.

Law protected them from physical violence. (?)

Most married women continued living in their birth homes, preventing husbands or mothers-in-law from holding too much power or influence over their day-to-day lives.

Education of Court Women: poetry, letter writing, calligraphy, music, the preparation of incense and perfumes, and fashion.

Did not have the right to choose their husbands, nor was strict monogamy practiced. http://gallery.sjsu.edu/heia

n/images/coutesan.jpg

• ““Golden Age Golden Age ofof Japanese Japanese Literature”Literature”

• Court Women:– Poetry

–Pillow Book- Sei ShonagonPillow Book- Sei Shonagon–Tale of Genji- Mirasaki ShikibuTale of Genji- Mirasaki Shikibu–Tale of HeikeTale of Heike

• Epic of intra-family warfare• Various authors, probably

Tale of GenjiTale of Genji

Sei Shonagan Sei Shonagan and and

Life at the Heian CourtLife at the Heian Court

Lower Class WomenLower Class Women

• No writing and not many images survive.

• “Illness sketches”– Fat woman as an example

of a disease. – conservative white robes -

completely unlike court women's Juni-Hitoe (twelve unlined robes) .