JAPAN

Map of

JapanHow did

Japan’s

geograp

hy

influence

its

history?

Japan is a nation of islands – the four largest are called Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku

Japan is far enough from other countries to discourage invasion and to remain isolated when it chose to shut out the outside world

It is near enough to the Asian mainland to borrow from other civilizations, especially the Chinese

Japan’s location influenced its history

Their appreciation for nature is reflected in all aspects of their culture

The Japanese native religion of Shintoism holds nature to be sacred

Their love of simple, natural beauty is seen in the arts – architecture, sculpture, painting, and literature

Japanese culture reflects reverence for nature

Mt. Fuji in Japan

zen garden

s

Yamato Period By around 500 AD, a warrior chief

ruling over the Yamato plain extended his rule over much of Japan

Claimed descent from the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu

His tokens of power (an iron sword, curved jewel and bronze mirror) are still symbols of the imperial family today

Shinto: “the way of the gods” – nature is sacred

Prince Shotoku encouraged the spread of Chinese ways

Acceptance of BuddhismOther influences: calendar, ways of dress and cooking, architecture, Chinese language and script, law code, establishment of capital city

Chinese influence

Capital was moved to Heian-Kyo, later renamed Kyoto

Japanese culture developedLiterature flourished: “Tale of Genji” by Lady Murasaki (prose), tanka and haiku (forms of poetry)

Heian Period

Japan enters the feudal age

Minamoto Yoritomo became the shogun, or supreme general

The emperor remained a mere figurehead in Kyoto

The seat of government was at Kamakura, a small coastal town

The feudal age of Japan began

Kamakura Shogunate

Samurai warriors – most important class of people during the feudal period

Bushido (“way of the warrior”) – samurai code of conduct; stressed loyalty and indifference to pain and hardship

Suicide by seppuku or hara-kiri was preferred to dishonor or surrender

Groups of samurai came to follow certain local nobles called daimyo (“great name”)

Daimyo became absolute rulers on their lands and struggled with each other for more power and territory

There was no effective central government in Japan

Ashikaga Shogunate

Golden age of Japanese culture

No drama developedPerfection of 3 Japanese arts: flower arrangement, tea ceremony and landscape gardening

The arts flourished during the Ashikaga

Period

Ieyasu Tokugawa became shogun after winning the Battle of Sekigahara

Headquarters was in Edo, later known as Tokyo

Tokugawa Era

The power of the daimyo was weakened

The central government grew strong again

Japan began to isolate itself from foreign influences – no Japanese could leave their homeland, and foreign missionaries were expelled, or killed

Merchant and business classes became influential

Kabuki drama became popular

Status of women in Japan• During the earliest period of Japanese history, women enjoyed high political, social and cultural status• For a hundred years, all important authors were women

During the Kamakura period, samurai women were expected to have spartan virtues, and young girls were taught the use of weapons

But then society moved towards complete male supremacy

By the Tokugawa period, women had become socially and legally inferior to men – and this has changed little even today