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Early Japan & Feudalism:Early Japan & Feudalism:The 4 Big IdeasThe 4 Big Ideas

Japan was strongly influenced by geography.Japan was strongly influenced by geography.

The Japanese borrowed selectively from Chinese The Japanese borrowed selectively from Chinese culture.culture.

The Japanese developed a feudal system.The Japanese developed a feudal system.

Japan experienced stability & a strong government Japan experienced stability & a strong government during later feudal times.during later feudal times.

      

                  

Brief OverviewBrief Overview

Since about 500 Since about 500 CECE Japan was ruled by an emperor, Japan was ruled by an emperor, but fights between rival warlords led to the but fights between rival warlords led to the development of feudalism in the 1100s.development of feudalism in the 1100s.

For several centuries, military rulers controlled Japan.For several centuries, military rulers controlled Japan.

When the Tokugawa shogunate came to power in When the Tokugawa shogunate came to power in 1603, peace and stability was brought to Japan for 1603, peace and stability was brought to Japan for nearly 300 years.nearly 300 years.

GeographyGeography

Japan consists of 4 main islands and over Japan consists of 4 main islands and over 3,000 smaller islands in the Pacific Ocean.3,000 smaller islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Japan’s islands are part of the Ring of Fire, a Japan’s islands are part of the Ring of Fire, a group of lands around the _________Ocean group of lands around the _________Ocean that are vulnerable to earthquakes and that are vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanoes.volcanoes.

How the Geography Affects PeopleHow the Geography Affects People

Because Japan’s islands are mountainous, it is Because Japan’s islands are mountainous, it is difficult to farm. Most of the population has difficult to farm. Most of the population has always lived in narrow river valleys or along always lived in narrow river valleys or along the coast.the coast.

Japan’s rugged terrain has acted as a barrier Japan’s rugged terrain has acted as a barrier between various peoples, undermining between various peoples, undermining political unity at times. political unity at times.

Japan has relied heavily on the sea…for what Japan has relied heavily on the sea…for what reasons?reasons?

____________________________________

______________________________________

________________________________________

[food][food]

[transportation][transportation]

[protection from invasions][protection from invasions]

The Japanese also developed a deep respect The Japanese also developed a deep respect for the forces of nature.for the forces of nature.

Early JapanEarly Japan

The introduction of Buddhism to the Japanese from The introduction of Buddhism to the Japanese from China & Korea in the sixth century helped change China & Korea in the sixth century helped change Japan’s people and culture.Japan’s people and culture.

Japan also maintained close cultural ties with China Japan also maintained close cultural ties with China & Korea for over 400 years. & Korea for over 400 years.

Perhaps most importantly, Japan imported China’s Perhaps most importantly, Japan imported China’s writing system. Japan previously had no writing writing system. Japan previously had no writing system of its own.system of its own.

It was during the Heian period (794-1185) that It was during the Heian period (794-1185) that Japan began to develop its own culture, Japan began to develop its own culture, including the including the assimilation assimilation of Chinese ways to of Chinese ways to meld with native preferences.meld with native preferences.

Zao Gongen, a protective Zao Gongen, a protective deity associated with a deity associated with a Shinto-Buddhist cult.Shinto-Buddhist cult.

**Heian period, 11**Heian period, 11thth or or 1212thth century. century.

Shintoism (a.k.a. Shinto)Shintoism (a.k.a. Shinto)

**Scroll depicting the origin of the Kitano **Scroll depicting the origin of the Kitano Shrine of the Tenjin cult, one of the most Shrine of the Tenjin cult, one of the most important in the Shinto faith.important in the Shinto faith.

[Kamakura period, 13[Kamakura period, 13thth century] century]

The traditional Japanese religion is called The traditional Japanese religion is called Shinto, meaning “the way of the gods.”Shinto, meaning “the way of the gods.”

Shinto was characterized by the worship of the Shinto was characterized by the worship of the kamikami—spirits found in all living and nonliving —spirits found in all living and nonliving things.things.

Kami were thought to control the forces of Kami were thought to control the forces of nature.nature.

Believers tried to win their favor through Believers tried to win their favor through respect, prayer, and offerings.respect, prayer, and offerings.

The shared beliefs of Shinto followers The shared beliefs of Shinto followers eventually helped unite all of Japan.eventually helped unite all of Japan.

Diffusion Diffusion (to spread out from (to spread out from somewhere) from Korea & Chinasomewhere) from Korea & China

Contact between Korea & Japan occurred as a Contact between Korea & Japan occurred as a result of both warfare and trade.result of both warfare and trade.

Korea acted like a bridge between China & Korea acted like a bridge between China & Japan.Japan.

Koreans introduced the Japanese to various Koreans introduced the Japanese to various aspects of Chinese culture.aspects of Chinese culture.

Great interest in Chinese culture was first Great interest in Chinese culture was first sparked among the Japanese around 600, when sparked among the Japanese around 600, when a Japanese ruler sent nobles to study in China. a Japanese ruler sent nobles to study in China.

For over a century, during China’s Tang For over a century, during China’s Tang dynasty, the Japanese upper classes imported dynasty, the Japanese upper classes imported cultural traditions and ideas directly from cultural traditions and ideas directly from China.China.

Around 500, Koreans brought the Chinese Around 500, Koreans brought the Chinese writing system to the Japanese.writing system to the Japanese.

By the 800s, the Japanese had adapted the By the 800s, the Japanese had adapted the Chinese writing system to suit their own Chinese writing system to suit their own needs.needs.

Traditional Chinese Traditional Chinese Character:Character:

他们家父子四人都是教他们家父子四人都是教师。师。

(The father and his three (The father and his three sons are all sons are all

schoolteachers.)schoolteachers.)

Japanese KanjiJapanese Kanji

““Eternal”Eternal”

““Great”Great”

KoreanKorean

VietnameseVietnamese

thượng đếthượng đế (“The Eternal”)(“The Eternal”)

đó là ý trời (“It was the will of đó là ý trời (“It was the will of

heaven.”)heaven.”)

http://japanesetranslator.co.uk/your-nam...

Religious Influences for the JapaneseReligious Influences for the Japanese

Koreans brought Buddhism from China to Koreans brought Buddhism from China to Japan. Japan.

During feudal times, a Chinese sect called Zen During feudal times, a Chinese sect called Zen Buddhism spread throughout Japan. Buddhism spread throughout Japan.

Zen Buddhists value peace, simplicity, nature, Zen Buddhists value peace, simplicity, nature, and beauty. and beauty.

Zen Koans [read aloud]Zen Koans [read aloud]

These koans, or parables, were translated These koans, or parables, were translated into English from a book called the Shaseki-into English from a book called the Shaseki-shu (Collection of Stone and Sand), written shu (Collection of Stone and Sand), written late in the thirteenth century by the Japanese late in the thirteenth century by the Japanese Zen teacher Muju (the "non-dweller"), and Zen teacher Muju (the "non-dweller"), and from anecdotes of Zen monks taken from from anecdotes of Zen monks taken from various books published in Japan around the various books published in Japan around the turn of the 20th century.turn of the 20th century.

““A Letter to a Dying Man”A Letter to a Dying Man”

Bassui wrote the following letter to one of his disciples who was Bassui wrote the following letter to one of his disciples who was about to die: about to die:

"The essence of your mind is not born, so it will never die. It is "The essence of your mind is not born, so it will never die. It is not an existence, which is perishable. It is not an emptiness, not an existence, which is perishable. It is not an emptiness, which is a mere void. It has neither color nor form. It enjoys which is a mere void. It has neither color nor form. It enjoys no pleasures and suffers no pains. no pleasures and suffers no pains.

"I know you are very ill. Liek a good Zen student, you are facing "I know you are very ill. Liek a good Zen student, you are facing that sickness squarely. You may not know exactly who is that sickness squarely. You may not know exactly who is suffering, but question yourself: What is the essence of this suffering, but question yourself: What is the essence of this mind? Think only of this. You will need no more. Covet mind? Think only of this. You will need no more. Covet nothing. Your end which is endless is as a snowflake nothing. Your end which is endless is as a snowflake dissolving in the pure air." dissolving in the pure air."

““The Real Miracle”The Real Miracle”

When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who believed in salvation through the repitition of the name of the Buddha of believed in salvation through the repitition of the name of the Buddha of Love, was jealous of his large audience and wanted to debate with him. Love, was jealous of his large audience and wanted to debate with him.

Bankei was in the midst of a talk when the priest appeared, but the fellow Bankei was in the midst of a talk when the priest appeared, but the fellow made such a disturbance that bankei stopped his discourse and asked about made such a disturbance that bankei stopped his discourse and asked about the noise. the noise.

"The founder of our sect," boasted the priest, "had such miraculous powers "The founder of our sect," boasted the priest, "had such miraculous powers that he held a brush in his hand on one bank of the river, his attendant held that he held a brush in his hand on one bank of the river, his attendant held up a paper on the other bank, and the teacher wrote the holy name of up a paper on the other bank, and the teacher wrote the holy name of Amida through the air. Can you do such a wonderful thing?" Amida through the air. Can you do such a wonderful thing?"

Bankei replied lightly: "Perhaps your fox can perform that trick, but that is not Bankei replied lightly: "Perhaps your fox can perform that trick, but that is not the manner of Zen. My miracle is that when I feel hungry I eat, and when I the manner of Zen. My miracle is that when I feel hungry I eat, and when I feel thirsty I drink." feel thirsty I drink."

““A Drop of Water”A Drop of Water”

A Zen master named Gisan asked a young student to A Zen master named Gisan asked a young student to bring him a pail of water to cool his bath. bring him a pail of water to cool his bath.

The student brought the water and, after cooling the The student brought the water and, after cooling the bath, threw on to the ground the little that was left bath, threw on to the ground the little that was left over. over.

"You dunce!" the master scolded him. "Why didn't you "You dunce!" the master scolded him. "Why didn't you give the rest of the water to the plants? What right give the rest of the water to the plants? What right have you to waste even a drop of water in this have you to waste even a drop of water in this temple?" temple?"

The young student attained Zen in that instant. He The young student attained Zen in that instant. He changed his name to Tekisui, which means a drop of changed his name to Tekisui, which means a drop of water.water.

The Japanese were also influenced by the The Japanese were also influenced by the Chinese philosophy of Confucianism.Chinese philosophy of Confucianism.

Confucian ideas revolve around values like Confucian ideas revolve around values like proper behavior, social order, family loyalty, proper behavior, social order, family loyalty, honoring parents, and respect for learning and honoring parents, and respect for learning and education.education.

The Japanese also adopted Chinese customs The Japanese also adopted Chinese customs such as: _____________________such as: _____________________

______________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

tea ceremonytea ceremony

Chinese music and dancingChinese music and dancing

Japanese built their monasteries to resemble Japanese built their monasteries to resemble Chinese monasteries.Chinese monasteries.

Japanese feudalism…developed as Japanese feudalism…developed as armies battled for power in the armies battled for power in the

1100s:1100s:

Japanese-European Feudalism Japanese-European Feudalism Comparison:Comparison:

Their systems of feudalism were similar.Their systems of feudalism were similar.

Both systems evolved in response to the basic Both systems evolved in response to the basic desire for stability.desire for stability.

In both places the emperors and kings were In both places the emperors and kings were too weak to prevent invasions or halt internal too weak to prevent invasions or halt internal wars. Feudalism provided a way for ruling wars. Feudalism provided a way for ruling classes to preserve law and order.classes to preserve law and order.

2 Major Differences Between Japan 2 Major Differences Between Japan & Europe & Europe

JAPANJAPAN WOMEN: Status of WOMEN: Status of

women declined during women declined during feudal times.feudal times.

RELIGION: Zen RELIGION: Zen Buddhist monks had Buddhist monks had less power than leaders less power than leaders of Catholic Church.of Catholic Church.

EUROPEEUROPE Code of chivalry Code of chivalry

(knight’s code) helped (knight’s code) helped raise the status of raise the status of women.women.

Leaders of Catholic Leaders of Catholic Church had more Church had more political power than political power than Buddhist monks.Buddhist monks.