Early JapanEarly Japan

Geographic IsolationGeographic Isolation

►Japan and China have always been Japan and China have always been very different societies, partly very different societies, partly because of their very different because of their very different geographies.geographies.

►While China took shape on the While China took shape on the huge Asian Continent-- huge Asian Continent--

►Japan developed on a series of Japan developed on a series of islands.islands.

The Four Main IslandsThe Four Main Islands

1.1. HokkaidoHokkaido

2.2. HonshuHonshu

3.3. ShikokuShikoku

4.4. KyushuKyushu

Size and LandSize and Land

► Japan is only about the size of Japan is only about the size of MontanaMontana

►Mountain terrain takes up much of Mountain terrain takes up much of Japan’s 146,000 square miles. Japan’s 146,000 square miles.

►Only 11% of the land can be used for Only 11% of the land can be used for farming.farming.

The Rise of the Japanese The Rise of the Japanese StateState

►The YamatoThe Yamato Organized into clans led by local rulersOrganized into clans led by local rulers Considered the ancestors of the Japanese Considered the ancestors of the Japanese

►Eventually one Yamato clan became Eventually one Yamato clan became more powerful than the rest.more powerful than the rest.

►Prince Shotoku began to centralize the Prince Shotoku began to centralize the Yamato government, based on the Yamato government, based on the example of the Tang Dynasty.example of the Tang Dynasty.

Nara PeriodNara Period

►Time after Prince Shotoku’s deathTime after Prince Shotoku’s death

►A Yamato ruler remained the A Yamato ruler remained the “emperor”“emperor”

►But the Fujiwara clan was starting to But the Fujiwara clan was starting to gain more and more control.gain more and more control.

►Called the Nara Period, because that’s Called the Nara Period, because that’s where the capital city was located.where the capital city was located.

The Heian PeriodThe Heian Period►The capital moved to Heian (present day The capital moved to Heian (present day

Kyoto)Kyoto)►““Emperor” was then just a title, with no Emperor” was then just a title, with no

real political control.real political control.►The Fujiwara clan had all of the real The Fujiwara clan had all of the real

power.power.► Japan became decentralized againJapan became decentralized again►Powerful clan members started hiring Powerful clan members started hiring

samurai to protect them.samurai to protect them.

Bushido: The way of the Bushido: The way of the warriorwarrior

Rise of The Kamakura Rise of The Kamakura ShogunateShogunate

►By the 12By the 12thth century the fighting among century the fighting among the nobles had caused nonstop civil war.the nobles had caused nonstop civil war.

►Minamoto Yoritomo eventually defeated Minamoto Yoritomo eventually defeated enough of his rivals to claim sole power.enough of his rivals to claim sole power.

►He established a new system called the He established a new system called the shogunate, with the emperor as the shogunate, with the emperor as the figurehead and the shogun (general) as figurehead and the shogun (general) as the one really in charge.the one really in charge.

►The capital was moved to the same The capital was moved to the same place as modern day Tokyoplace as modern day Tokyo

Decline of the Kamakura Decline of the Kamakura ShogunateShogunate

►The system worked from 1192 to 1333The system worked from 1192 to 1333► In 1281 Kublai Khan and 150,000 In 1281 Kublai Khan and 150,000

Mongols tried to attack Japan.Mongols tried to attack Japan.►They were famously prevented from They were famously prevented from

conquering Japan when the fleet was conquering Japan when the fleet was destroyed by a giant typhoon.destroyed by a giant typhoon.

►But fighting with the Mongols still But fighting with the Mongols still weakened the stability of the weakened the stability of the Shogunate.Shogunate.

Fall of the ShogunateFall of the Shogunate

► In 1333 the Ashikaga family overthrew In 1333 the Ashikaga family overthrew the Shogunate government.the Shogunate government.

►Throughout early Japanese history, Throughout early Japanese history, aristocratic families would find ways to aristocratic families would find ways to avoid paying taxes, and this would avoid paying taxes, and this would make centralized control impossible to make centralized control impossible to maintain.maintain.

►These “daimyo” continued to rely on These “daimyo” continued to rely on the samurai for protection.the samurai for protection.

Onin WarOnin War►The Onin War, a huge civil war, tore The Onin War, a huge civil war, tore

Japan apart from 1467 to 1477 Japan apart from 1467 to 1477 ►Eventually everything remotely like a Eventually everything remotely like a

government just completely broke government just completely broke down.down.

►By 1500 Japan was in complete chaos.By 1500 Japan was in complete chaos.►The different armies passed through The different armies passed through

cities burning them to the ground and cities burning them to the ground and terrorizing civilians.terrorizing civilians.