japanese history. korean missionaries bring mahayana buddhism (500’s) introduce chinese culture ...
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JAPANESE HISTORY
Korean Missionaries
Bring Mahayana Buddhism (500’s) Introduce Chinese culture Chinese characters become Japan’s first
written language
Prince Shotoku
In 607, sends a group of Japanese nobles to China to learn about Chinese culture.
Chinese Cultural Diffusion
Increase authority of the government. Set up elaborate court ranks. Adapted Confucian ideas about family. Adapted Confucian reverence for
ancestors.
Chinese Cultural Diffusion
Peasants learn to use Chinese tools and farming methods.
Peasants learn to raise Chinese crops. Japanese imitated many Chinese ideas
in the arts. The capital at Nara was modeled on the
Tang capital.
Selective Borrowing
Discarded the Chinese civil service system. Japanese thought people should inherit position – not earn it.
Did not accept Mandate of Heaven. The emperor was divine, therefore could not lose his position.
Selective Borrowing
The Japanese accepted Buddhism but retained their traditional Shinto beliefs.
Shinto was a traditional Japanese religion that believed in the spirits of nature.
Feudalism
Warrior families challenged power of the Heian court.
Samurais fought for control of the land.
Results in feudalism (See class handout)
Still Unrest
Samurai lords fight with one another and the Shogun.
The position of Shogun often was passed from family to family.
1400’s constant warfare
Centralized Feudalism
Introduced the Diamyo
Spent every other year in Edo (Tokyo)
Daimyos had to leave their families in Edo as permanent hostages to ensure good behavior and loyalty.
Centralized Feudalism
Roads are built to travel to Edo Peaceful Money economy developed Established banks Education grew
Japanese Isolation from China
In 1281, Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor of the Yuan Dynasty sent the Chinese navy to conquer Japan.
The “kamikazi” winds destroyed the Chinese navy and preserved the independence of Japan.
Isolation
Westerners begin to arrive in Japan in order to trade and spread Christianity.
Converting people angered the shogun and he did not want them to pledge loyalty to a foreign ruler. (the Pope)
Isolation
He heard about the Spanish conquest of the Philippines and wanted to protect Japan.
Began to persecute missionaries and Japanese Christians.
Isolation 1639 Japan is closed to the world.
No foreigners allowed.
If you left Japan you could not return.
Were not even allowed to build boats.
Stayed close for 200 years.
Shinto
No sacred writings
no set beliefs
Spirits lived in everything and controlled natural forces (earthquakes typhoons)
link between people and nature.
Problem with Shinto
It did not answer important questions like life after death and proper behavior.
Buddhism Taught them the cycle of life and the goal
of enlightenment.
Commoners followed the sect that believed anyone could reach salvation.
Samurais focused on Zen Buddhism which focused on meditation and self-control.
Confucianism
5 relationships used to show that they need to be loyal to govt.
Took the idea of hard work and education.
Family Life Patriarchal society
Men would chose an heir (oldest son)
If they did not have a son they could adopt a male into their family to become the heir.
Loyalty to feudal lord overshadowed family ties.
Marriage
Arranged by head of the household.
Marriage to benefit family not for love.
Wife went and lived with new family.
Lives of Women Some clans were led by women.
There were even women empresses.
This faded as Confucianism grew in Japan.
Women were ignored because of the feudal system (based upon fighting)
Bushido The Samurai code of conduct.
“the way of the warrior”
Emphasized loyalty to the lord, bravery, self-discipline, and honor.
If dishonorable they had to perform seppuku which was a ritual suicide.
The end of Isolation
1853 America demands that Japan open its ports.
Japan chooses to modernize
Unequal treaties
The Shogun signs the Treaty of Kanagawa which allowed the U.S. to stop at ports for supplies and the right to send diplomatic representatives to Japan.
Sign other unequal treaties with westerners.
Growing unrest
People become upset with the treaties
Dislike the laws that were enacted to hold the feudal system together.
Samurais began to raise taxes to get more money.
Meiji
1868 rebels force the shogun to step down and the emperor becomes the real head of the govt.
Meiji = “enlightened rule”
Welcome to America
Thought Americans were funny.
America lacked etiquette, but was very friendly.
Loved the industry in America and saw that they needed these machines in Japan.
Changes in the Government
Ended the feudal system in order to centralize the power of the govt.
1889 wrote a constitution that took western ideas and adopted them for Japan.
Changes in the Government
Gave the emperor supreme power, but set up a two house parliament.
Established a court and legal system basted on western ideas.
Changes in the Government
The goal was not to bring democracy to Japan but to unite Japan and make it equal with the western world.
Industrialization
West helps them build transportation systems, steam engines, factories, and set up communication systems.
Govt. would build factories and then often sold them to private owners.
Industrialization
Govt. wanted cooperation between companies in order to compete with the west.
Social changes Everyone was equal in the eyes of the law.
People moved from farms to cities to work in factories.
Women began to work in factories.
All children were required to attend elementary school