MEDIEVAL JAPANClass notes

Chapter 5 lesson 3

LIFE IN MEDIEVAL JAPAN

I. JAPANESE RELIGION AND CULTURE

1. During the Middle Ages, Japanese people practiced both Shinto and Buddhism. There was no need to select one religion over the other.

In the same time period in Europe could Europeans practice both Christianity and Judaism or Christianity and Islam?

2. By the time it reached Japan, Buddhism had divided into different sects, or smaller religious groups.

How many Christian

religions or sects have

evolved from the Catholic

faith in Europe?

3. Pure Land Buddhism was a sect that stressed a happy life after death.

4. Zen Buddhism is another important sect of Buddhism brought to Japan from China. Zen teaches that people can find inner peace through self-control and a simple way of life.

Why do you think the Samurai class adoptedthese religions easily?

5. Japanese art reveals the Japanese love of beauty and simplicity. Art in the Middle Ages included wooden items coated in lacquer, landscape paintings, folded paper called origami and tea ceremonies.

LACQUER FURNITURE

ORIGAMI ART

6. Japanese buildings were influenced by Chinese or Japanese styles. Shinto shrines followed Japanese styles while Buddhist temples followed Chinese styles.

SHINTO SHRINE

TORII GATE

BUDDHIST TEMPLE

The famous “floating” Torii gate near Hiroshima

7. The Japanese borrowed and adopted the Chinese style of writing using characters. Calligraphy, the art of writing beautifully, was important in Japan.

8. The tanka is Japan’s oldest form of poetry. The haiku is a poem that is based on syllables with a 5-7-5 pattern.

9. The Tale of Genji written by Murasaki Shikibu (SHE-KEY-BOO), was about a Japanese prince in the year 1000 AD.

10. Noh plays taught Buddhist ideas and were performed on a bare stage by actors wearing robes and masks.

Can you think of any tales written in Medieval Europethat have helped historiansreveal what life was like inEurope in that time period?

II. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

1. Very few people benefited from Japan’s wealth under the shoguns. Most people in Japan remained poor.

2. Japanese farmers worked hard to grow rice, wheat, millet, and barley in the 1100’s, advances in irrigation and crops allowed them to grow more food and their lives improved.

3. Artisans made weapons,

armor, and tools for merchants to sell. As trade increased, artisans began making pottery, paper, textiles, and lacquered items.

4. Kyoto, the capital of Japan, was a major center of production and trade

Why is the capital of Japan today Tokyo and not Kyoto? Why didthe capital city move often?

5. Japanese women had less freedom than men but despite their lack of freedom, some women made important contributions to Japanese culture. During the time of Shotoku, wealthy women could be rulers and own property. However, women lost those freedoms after the samurai and daimyo took control. Marriages were arranged by fathers in noble families.

STUDY REVIEW FOR 5.3 QUIZ

1. Know the difference between Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism.

2. The importance of the novel “The Tale of Genji” by Murasaki Shikibu.

3. Understand the life of the average person during the Shogun period.

4. Life of Japanese women and when they lost freedoms in society.

5. Understand meanings / importance all of the highlighted key terms, people and places.