MEDIEVAL JAPAN
SECTION 1
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GEOGRAPHY OF JAPAN
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chain of islands in northern Pacific Ocean
more than 3,000 islands
most Japanese live on four largest islands
mostly covered by mountains (80%)
20% farmable land
188 mountains are volcanoes
many earthquakes occur
lack of natural resources
 dependence on foreign territories
geography isolates Japanese
 natural isolation (island nation)
 resulted in limited & selected foreign influence
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Islands of Japan
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Where did most Japanese live?
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Japan’s four largest islands
 Hokkaido
 located furthest north
 Honshu
 Largest
 Heian (Kyoto)
 Mt. Fuji
 Nara
 Edo (Tokyo – today capital of Japan)
 Shikoku
 smallest
 Kyushu
 located furthest south
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MOUNT FUJI
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located on Honshu
west of Tokyo
highest mountain in Japan (12,388 ft.)
symmetrical cone-shape
sacred place- one of three holy mountains
(Mt. Tate & Mt. Haku)
believed to have a soul
thousands climb yearly to reach shrine at top
frequently depicted in art and photographs
well-known symbol of Japan
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MOUNT FUJI
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JOMON
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means “cord marks”
5000 B.C. wandering groups
made clay pottery,
using knotted cords
to make designs
over time, settled
in fishing villages
along coast
fishing way of life
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YAYOI
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ancestors of the Japanese people
introduced farming
practiced skills learned from Chinese &
Koreans
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potter’s wheel
grew rice in paddies
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POTTERY WHEEL
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Rice Paddy
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YAYOI (continued)
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skilled metal-workers
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spear
axes, knives & hoes from iron
swords, spears, & bells from bronze
organized themselves into clans
buried chiefs in tombs called kofun
bell
axe
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CLANS
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group of families related by blood or marriage
headed by small group of warriors
warrior chiefs protected people for share of
rice harvest
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under warriors – farmers, artisans, and servant of
warriors
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KOFUN
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large mounds of dirt carefully shaped and
surrounded by ditches
tombs where chiefs buried
many large
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as big as Egypt’s pyramids
largest
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longer than five football fields
at least eight stories high
filled with personal belongings
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pottery, tools, weapons, and armor
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KOFUN MOUND
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KOFUN BURIEL SITE
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Myth: The Creation of Japan
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two gods dipped a spear into sea
they pulled it out
drops of salt water fell on water’s surface
formed the islands of Japan
two gods then created sun goddess
Amaterasu
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AMATERASU
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“sun goddess”
ruled over Earth
companion,
Susanowo, storm god
children became first people of Japan
sent grandson, Ninigi, to rule over them
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Susanowo
Ninigi
gave him her mirror, her jewel, and a sword
to make sure everyone accepts his power
became sacred symbols of leadership
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YAMATO
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clan in A.D. 500s
brought most of Japan under its rule
other clans held their lands
gave loyalty to Yamato chief
Yamato chiefs claimed they came from sun
goddess
result - had the right to rule
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JIMMU
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Yamato leader
took title “emperor of heaven”
founded line of rulers
never been broken
Akihito
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is one of Jimmu’s descendants
Japan’s emperor today
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Prince Shotoku
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Prince Shotoku emerged
as the leader of the
Yamato clan & initiated
a reform program
modeled after Tang
China.
gave constitutional
power to the emperor.
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PRINCE SHOTOKU
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took charge of Japan on behalf of his Aunt,
the empress Suiko (regent)
powerful emperor
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with help of trained officials chosen for abilities
wanted to create a strong government
created Japan’s first constitution
borrowed many ideas from China
sent officials and students to China to study
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CONSTITUTION
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a plan of government
created by Prince Shotoku
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all power given to emperor
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even appointing officials
created bureaucracy
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many ideas borrowed from China
government divided into departments
listed rules for working the government
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taken from ideas of Confucius
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HORYUJI
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Shotoku ordered
Buddhist temples
and monasteries
built throughout
Japan
Japan’s oldest
temple
world’s oldest
surviving wooden
building
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TAIKA
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“great change”
divided Japan into provinces or regional districts
run by officials who reported to emperor
all land under emperor’s control
clan leaders…
- can direct farmers working land
- cannot collect taxes
government officials gather part of farmer’s harvest
in taxes for emperor
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RESULTS
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Taika or “great change”
PLUS
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Prince Shotoku’s reforms
created Japan’s first strong centralized
government
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ANIMISM
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early Japanese belief
all natural things are alive and have their own
spirits
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the winds, mountains, and rivers
people needing help, asked nature spirits to
help them
called nature spirits “kami”
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KAMI
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“nature spirits”
Kami helps Japanese
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only if a person is pure
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illness causes spiritual stains
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must be cleansed by bathing and other rituals before praying
honor kami at shrines
beliefs developed into Shinto religion
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SHRINES
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Torii Gate
holy place
place of worship
honored “kami” (nature spirits)
priests, musicians, and dancers performed rituals
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people ask gods for….
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a good harvest
a wife
a child
some other favor
Shinto Shrine
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SHINTO
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Japanese religion
means “way of the spirits”
based on nature spirits
believed all natural things were alive
(the winds, mountains, and rivers)
spiritual stains must be cleansed by bathing
and other rituals before praying
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