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Japanese Culture;
Prince Shotoku
Standard 7.5.2;
Standard 7.5.5
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Today’s Standards
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7.5.2 – Discuss the reign of Prince Shotoku and the
characteristics of Japanese society and family life during his
reign.
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7.5.5 – Study the ninth and tenth centuries golden age of
literature, art, and drama, including Lady Murusaki’s Tale of
Genji
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Vocabulary Set 2:
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Imperial Court -
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Regent (Ex: Prince Shotoku) –
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Taika Reforms –
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Haiku -
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Noh –
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Tale of Genji (by Lady Murusaki Shikibu) -
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Imperial Court
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Definition: The extended household of the ruler as well as
people who regularly served the ruler.
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Significance: As well as being the center of political life,
imperial courts were usually the drivers of new trends in
fashion, literature, music, and art.
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Who are the courtiers (people attending the court)?
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Officials or servants employed by the ruler
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Nobles attending in hope of political or financial gain
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Other nobles attended for the culture and entertainments offered.
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Regent
(Prince Shotoku r. 593-622)
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Definition: A person who rules in place of a monarch who is
underage, absent, or incapacitated.
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Significance: Prince Shotoku was a regent whose desire to
emulate Chinese culture greatly influenced Japan’s
development.
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Promotes Buddhism and Confucianism
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Seventeen Article Constitution (set of laws/principles how a
state should be governed)
Promotes a strong central government
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imperial state modeled like China’s
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Taika Reforms
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Definition: A series of reforms introduced (after Shotoku’s
death) aimed to make the Japanese central government
stronger by organizing it like China’s imperial state.
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(Reform = to make changes to something to improve it)
Significance:
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Land became public property  “public” meaning owned by the
emperor
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The reforms ultimately failed because the aristocracy (powerful
nobles and courtiers) resisted and were too powerful
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Haiku
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Definition: A Japanese form of poetry consisting of 3 lines
and 17 syllables (5, 7, 5)
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Significance: Haiku poems reflected Japanese society’s
emphasis on sadness, rejected love, or the beauty of nature.
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Example:
An old silent pond…
Into the pond a frog jumps;
splash! Silence again.
-Matsuo Basho
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Noh
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Definition: A Japanese theatrical tradition where masked
actors play out themes from Shinto mythology.
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Shinto = Traditional Japanese religion –respect nature, spirits,
etc
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Significance: Noh drama was a distinctive Japanese form of
drama using masks to portray emotion. Men were the actors.
Both nobles and commoners enjoyed Noh drama.
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Tale of Genji
by Lady Murasaki Shikibu
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Definition: A book about the life of a prince in the imperial
court.
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Significance: The biggest literary achievement in Japan—the
first novel (a long written story)! Before this, books were just
retellings of myths or short stories
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RealisticHuman experiences and emotion (sadness mostly)
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Influence of China and Korea on
Japan
Korean travelers and missionaries first brought ideas from the
Chinese civilization to Japan.
Later, groups of Japanese went to China to study its culture for
themselves.
The Japanese adapted features from China to make them part
of their own culture.
Copy the graphic organizer on the following
slide. Using your book (page 252) and/or your
notes describe how the Japanese adapted
Chinese beliefs in each of the 5 categories
provided.
Adopted Confucian ideals
Landscape painting,
+ Reading Questions:
Page 258-261
1.
What characteristics do Chinese and Japanese writing
share?
2.
Why was The Tale of Genji a significant literary
achievement?
3.
Picture on pg. 258: What characteristics of Kabuki does this
image show?
4.
How do Japanese calligraphers express meaning through
their writing?
5.
What are the subjects of Japanese brush paintings?
6.
What was the aim of Japanese gardeners and flower
arrangers?
+ Reading Questions:
Page 258-261
1.
What characteristics do Chinese and Japanese writing share?
Both use characters to stand for specific things, actions or
ideas.
2.
Why was The Tale of Genji a significant literary achievement?
It was the world’s first novel—long, realisitic story centered
around one character.
3.
Picture on pg. 258: What characteristics of Kabuki does this
image show? Heavy makeup, elaborate costume.
4.
How do Japanese calligraphers express meaning through their
writing? They change the sizes and shapes of the characters
they write.
5.
What are the subjects of Japanese brush paintings?
Landscapes, historical events, scenes from daily life.
6.
What was the aim of Japanese gardeners and flower
arrangers? To show the beauty of nature and create a peaceful
space.