History 334: East Asian History
Dr. C. Weber F9
III. Japanese Civilization: Tradition and Modernization
The Development of the Japanese Tradition and Chinese Influence
I. BACKGROUND FACTORS
A. Geographic and cultural isolation
B. Selective assimilation
C. Industrial power
D. Fluctuating attitudes
E. More recent civilization
II. JAPANESE ORIGINS AND EARLY CULTURAL PATTERNS: WARRING UJI AND
KOFUNS/HANIWA
III. THREE INDIGENOUS JAPANESE INSTITUTIONS WOA, 153-165
A. Shinto : Religion of homeland and family
1. "Kami Way"
2. Polytheism
3. Basic concepts:
(a) purity vs. pollution; (b) kami are local; (c) pilgrimages; (d) nationalism
B. Uji : Family unit with many branches ruled by priest-chieftains with religious and secular functions
C. Imperial Family : Yamato uji
IV. JAPANESE ASSIMILATION OF CHINESE CIVILIZATION PSR, 90-98a, 109b-116a
A. Prince Shotoku and Taika Reforms (646)
B. Chinese Influences
1. Buddhism: religion of death and afterlife
2. Confucianism: religion of social conduct
3. Government
4. Written language and art
5. Cities
C. Japan's First Capitals: Nara and Kyoto
Medieval Japan and National Isolation WOA, 165-175; PSR, 98b-109a, 116a-121
I. Tenuous Position of Emperor
II. Rise of Feudal Military Nobility: Samurai
A. “one who serves”
B. bushido – code of chivalry
C. violent civil war of 12th century
III. Emergence of the Shogun / Bakufu
A. Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333): hereditary title as emperor's military leader;
Mongol invasion and kamikazi
B. Ashikaga Shogunate: decentralized (1336-1568): European arrival; continued warfare
C. Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868): Tokugawa stability; isolation; alternate residence

2
Japanese Civilization: Tradition and Modernization (continued)
The Rise of Japan in the Modern World
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Distinctives of the Tokugawa Era (Edo Period)
Isami’s House, xi-xv, 1-96
B. Japanese adaptability
C. Tokugawa preconditions: high literacy, road system, finance capital, agrarian surplus,
national leadership, domestic peace and stability, revival of Shinto
II. CHANGES WITHIN JAPAN DURING TOKUGAWA ISOLATION WOA, 176-177
A. “Dynastic fatigue”
B. Change to money economy
C. Predicament of peasants
D. Mistakes of shogunate/bakufu
E. Opening of Japan
[1853-54] ---- [1866-68] ---- [1889-90]
III. MEIJI REVOLUTION AND IMPERIAL RESTORATION
A. Overthrow of Tokugawa and restructuring of monarchy
WOA, 177-187
B. Reforms to end feudalism
C. Industrial and military expansion
D. Meiji Constitution (1889): parliamentary, gift of emperor
IV. EFFORTS AT NATION-BUILDING WOA, 188-197; Isami’s House, 97-119
A. Westernization: parties, civil service, military, zaibatsu, education and
technology—as well as Western infatuation with Japan
B. Emphasis on military: Japanese imperialism and rise to world power
V. WORLD WAR II AND POSTWAR DEVELOPMENTS WOA, 197-230; PSR, 122-127;
Isami’s House, 123-241
A. East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
B. Defeat
C. American Interlude
D. Rise to major economic power status
E. Domestic developments
F. International relations
VI. CONCLUSION