Japanese
Religion and
Culture
Shinto and Buddhism shaped much of
Japan’s culture.
These religions affected Japanese art ,
architecture, novels, and plays.
Religion is apart of everyday life in Japan.
During the middle ages
Shinto is concerned with daily life, while
Buddhism prepares you for the life to come.
Buddhist ideas inspired many Japanese to build
temple, produce paintings, and write poems
and plays
Pure Land Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism began in India then spread
to china and Korea. In time spread to Japan
Pure Land Buddhism
Sect – is a smaller religious group and this
is the most popular sect of Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism – Lord Amida
Many followed this sect of Buddhism because of
the message of a Happy Life after death.
Lord Amida – Buddha of love and mercy & created
a paradise in the clouds. To get there you have to
have faith in Amida and chant his name.
Zen Buddhism
Another sect of Buddhism in Japan was Zen.
In 1100’s C.E. Buddhist monks brought Zen
from China.
Zen taught people can find inner peace
through self-control and a simple way of life.
Zen Buddhism
Zen Learned to control their bodies through
Martial Arts – sport that involves combat
and self-defense. Samurai liked this.
Zen Buddhist Practiced Meditation
A person would sit crossed –legged and
motionless for hours, mind clear and no
thoughts or desires. To relax and find inner
peace
Art and Architecture
Artistic Ideas came from China and Korea but
soon they developed their own style. Japan’s
art was love of beauty and simplicity.
Artisans made Wooden Statues, Furniture, and
Household items
Art – much of the work used
A shiny black and red Lacquer and the paintings
were of nature or battles using inks and
watercolors on paper scrolls or on silk
Art – The art of folding paper
Origami
Shinto Shrines & Buddhist Temples
Shinto shrines were built in nature to
worship the beauty of nature
Buddhist Temples were built in Chinese Style
and the temples were richly decorated
Japanese Gardens designed to imitate
Nature in miniature form.
Carefully place rocks, raked sand, and few plants
built in a way to create a feeling of peace
Japanese writing system
• 500 C.E. they
adopted the
Chinese writing
system 800 C.E.
they changed
the characters
to mean
Symbols like
our Alphabet.
Calligraphy – art of beautiful writing
• Every educated
person in Japan
was expected to
practice it.
Handwriting
revealed a person
education, social
class, and
character.
Tanka – Japans oldest form of Poetry
• Unrhymed poem of 5 lines that captured the
beauty of nature, Joys and sorrows of life
1st great Japanese story were by women
• @ 1,000 C.E. Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale
of Genji, adventures of a Japanese prince. The
world’s 1st long fictional story.
The Tale of Heike
• @ 1,200 C.E. writers wrote stories of warriors and
battles. This tale was about the fight between the
Taira and Minamoto Clans
Japanese Plays were called Noh
• @ 1,300 C.E. the
plays were used to
teach Buddhism.
Performed on bare
stages the actors
wore masks and
elaborate robes,
they danced,
chanted poetry to
drums and flutes
Economy and Society
• Under the shoguns, Japan produced more goods
and grew richer. The Emperor, the nobles, and
military officials benefitted from the growing
wealth. A growing class were the merchants and
traders but farmers remained poor.
Farmers – much of the Wealth
• Japan acquired was from the hard work of
their farmers. They grew rice, wheat, millet
and barley. Things improved for farmers better
irrigation more crops to sell at the markets.
Artisans started producing more goods
• They made
weapons, armor,
and tools they were
brought and sold at
local markets. With
roads being built
trade increased
which included
pottery, paper,
textiles, lacquered
ware. All this
helped Japan’s
economy to grow.
Kyoto became a center of production
and trade.
• Many artisans and
merchants lived
there, they formed
guilds to protect and
increase profits.
Daimyo protected
them from rival
artisans and they
sold goods to the
daimyo which he
could not get on his
own.
Japan’s wealth increased with trade
• With Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. They traded
Lacquered goods, sword blades, and copper for silk,
dyes, pepper, books, and porcelain.
The Role of Women
• Japanese family included
grandparents, parents,
and children living
together. The Man
headed the family and
the Woman was to obey
the father, husband, and
the son. Some marriages
were arranged.
Early Japan Women were Empresses
• During the Warrior
Society women lost
their freedoms.
• Farming Women had
more say in the Family
• Artisan Women Ran the
Family while the man
worked.
• Despite Restriction
Women contributed as
artists, writers, and
Warriors (lady Samurai).